Louisiana

The “Four Corners” intersection and neighborhood in Lafayette once stood as a hub of community, culture, and commerce with restaurants, a theater, and local businesses lining all four corners. Historically serving as the vibrant gateway to downtown and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the long neglected, crime ridden, and disinvested thoroughfare remained the route used by residents and visitors to arrive in the city. This block was a direct obstacle for economic investment and development in the area. HRI Communities, LLC (HRIC) joined the City of Lafayette and the Office of Community Development in making a catalytic investment and transformed a vacant and blighted Coca-Cola bottling building, an adjacent warehouse and the infamous LessPay Motel at the historic Four Corners intersection into a 105-unit affordable artist housing property, known as the Bottle Art Lofts. The Bottle Arts Loft community is a leader in the state of Louisiana in incorporating and heeding disaster-resilient and sustainable design, construction, and operating practices. The second phase of the development (65 units) is the first multifamily project in the state to secure a FORTIFIED Gold Certification by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. The project is also Enterprise Green Communities certified with a heightened focus on energy and water efficiency and overall community well-being. The Bottle Art Lofts project serves as a testament to the state’s leadership and proactive approach in addressing the evolving needs of its citizens and promoting positive change in the community.

Nestled in the heart of New Orleans, the Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6 mile walking and biking trail connecting six diverse neighborhoods. The trail routes through Section 8 public housing, Tremé (one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the city and nation), and finally, into the bustling French Quarter. Now a leading model of post-Katrina sustainable storm water management, the Lafitte Greenway was one of the first major public infrastructure projects in New Orleans after Katrina. The project serves approximately 20,000 residents.

– Alice Place Monroe provides much needed affordable housing to adults 55 and older in Monroe and the surrounding area. Our goal was to create a community where residents can feel at home and enjoy the multiple amenities and communal spaces on-site. There has been a need for independent senior housing throughout Green County. Bringing Affordable Senior Housing to Monroe will continue to be integral to the growth of Monroe.

This project provided public infrastructure to serve Legends Market, the first grocery store in Grambling in 35 years and the first pharmacy ever. Grambling is a city in Lincoln Parish with a population of 3,495 persons and is predominately low and moderate income.