Northeast Library full steam ahead at Holy Rosary

After years of delays, the new Northeast Library is officially going to the Holy Rosary Institute campus. 

The Parish Council signed off on an agreement with Holy Rosary Land Holdings Inc., starting a 99-year lease for several acres of the property at $1 per year. 

The historic Black Catholic school closed its doors in 1993, but is more active now than it has been since the closure, with restoration to the main building ongoing and the library set to start construction in late 2026. 

After decades of decay, the historic campus on Lafayette’s Northside will finally see shovels in the ground in what local advocates see as a recognition of the local community’s unique, but often overlooked history.

“The library will serve as a gateway to opportunity for families on the Northside and a catalyst for positive growth across Lafayette,” said Dustin Cravins, president of the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Corp., in a release. 

Cravins’ organization has already brought Prime Time Head Start, an early education program, to the historic campus and is looking to possibly expand its footprint. The new library will be walkable from many public and private schools in the area. 

The building is still currently in the design phase, with LCG finalizing a $1 million contract with Dallas-based firm 720design. The total project is budgeted at $15 million. 

Lafayette councils pass budget heavy on infrastructure, light on jail

The Lafayette City and Parish councils on Thursday voted to pass a combined budget of $800 million for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

The budget, which goes into effect Nov. 1, features some significant changes from the administration’s first proposal in July. 

The final version does not include any new funding for Lafayette’s City Hall, after City Council Chair Kenneth Boudreaux opposed allocating funds to that purpose, leaving the money in the city’s bond reserves for future projects. 

According to Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber and his deputies, the budget also remains short on jail funding. The city had long granted the Sheriff $1.25 million annually for capital expenses, but will no longer award those funds as of November, discontinuing an agreement that had been in place for several decades. 

The almost 70-year-old building has a long and growing list of deficiencies. But seemingly no one knew just how grand an effort Boulet was envisioning.

“I’ve seen the effects of low morale and limited resources firsthand,” said Lt. Jeff Duhon when addressing both councils, warning that Lafayette could see crime rates similar to those of Baton Rouge and New Orleans if jail funding isn’t increased. “These cities prove that once a mistake is made, it’s nearly impossible to fix. Please trust that we are only asking for the funding we need.”

For the administration, the budget represents an investment in infrastructure, highlighting $31 million for reconstruction and replacement, which includes the Bertrand Drive Revitalization plan and smaller projects like public bathrooms at the Parc Auto Du Centre-Ville parking garage at the heart of Downtown. 

“This budget is about strengthening the foundation of our parish—from roads and drainage to public safety and recreation—while preparing for the future,” said Boulet in LCG’s release.

COLUMN: How Boulet’s City Hall renovation proposal fell short

The almost 70-year-old building has a long and growing list of deficiencies. But seemingly no one knew just how grand an effort Boulet was envisioning.

https://thecurrentla.com/2025/column-how-boulets-city-hall-renovation-proposal-fell-short/

Guillory, Boulet head to runoff. See who won Lafayette.

View a full map of how the race for mayor-president breaks down.

https://thecurrentla.com/2023/live-election-results/

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