Cultural tag could rejuvenate Thib.

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Stakeholders hope the cultural designation placed on a majority of Thibodaux will spur a long-term artistic and infrastructural rejuvenation there as state and local tax relief is offered to consumers of art and rehabilitators of historic buildings.

Multiple building rehab projects in Thibodaux, with one estimated at $2 million, were stalled pending the designation, according to Rhonda Dempster, director of Thibodaux Main Street. Other revitalization projects once viewed as financially infeasible could now be realistic, Dempster and others said, and ultimately the designation could motivate rehabilitation of “hundreds” of buildings in the city.

“We have a few businesses in the downtown area that were waiting on the certification of the cultural district before they continued on any projects,” Dempster said. “They had done some demolitions in their buildings, but when they’re coming back to remodel, refurbish, revitalize – and they are coming back – they’re going to bring this building back to what it was in the 1800s. … These tax credits are going to be absolutely awesome for them.”


Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism certified the district, city officials said last week. Building-revitalization projects within the boundary that were thought to be financially infeasible weeks ago may be doable, and artists can sell unique, original work there without charging sales tax.

The state’s Division of Historic Preservation manages the allotment of transferrable tax credits offered to building revitalization, extended at 25 percent of the cost on eligible owner-occupied homes or revenue-generating historic structures and at 50 percent of the cost on eligible vacant and blighted buildings. Buildings need to be at least 50 years old to qualify.

The cap per taxpayer is $5 million for commercial structures and $25,000 for residential buildings. Projects must meet federal Department of the Interior guidelines, and work on commercial buildings could be eligible for both state and federal credits.


Separately, sales-tax waivers are granted to artists who produce handmade, unique visual art and sell it within the district. Drawings, paintings, sculpture, installation art and even photography – if it is a limited, numbered edition – are among the media that qualify.

Originally, when officials began organizing the application about eight months ago, the district was going to mirror the boundaries of downtown Thibodaux as a way to encourage artists to flock to that area for the many events staged there each year.

“At first we were only going to (draw the boundary for) the Main Street-designated area,” Dempster said. “What that would do is bring more artists into the downtown area, but there were so many other buildings, so many blighted places, abandoned places … it would have been crazy for us not to (expand the district). It’s going to unbelievably benefit the city.”


Luci Sposito, Thibodaux’s director of grants and economic development, said the benefits of the district may not be seen for years, but the designation could have a vivid long-term impact on the city’s creative underbelly and beautification efforts.

“It will be an economic boost for our community,” Sposito said. “(Stakeholders) can almost rebrand the city in the way that we’ll have a cultural and creative identity. It will add another layer to our city.”

Beautification projects and use of once-derelict buildings should have a ripple effect on the economy, officials said. Abandoned buildings can house businesses or residents, driving interest in stagnant properties and traffic to those locations.


Thibodaux and Leeville are now the only certified cultural districts in Lafourche Parish. Houma and Grand Isle are other local areas with such a designation.

Thibodaux’s boundary encompasses most of the municipal limits, including downtown Thibodaux and Nicholls State University.

The Legislature established the cultural districts program in 2007. Local governments nominate areas for certification, and the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism – overseen by the lieutenant governor’s office – administers the program.


Close to 70 cultural districts throughout the state have been certified. They range in size from 8 to 4,400 acres, according to the state’s 2012 annual report.

Local government officials in 2012 reported an estimated 475 commercial and 739 residential renovation projects in cultural districts throughout the state; many were attributed to the purchase and refurbishment of hurricane-damaged homes.

On the art side, state officials estimated the $524,000 in waived state sales taxes generated more than $13 million in art-related sales.


Gaye Hamilton, the state’s cultural economy initiative program manager, will discuss benefits of the cultural district and answer questions at a public meeting in Thibodaux next month, said Sposito, who added that people who make themselves aware of the program can better take advantage of it.

For more information, visit crt.state.la.us.