Officials: Downtown Houma’s future exciting despite departure

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January 29, 2015
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January 30, 2015

When one door closes, another door opens.

That’s the attitude many who oversee an ever-improving Downtown Houma have taken following the decision by Haydei’s Drug Store to move its operations out of the Historic District.

“I’m glad that Mr. [Robert] Rock is not closing because the economy is bad and he has to close all of his locations. At the end of the day, we totally understand he’s trying to make a profit,” said Houma Main Street Program Manager Anne Picou.


After representing social graces of a simpler time, Picou and others see lots of potential for a Downtown Houma renaissance – some of which have already started to take shape. Public projects such as the Waterlife Museum, the Terrebonne Folklife Culture Center, the Bayou Walk and infrastructure improvements started bringing Downtown Houma back, and now private dollars are continuing that process, according to Picou.

“I would say in the last eight years is when we’ve seen that new wave come back,” she said. “Developers see that they can make ac return on their investment, so they’re buying these buildings. They’re going after tax credits because we are a certified Historic District, so now you’re seeing that private investment, and now we’re seeing a pretty good, flourishing downtown Houma.”

Officials agree that it’s the resurgence of clothing stores, boutiques and restaurants that give Downtown Houma supporters the most cause for celebration. Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet, a former bar owner, said if patrons want to attend a bar, they’ll find a way to do so regardless of the parking situation, but the parish’s recent efforts to increase parking in Downtown Houma have bolstered the area. Several parking lots are currently in the process of being constructed between Bayou Terrebonne and Park Avenue to promote easy downtown access.


The building Haydei’s used to occupy, owned by Downtown Development Corporation board member Tommy Guarisco, said he hasn’t decided what to do with the building. He said he will inspect the 20,000 square foot building over the course of the next few weeks and will either put a “For Rent” sign up or to do something with it himself.

“Right now, I’m getting calls. People are finding out about it now. People are calling. No decision has been made on it,” Guarisco said.

He added the emotional connection older residents have with the building will not matter in his decision with what to do with the building in Downtown Houma’s changing landscape where he said he expects more private renovation in Downtown Houma than in quite a while.


“I don’t think [Haydei’s leaving Downtown Houma] is a reflection of the goodness or badness of Downtown, as much as it is of the changing demographics,” Claudet said.

Downtown Houma’s more modern feel will continue in the next year with the addition of a Mexican restaurant entitled Tequila Sunrise in the Samauri Dragon building on Lafayette Street and a microbrewery at the location of the former school supplies shop on Barrow Street.

“We’re excited that we can continue to have growth and we’re excited that those people want to be downtown and they see that we have something going on,” said Picou. E2


FILE

A microbrewery will take the place of this building at the corner of Barrow and High streets. It will be one of Downtown Houma’s exciting new editions, according to Main Street Program Manager Anne Picou.