Neighborhood

Mid-City Neighborhood Transformation

As a collaboration between the City of Lake Charles, the Lake Charles Housing Authority, and Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI), the purpose of Neighborhood is to enhance and accelerate community and economic development through Critical Community Improvement (CCI) projects. Our goals include increased livability and quality of life, improving access to parks and greenspace, deconcentrating poverty, and enabling a strong economy that provides the opportunity to thrive.

Critical Community Improvements

The Critical Community Improvement, or CCI, is a dynamic component of the Choice Neighborhoods program managed by the Neighborhood lead to leverage significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. These strategies dreamed and designed by youth and adult residents, community stakeholders, and CN partners allows for equitable engagement that connects each transformation component to one another and supports the realization of their community.

The goals of the CCIs are to:

Increase livability and quality of life and property value
Improve the built environment with access to parks and greenspace
Deconcentrate poverty and foster diversity
Enable a diverse and strong economy that is adaptable and provides the opportunity to thrive

Parks & Greenspace

The proposed development in Mid-City creates opportunity for five acres of green space to be prioritized and with the neighborhood sharing proximity to the Contraband Bayou, it opens the door to water access for kayaks and other community amenities for residents and visitors alike. This design welcomes open air events and markets, multi-age accessible playgrounds, walking trails and boardwalks, and enough electrical, gas and broadband access to support these amenities.

Opportunity Hubs

The creation of the Mid-City Opportunity Hubs is a wealth-building strategy for all residents. Each Hub will operate as an opportunity to increase access to business development through a rent subsidy program, in partnership with USI’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and other community partners offering micro lending. These Hubs, coupled with the construction of new single-family housing, will open access to homeownership for resident. This design centers the economic and housing needs of the community within a strategically designed neighborhood asset.

Placemaking

Placemaking pays homage to Mid-City as the central corridor of the city by prioritizing strategies to increase beautification in the neighborhood while restoring the tree canopy. From temporary installations to permanent signage, placemaking activities can serve as both the signal for the start of change and memorializes and celebrating the history of Mid-City.

Join a Critical Community Improvement Committee

The Critical Community Improvement Advisory Committees are dedicated community-based action teams that meet six times a year for strategy development and resident-led success tracking. Your voice is needed!