The state has completed the purchase of a 515-acre tract of land to resettle the Isle De Jean Charles community that will lose their homes due to coastal erosion. The 11.7 million dollar land purchase outside of Schriever is the first step in relocation.
“We are working through the process. We got our environmental reviews done which were necessary before we could actually close on the property, we have done that. Now we have our preliminary master plan.”
The island in south Terrebonne Parish has lost 98 percent of its landmass since 1955 and is at major risk of flooding. While the new site is in development, Forbes says inhabitants of the island have been offered rental assistance to find interim housing.
“We have got almost 20 families who have decided to take the rental assistance and live off the island while we are getting the project done.”
Forbes says the planning and construction of the homes and community will emphasize and maintain the unique culture created by the mostly Native American inhabitants of the quickly disappearing island.
“We know that it has to be an economically viable community, it has to be safe for them, and it has to be affordable for them so there will be commercial development on the highway frontage.”
The site was selected after an extensive search and environmental impact study and was overwhelmingly supported by its future residents. The initiative is being funded by the feds in a first of its kind re-location project.
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