May 19, 2009 — Horse Farm
Dear Faculty, Staff & Students,
Over the past several months, I have been engaged in discussions with Lafayette Mayor/President Joey Durel and representatives of the Community Foundation of Acadiana about the best use of the university property on Johnston Street known as The Horse Farm. Our discussions have centered on the development of a passive public park, preserving the property’s natural beauty for use as walking trails, bike paths, gardens, green space and uses other than organized sports activities.
As you know, there has been much public interest in preserving this large green space near the center of Lafayette. This is a very special tract of land because of its size, its location, and its natural beauty. Local citizens, including Save the Horse Farm activists, are passionate about this property, and have expressed a strong desire for the property to be preserved as a park.
The university has for a long time recognized that this property, though beautiful, no longer serves its mission and its location does not easily benefit the university as it seeks options for future growth. So I have been working with the Community Foundation to identify potential donors to secure a $5.7 million lead gift that would be used to purchase the property from the university. The Community Foundation anticipates establishing a campaign to raise money to match the lead donation and the funds raised will be dedicated to the design, build-out, and perpetual maintenance of the property. Once the matching funds have been raised, the Community Foundation plans to purchase the property from the university at its $5.7 million appraised value. The Community Foundation of Acadiana will then own the property and intends to work with Lafayette Consolidated Government on a cooperative endeavor agreement defining the responsibilities of both parties. The university will place proceeds from the sale of the property in a special restricted land acquisition fund that will be used to acquire property closer to its other campus properties.
Before the university can sell state-owned property, it must obtain legislative approval. A bill was introduced this legislative session by Rep. Joel Robideaux that would grant the university the authority to divest itself of the property. If passed, the university would then have to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System before it could complete the sale of the property to Community Foundation of Acadiana.
The Horse Farm property totals 99.465 acres. According to a recent state-sanctioned appraisal, 87.79 acres is usable property, 2.32 acres is coulee, and 7.35 acres is a Lafayette Consolidated Government easement. There is also a 2.01-acre section that is an isolated piece of the property separated by the coulee and bordering the property of a small number of local residents. The appraisal set the market value of the property at approximately $65,000 per acre (87.79 acres X $65,000 = $5,706,350).
Lafayette Consolidated Government proposes to swap Youth Park, which is approximately 8 acres of property located at 1919 Johnston Street, adjacent to the southwest corner of the university’s main campus, for the 7.35 acres as part of the agreement. The LCG fire station on this property and all park activities will continue at this location for the foreseeable future. All property agreements among Lafayette Consolidated Government, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Community Foundation of Acadiana will require approval of the Lafayette City-Parish Council.
When the project comes to fruition, a Design Review Committee, composed of representatives from the Community Foundation, expert designers, the university and Lafayette Consolidated Government, expects to engage the community in a series of charrettes, or public meetings, to brainstorm and create the details of the park’s design. The property will retain many of its existing natural qualities, enhanced by features like walking trails, bike paths, and green space for relaxation. Special attention will be given to the privacy of residents of neighborhoods that border the Horse Farm property.I believe this is a unique opportunity to partner with benefactors, the Community Foundation of Acadiana, Lafayette Consolidated Government, and local residents to create an invaluable community asset for Acadiana.
Because Representative Robideaux’s bill is scheduled to be heard next week, there likely will be media coverage. I wanted you to hear about plans for the Horse Farm from me first and offer you the opportunity to ask me questions regarding the project.
Best wishes,
E. Joseph Savoie
President
president@louisiana.edu