UPDATE ON THE OLD MASONIC HOME FOR CHILDREN APARTMENTS

"After sitting empty for almost 20 years, the former Masonic Home for Children in Alexandria is scheduled to undergo a $17 million conversion starting in March to 169 high-end apartments." (See: "Closed Masonic Home for Children in Alexandria to become site of high-end apartments").

"Louisiana Masons built the home in 1925". id.

Roger Landry, an Atlanta developer originally from Lake Charles, said Mason Estates, which are what the apartments will be called, would include 25 loft apartments with high ceilings, and that the monthly rental on the units will average $850 to $900. id. "All the units will have electric fireplaces, washers and dryers, and there will be a swimming pool for residents." id.

On Feb. 28, Landry is scheduled to officially purchase some of the property and buildings at the site with the current owners Ray and Judi Proctor of Woodworth retaining the land that fronts Masonic Drive for possible commercial development. id.

"The project is almost three years in the making and attracted controversy in December 2010 when nearby residents told the Alexandria City Council they had concerns about traffic coming out of Mason Estates and entering Horseshoe Drive." id. This has been one of the pet peeves of Fred Rosenfeld, a local businessman and co-host of a local talk radio show. Although area residents opposed the plans, the City Council approved it anyway.

But let's not forget all of the hard work that Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy and his brother, then state representative Chris Roy, Jr. put into getting the project approved and its funding. Also recall that the pitch man for the project was Brandon Monceaux, the husband of the Roy boys cousin.

See Also:

THE ROLE OF BRANDON MONCEAUX

TODAY WAS ACEDD DAY IN THE TOWN TALK and the posts linked thereunder

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WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROJECTS?