Traditional Neighborhood Development
"Wow!" is how a Daily Iberian editorial described Southern Mutual Help Association's latest project—a unique mixed-income, mixed-use subdivision modeled on Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) standards.The $150 million Teche Ridge development is designed to change the face of affordable housing in the Acadiana region of Louisiana by integrating affordable units among market-rate units in such a way that the affordable homes are indistinguishable from the homes surrounding them.
The Teche Ridge project is in keeping with SMHA's history of pioneering new approaches to tackle the challenges facing all of our communities—requiring strong partnerships among all segments of all communities.
The Teche Ridge subdivision will have the feel of neighborhoods we remember from the past with houses of different sizes in the Acadian, Caribbean, Creole or Victorian styles, a town center, tree-lined streets and walking paths. SMHA initiated the project to increase the supply of housing and to provide a safe location for families displaced by Hurricanes Rita or Katrina. Teche Ridge will be the first of its kind Traditional Neighborhood Design development in Louisiana since the 2005 hurricanes.
SMHA kicked off the design process with a series of charrettes in September attended by key stakeholders and the general public. Steve Oubre of Architects Southwest, a nationally recognized expert in TND developments, led the charrette process and used the input to develop preliminary designs. SMHA expects to break ground on the 100-acre development in late 2007.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation provided acquisition and pre-development financing for Teche Ridge.
