Places & Faces
JUST
IMAGINE WATERFRONT
SWLA
Residents and visitors have been eager to see waterfront development in the Lake Charles area for years. The abundance of waterways in Southwest Louisiana lends itself to enhanced experiences and can elevate the attractiveness of the area through smart development. The Waterfront Development strategy as identified in the Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Plan also includes waterfront development beyond the immediate shores of Lake Charles as it highlights connectivity and possibilities for other waterways throughout the parish. Progress in Lake Charles is visible today in a variety of ways. Construction at the Port Wonder site is well underway, and the most noticeable progress is seen in the pouring of concrete for the future parking lot. 36
Thrive Magazine for Better Living • June 2023
DEVELOPMENT CATALYTIC PROJECT
Work is moving forward on underground utility infrastructure and in the coming months, construction will go vertical. Final approvals have been granted for the Crying Eagle Lakefront project, and a groundbreaking is expected later this summer. Work is progressing on the reskinning of the downtown parking garage, and the City Council recently accepted bids on a pier in the North Beach area which now features new volleyball nets, soccer goals, and a pickle ball court. “Hearing the sounds of active construction and seeing the Port Wonder site take shape is absolutely thrilling,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “What we are witnessing on our lakefront is historic and transformational. It is a long overdue change to the welcome to our City that visitors receive. The repairs to the parking garage, construction of Crying Eagle and Lake Area Adventures, along with Port Wonder, are all just a beginning for what is to come. We’ve dreamed of this for a long time, and it is now becoming a reality. Within the next two years, our lakefront will look drastically different. This is only the beginning.”
by Angie Manning
The resilience plan highlights 50 acres of developable land across Westlake, the Lake Charles Waterfront, and the Civic Center that would be more attractive to investors. The Horseshoe Casino in Westlake stimulates development on the western side of the lake and could potentially be connected to an industrial style retail destination north of the property. Investment could eventually create an enhanced, public waterfront from the Lake Charles Civic Center across the new I-10 bridge to the Westlake Waterfront. Also on the waterfront, near L’Auberge and Golden Nugget, is a development called Marcel Contraband Pointe. Shucks is coming this November, offering delicious food and a clear view of Contraband Bayou. In addition, plans include a boardwalk in front of Shucks which will provide walkability to and from neighboring hotels. Adding to the charm of the development, The Perfect Round Bar and Inground Golf facility are also under construction with future plans to include the Conservatory food hall at Contraband Pointe.