Lake Charles is growing (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: movers, high crime, townhouse)

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by cBach

Okay, I agree to disagree.

I think it will boost tourism in the city similar to how the WWII Museum boosted tourism in New Orleans.

How many more tourists came?

And how many went to NOLA for only the WWII museum?

I'm not trying to be a debbie downer but people already go to NOLA, so the increase in tourists is probably attributed to the fact that people are already visiting. You can't say the same for Lake Charles and I can't imagine a significant amount of people flying to Lake Charles for this outside of a convention. Is there going to be a convention space, partnership with McNeese, or something?

[cBach]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

How many more tourists came?

And how many went to NOLA for only the WWII museum?

I'm not trying to be a debbie downer but people already go to NOLA, so the increase in tourists is probably attributed to the fact that people are already visiting. You can't say the same for Lake Charles and I can't imagine a significant amount of people flying to Lake Charles for this outside of a convention. Is there going to be a convention space, partnership with McNeese, or something?

It's going to be right on I-10 next to the Civic Center. People will see it and be interested. There will be significant roadside traffic.

[TheoLedee]

The museum is a great idea and the visions for the exhibits are intriguing and unique! It's more than just hurricanes. There will be meeting and outdoor event space and outdoor dining, boat tours and more. It will draw in people. Lake Charles does not draw as many tourist as New Orleans but it does have a pretty good tourism draw especially ecotourism and this will definitely be a stop on the Creole nature trail. New Orleans is world renown for many things besides its culture and party centric hype and notoriety or reputation. New Orleans has a lot going for and a lot to offer...tourism is huge there! Lake Charles is growing its tourism and the museum is a pricey start but still a great idea. New Orleans is an eminent and exemplary example of a city with variety of world class tourist attractions and activities that Lake Charles can learn from. New Orleans is a tourism powerhouse! I advice checking out the National Hurricane Museum and Science Center's website nhmsc.com and see what they envision. I firmly believe this will be a success! But what do I know?? Let's not give up on improving our cities and all of Louisiana. Lake Charles and New Orleans are both amazing cities and I have things I love about them both and I have things I long to see improved, I am sure we all do!

[cBach]

Originally Posted by TheoLedee

The museum is a great idea and the visions for the exhibits are intriguing and unique! It's more than just hurricanes. There will be meeting and outdoor event space and outdoor dining, boat tours and more. It will draw in people. Lake Charles does not draw as many tourist as New Orleans but it does have a pretty good tourism draw especially ecotourism and this will definitely be a stop on the Creole nature trail. New Orleans is world renown for many things besides its culture and party centric hype and notoriety or reputation. New Orleans has a lot going for and a lot to offer...tourism is huge there! Lake Charles is growing its tourism and the museum is a pricey start but still a great idea. New Orleans is an eminent and exemplary example of a city with variety of world class tourist attractions and activities that Lake Charles can learn from. New Orleans is a tourism powerhouse! I advice checking out the National Hurricane Museum and Science Center's website nhmsc.com and see what they envision. I firmly believe this will be a success! But what do I know?? Let's not give up on improving our cities and all of Louisiana. Lake Charles and New Orleans are both amazing cities and I have things I love about them both and I have things I long to see improved, I am sure we all do!

I totally agree!

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by pandorafan5687

I believe Sasol is building a plant out in Westlake, and I'm looking to see what kind of development we will see in LC once McNeese Street and Corbina Road are extended.

Correct. Ground broke last year. Expected completion in 2018.

[bpollen]

Why people don't move to L.C.?

City Data says growth in Lake Charles 2000-2013 was about 3%, while growth in Lafayette was about 12%. I lived in Lafayette a short while in about 1972; Lafayette was bigger than L.C. even then, and more vibrant. It was the music scene, the # of young people there, the university, the proximity to some really pretty areas south of there.

I was raised in L.C. and moved away years ago. Now that I'm retired and am moving from a big city, here are reasons why I'm not moving to L.C., even though I have family there. Don't know if these are the reasons other people don't move there.

First, as a note:LC is a small city. Young people usually move away from small cities to go for opportunities that bigger cities offer (employment, higher wages, more people to socialize with, better educational opportunities). In particular, women and minorities do much better in large cities.

As for why I'm not moving to LC:

1. Lack of affordable nice housing, compared to other cities. The houses I see that look like the houses in some other cities that cost around $220k to $250k, run around $300k or more in L.C. (there are some lower priced ones in the bad parts of town with very high crime rates). Most of the houses in my price range were the same old ranch style houses, many with carports instead of garages, and needed updating. The new construction, like most places, has tiny yards, if it has a yard at all.

2. Environment polluted. Dangerous to drink the tap water in some areas. Two more chemical cos. are moving into Westlake, which is already toxic. I was disheartened when I saw the state of the actual lake ("Lake Charles"). It didn't look like the beautiful lake that existed when I left years ago. There were dead fish floating around, trash, overly cloudy water. I think it's probably polluted from the plants on its banks, and maybe the gamblers?

3. Lack of things to do. I want to join a gardening club. There aren't any. I want to join a walking group, like through meetup.com. There aren't any. There may be a bowling league. I think LC relies mainly on people who already know each other getting together for activities (like crawfish boils or barbeques). It's not a city that is used to, or maybe accepting of, people moving in.

3. L.C. is behind the times technologically. Few neighborhoods are signed up on Nextdoor.com, Facebook crime watch neighborhoods, meetup.com (all that's on meetup.com is a business selling tennis lessons).

4. Lack of housing with gas lines. Seriously. In an energy state. Most of the houses are all-electric. I want a gas stove, which is available in a fair share of houses in most cities. In LC, gas stove connections seem to be mainly in the pricey homes over $300k. Or in the bad parts of town because they're so old, I guess. I don't HAVE to have a gas stove, but when considering a house that is already sub-par for the price, the added deal of not being able to get a gas stove adds to the negatives of the housing market.

5. Lack of medical care in town. As one ages, one will need increasing medical care. My relatives have to leave town to get good treatment for various things. They go to Houston. That will not be possible for me, since I live alone. Also, my insurance won't pay for out-of-town medical care (except emergencies when you're out of town already). I guess good providers come with an increasing population, which hasn't happened in L.C. So that's a Catch-22.

6. Flood risk in nice areas in the south part of town. Many houses in a flood risk area. But that's part of LC's location, I guess.

On the positive side, LC is a pretty small city. Lots of trees and greenery. A beautiful Civic Center...the lights on the Civic Center grounds at Christmas were gorgeous! Easy to get around town in minutes. Decent size yards. There's adequate shopping, like Pier 1, Sam's Club, WalMart Supercenter, grocery stores, etc. Low property taxes. A slow, easy way of life.

Also, the library seems well funded. It has a movie collection to loan out movie DVDs like other libraries.

If I were to move to La., I would choose Lafayette, if I could afford the housing. Municipal-owned high speed internet, lots of houses not in flood zones, interesting architecture for some houses, lots of shopping, groups for biking and walking and gardening, an active night time music scene.

I don't think a museum, as is being discussed, helps to grow a small city. It gives people something to do, when they go there for some other reason. And it doesn't attract people to move there.

What some other small cities do to increase population is target a group, like retirees. Set up a web page that advertises what the city has to offer retirees. Make sure the area has groups that are senior-focused, to attract them. Make sure there is nice housing for them in non-flood zones. Think about what seniors wants: good soil (LC has it!) for gardening, groups for walking or hiking, gardening clubs in the local nurseries, libaries with events focused to seniors, local lakes and rivers great for easy fishing from banks, local gyms with classes for seniors, etc.

If LC wants to attract young people, then set that as a goal and do something to attract them, starting with advertising what the city already has that they will like. Although, realistically, young people don't often move to small cities, unless they go to college there.

[sluggermatt15]

I moved to LC 9 months ago because of work. I'm in my mid-20s, so still "young". This is the smallest city I've lived in. There is some to do, but the good aspect is, I can jump in the car and be in a bigger city in 2-3 hours (Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Galveston). I'll take it. What I do enjoy about LC is, for me, there is really no such thing as "traffic" to what I'm used to. As you pointed out, one can get from one end of town to the other in 10-15 minutes. I love it. Plus, the cost of living is lower for me, my dollar goes further.

All in all, no, LC is not a big city by any means. It's location is what it has going for it. Fishing, hunting areas close by. The Gulf is only 50 miles to the south. Bigger cities not a far drive. Traffic not nearly as bad as Lafayette either.

[bpollen]

What LC should do to increase population, mainly, is, I think, to attract businesses that are non-environmental damaging. It's good the two chemical cos are moving into the area. Hate that they are chemical cos. The environment is one of the things that LC has going for it.

When I left, there was no Sam's Club there, or WalMart Supercenter, or Home Depot or casinos. So it has made advances.

I guess you give tax breaks and other benefits, to attract businesses. Lafayette has attracted the entertainment business. LC could do the same, I think.

[annie_himself]

Lake Charles seems like it could be a good retirement and destination vacation city. The plants don't help with that.

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Lake Charles seems like it could be a good retirement and destination vacation city. The plants don't help with that.

It's the entire Gulf region. One travels further west into Texas - Orange, Port Arthur and even into Houston - it is the same landscape and backdrop.