• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Republica Press

Your Business & Political News Source

REPUBLICA PRESS
Your Business & Political News Source

  • Home
  • BUSINESS
  • MONEY
  • POLITICS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • SCIENCE/TECH
  • US
  • WORLD

Struggling Louisiana Neighborhood Sees New Highway as a Perilous Exit

by

When the Tapo family lived along the Thruway, their house was struck by cars twice. “I’ve seen motorcycle wrecks,” said Carl Tapo Jr., who grew up in the neighborhood. “I’ve seen a guy get hit by a bus. I’ve seen a guy killed. I’ve seen a guy run over on a bike looking at an accident on the Thruway.”

“It got to a point,” he added, “that you got so used to it.”

His father, Carl Tapo Sr., a retired railroad engineer, said that he taught his children to “respect the highway,” and that they mostly played in a spacious backyard instead of going out into the neighborhood. He has become reluctantly open to the prospect of an elevated highway.

“Now, what you do have to be concerned about is vagrancy,” the elder Mr. Tapo said. “Well, we got that now anyway.”

For Ms. Bonnet, one of the worst effects of the connector would be the displacement of the community garden that she has spent so much time and energy nurturing. She tilled the soil and harvested vegetables.

It is part of a land deal to make room for a water plant displaced by the interstate’s right of way. Her old house, where she lived with one of her daughters, was also bought by the state. Now, she lives in a repurposed shipping container, a prototype project by the local Habitat for Humanity.

The garden, planted on property lent to the McComb Veazey Neighborhood Coterie by the local school district, sits on sloping land beside a wastewater treatment plant. In a neighborhood that has endured so much decline, those two acres were a bright spot where she could see things take root and flourish.

“We did all this work to get it where we want it,” Ms. Bonnet said. “Now, we got to start all over again.”

Christiaan Mader is the editor and founder of The Current, a nonprofit news organization covering Lafayette and South Louisiana, and an occasional contributor to The Times.

View Source

>>> Don’t Miss Today’s BEST Amazon Deals! <<<<

Filed Under: US

Primary Sidebar

More to See

Stained Glass in a $1.5M Converted Church in St. Louis Is Simply Divine

It’s a property that offers a unique open floor plan—plus a hot tub with a view.“It was a Methodist church located in a historic little area of St. … [Read More...] about Stained Glass in a $1.5M Converted Church in St. Louis Is Simply Divine

Singapore Pharmacy Platform Startup Lands $27 Million In Bill Gates-Backed Funding Round

More From ForbesMay 23, 2022,08:09am EDTChina EV Maker XPeng Loss More Than Doubles Amid Covid Woes","scope":{"topStory":{"index":1,"title":"China EV … [Read More...] about Singapore Pharmacy Platform Startup Lands $27 Million In Bill Gates-Backed Funding Round

$7.45M Hog Island Is the Largest Private Island Available in Florida Right Now

It’s the ultimate in seclusion in the middle of North Central Florida: a private island in the middle of St. Johns River near Lake George.In addition … [Read More...] about $7.45M Hog Island Is the Largest Private Island Available in Florida Right Now

Copyright © 2022 · Republica Press · Log in · As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy