Why Downtown Lafayette?
A unique culture, charm, and amenities combine to create a Downtown like no other.
The center of Acadiana’s culture
The city of Lafayette lies at the center of a multi-parish region of Southwest Louisiana called Acadiana. Acadiana has had a huge affect on the culture of Louisiana as the home of the Cajuns (Cadiens) and Creoles, the birthplace of Cajun and Zydeco music, and the origin place of famous foods like jambalaya, gumbo, boudin, numerous crawfish dishes. Acadiana has a long history of creativity, diversity, ingenuity, and independence, and Lafayette is its largest and most central city. As a result, Downtown Lafayette is the gathering place for a regional community unlike any other in the United States.
Downtown Lafayette is a state designated cultural district with an abundance of galleries, artist studios, and craft shops, in addition to 5 museums, a regional arts center, and numerous public murals.
Learn more about the Downtown cultural district.
Downtown has more
Our city center is home to an array of live music venues, restaurants, bars, cafés, and independently-owned small businesses. The four Downtown parcs are the location of an abundance of recurring festivals, concerts, and other events. These amenities make Downtown the best place to live, work, and play in Lafayette.
Downtown is on the rise
Downtowns across the country are experiencing a period of revitalization and growth, and Lafayette is no exception. Over the past two years, Downtown Lafayette has seen developments that will bring 200+ new residential units to the districts. 14 new businesses opened or moved Downtown in 2018, bringing hundreds of employees and potential residents. Downtown has become a hub for startups and tech companies with access to high-speed fiber connections from LUS. Renewed interest by employers and builders has spurred additional investment in the Downtown district.
Our Downtown is well on its way to becoming a vibrant and diverse success story similar to other downtown revitalization stories like Chattanooga, Greenville, and others cities across the country that have leveraged the infrastructure and density of their downtown districts to spur economic development in their region. The benefits of living or locating your business in Downtown Lafayette are many. Locating in Downtown increases innovation potential of a company through social exchange and increased opportunity for making worthwhile connections.
Downtowns are proving to be more attractive to millennials as a place to live, work, and play. The option of zero commute times for workers that live nearby is enticing for a generation that values innovative companies, walkable, bikeable districts, and cultural amenities like restaurants, cafés, and live music venues.
Want to become a part of Lafayette’s transforming Downtown?
