Terrebonne Parish approves $5.35 million for Parkwood Place; housing contracts and vouchers authorized

The Terrebonne Parish council ratified a conditional award of $5,350,470.80 in affordable-housing grant funds to Saint Bernard Project Incorporated for development at Parkwood Place and authorized subsequent housing-assistance contracts between the parish and Saint Bernard Project.

The council voted unanimously to ratify the conditional award after the funding and project were described by parish staff and council members. The motion to ratify was moved by Councilman Pledger and seconded by Councilman Amity; the recorded vote was 8-0.

Why it matters: parish staff said the award is intended to fill a financing gap for a larger development that parish officials described as a roughly $26 million project combining prior American Rescue Plan funds and HOME (HUD) program funding. The council also approved a housing-assistance payment contract (AHAP) and a subsequent housing-assistance payment contract (HAP) between the parish and Saint Bernard Project; that motion was moved by Councilman Pledger and seconded by Councilman Babin and passed by an 8-0 vote.

Parish staff described the Parkwood Place plan as the purchase and redevelopment of lots in a subdivision previously owned or developed by La Russa and Giglio and later managed by GEM Builders. Parish staff said Saint Bernard Project will purchase 48 lots and develop new rental housing — an initial phase for 90 units, with 10 one-bedroom units pledged for seniors. Parish staff said the project had previously received about $3 million in American Rescue Plan funding and that the additional award represents “all new money” for the project; staff also said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) required to satisfy an ARP condition was executed before the end of 2024.

Council members asked for capacity numbers and senior set-aside details. Parish staff answered that the funding package included HUD HOME funds and other state and federal sources, and that the 10 one-bedroom units are pledged for seniors to make the development eligible for additional project-based vouchers; staff said more units could be used by seniors but only 10 are pledged. During discussion there were inconsistent figures about household totals: staff first said the number of households would be “102,” and later Councilman Babin corrected that figure to “110” or “112.” The council record does not resolve that discrepancy; parish staff indicated the funding currently pledged supports 90 units in the described phase.

Council members praised Saint Bernard Project’s track record and emphasized that the award did not require general-fund appropriations from the parish; the $3 million referenced by one member was described as pass-through federal grant funding already committed to the project.

The council also placed on the record that the funding package combined multiple sources to close a financing gap for the development. Parish staff named the HUD HOME program and American Rescue Plan funds as sources discussed during the meeting.

Looking ahead: council members and staff said the award and AHAP/HAP contracts will support initial construction and voucher administration steps; public hearings or subsequent contract finalization steps were not detailed in the council’s on-the-record motions.

Ending: The motions approving the conditional grant and the AHAP/HAP contracts were approved unanimously at the meeting; council members and parish staff said they expect Saint Bernard Project to proceed with the described phase once contract details and project financing are finalized.