City to seek transfer of Sugar Cane Festival building; council to spend at least $2M on renovations

New Iberia — The council introduced Ordinance No. 2025‑31 to authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute documents conveying the Sugar Cane Festival building and adjacent property from Iberia Parish to the city, with a public hearing set for Dec. 16, 2025.

City attorneys explained the parcel map (Parcels A–D) and said the city would accept transfer of Parcel A (about 11 acres including the Festival Building), while Parcels B and C (Armory and Veterans Memorial) would remain parish property. The city would grant an easement for parish access to the Veterans Memorial. Under an attorney general’s opinion and the negotiated form, the transfer is revocable if the city does not meet its commitment to spend at least $2 million on renovations; staff said the city already has about $1.0M in match funds and expects capital outlay to supply additional funds.

The attorney said design work could begin in spring (or when capital outlay arrives) and underscored that the structure needs substantial rehabilitation; an appraisal showed negative value once required repairs were considered, which is why the city’s capital commitment matters to the parish. Council members discussed likely operating costs such as utilities and insurance, and noted past successful state‑funded building rehabilitations such as the local museum and theater projects. The council voted to introduce the ordinance and will consider a final ordinance after the parish approves the counterpart action.