LAFAYETTE PARISH — Developers have cleared their first hurdle in redeveloping the former Handy Stop property on Jefferson Street.
On Monday, September 15, 2025, the Lafayette City Planning Commission approved a request to merge the site with a neighboring parking lot, allowing the project to move forward.
Plans call for demolishing the vacant building and replacing it with a 21-unit residential complex. Most of the units will be one-bedroom condominiums, with 23 ground-floor parking spaces and a top-floor penthouse designed for Airbnb use.
Commissioners also noted that a traffic study will be required if the development adds significant vehicle activity in the area.
The Handy Stop building has been vacant since 2022 and was once home to a fine men’s clothing and dry goods store dating back to 1912.
