 IMPACT:
Impacts to the Sterling Grove Historic
District (SGHD), which includes St. Genevieve Church and
Elementary School, were minimized by re-aligning the
existing Evangeline Thruway |
|
farther away from the
District and using a reverse curve in the proposed
freeway alignment to move it away from the District as
well.
The Selected Alternative gives the most
clearance, approximately 280 feet, from the elevated
Connector freeway to the face of the St. Genevieve
Church. Additionally, the existing ground level
northbound Thruway would be relocated to the west away
from the front of the Church. This will also benefit the
Church and School by reducing noise and creating space
for visual mitigation.
COMMITMENT:
Additional
public involvement to detail the mitigation plan for the
District has been committed to in the MOA by FHWA and
LaDOTD in conjunction with LCG and the State Historic
Preservation Officer. Within the mitigation plan, LaDOTD
will include provisions for landscaping and other
measures that will be designed into the construction
project. The types of mitigation measures that will be
considered during the design process will include:
- Landscaping
- Earthberms
- Masonary walls
- Special lighting
- Long span bridges
- Attention to use of under bridge areas
- Hardscape and brick paver treatment
- Fencing
- Parks
During the development of the
specific details for design and construction in the
area, FHWA and LaDOTD shall seek input from Sterling
Grove Historic District residents as well as from St.
Genevieve Catholic Church and School. Public involvement
will occur prior to the formal submittal of the specific
details to the State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) for approval as specified in the MOA.
If a subsequent discovery or identification of
additional historic properties is made, LaDOTD and FHWA,
in consultation with the Louisiana SHPO, will ensure
that the owners of the additional properties are made
aware of the mitigation plan.
MITIGATION:
The
project will result in an adverse visual impact to the
Sterling Grove Historic District. An MOA has been
developed with regard to these impacts. Mitigation for
visual impacts will be provided in accordance with the
terms contained in the MOA, which is reproduced in
Appendix F of the Final EIS. Based on public involvement
and agency coordination, the following stipulations have
been agreed to and will be carried out by LaDOTD and
FHWA:
- The Evangeline Thruway will be realigned further
away from St. Genevieve Catholic Church and School and
the SGHD to allow for better safety, traffic access,
and circulation for the area.
- No right of way will be taken from the Sterling
Grove Historic District (including side street work).
- Special lighting will be provided in the area
directly in front of St. Genevieve Church and School
as well as in the rights of way adjacent to the church
and school.
- A plaza and green space with illumination and
landscaping will be developed in the remaining area
immediately adjacent to the Church and school.
- A simple decorative fence in the manner of wrought
iron with locking gates will be provided to enclose
the plaza and green space area.
- Upon completion of and acceptance by LaDOTD and
FHWA of the installation of the improvements listed
above in the area near the St. Genevieve Church and
School the ownership of the property, including all
future maintenance requirements for the property, will
be transferred to St. Genevieve Catholic Church.
- The conversion of Greig Street to a one-way street
extending from Elizabeth Street to a new intersection
with Mudd Avenue, and the elimination of its existing
intersection with Evangeline Thruway shall be
implemented and more fully developed at the time of
project design to enhance access to the church and
school. The development of a semicircular drive west
of the school with associated parking shall also be
included as part of the project design and shall be
incorporated into the above landscaped area as
appropriate.
STATUS:
See
table below.
STERLING GROVE HISTORIC
DISTRICT
| Commitment/Mitigation Tasks |
When to Occur* |
Status |
Date Completed |
Links to Relevant
Resources |
 |
| Sterling Grove Historic
District Workshops/Charrettes for Mitigation
Plan |
P |
TBA |
Ongoing |
Community
Involvement / CSS |
|
| Context
Sensitive Solutions Concepts and Details |
P,F |
Preliminary Design |
Ongoing |
Community
Involvement / CSS |
|
| Submittal of the specific
Details to the State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) |
P,F |
February 21, 2006 Meeting |
N/A |
Meeting
Notes |
|
| Owners
of Additional Historic Properties Identified Must
be Informed of the Mitigation Plan |
P,F |
No additional historic properties identified
as of yet |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| Ownership of Property in
the Area Near the St. Genevieve Church and School
will be transferred to St. Genenvieve Catholic
Church |
F |
No Activity |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| Noise
Mitigation at School |
F,C |
No Activity |
N/A |
Noise |
|
| *Note: P =
Preliminary Design Phase, F = Final Design
Phase, C = Construction
Phase | | |
|
|
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