Calcasieu Council on Aging celebrated the announcement of its new development with a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.

“It’s been a tedious four-year journey. We finally made it,” said Jackie Green, CCOA executive director, about the process of applying for FEMA grant monies. Green credited the CCOA board, elected officials, and the project development and grants management team who stuck with CCOA despite the longer than anticipated journey for making the day – and the project – a reality.

“Jackie Green makes stuff happen,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “When I sit down in a meeting and we talk about some amazing out-of-the box ideas, they’re not just talk.”

Derek Porche, Porche May Architects, Lake Charles, is architect. The development at 3950 Gerstner Memorial Drive will have two facilities.

“The first main building is just under 5,000 square feet. It will serve as the Council’s administrative headquarters, Porsche said. “It will feature modern light-filled interiors and expansion capabilities to accommodate larger events. The building will also include a private covered patio.”

The Bingo Palace is set to make a comeback. The new facility will feature a 16,000 square-foot hub for community activities and state-of-the art bingo hall with seating for over 400 guests. The center will also house the CCOA nutritional division, which prepares and delivers Meals on Wheels, commercial kitchen cafe, complete with drive-through pickup window for both the bingo patrons and the broader community. Accessibility and landscaping will be important features of the development. Buildings will be powered by generator in case of an emergency outage.

“This project represents more than just new buildings,” Porche said. “It is a symbol of the progress and commitment to the needs for serving our city, our seniors. It will create spaces for connection, support and opportunity, all thanks to the vision of Ms. Green.”

Hunter said the project adds to the over $600 million in public and private investments in the city now.

“You would have to go back literally a century, probably to when the ship channel was built to see the amount of activity happening in this city as you see today,” the mayor said.

He called the activity the silver lining after the storms.

“This right here, ladies and gentlemen, is a generational, transformational moment for this community, for our elderly brothers and sisters, for those who need services and deserve services.”

When Green closed the event, she told the crowd that this is her 25th year with CCOA.

“I wanted to build something – that long after I’m gone – there will be a legacy and a staple for seniors in this community,” Green said. “In order to do that, we have to be patient, and trust the people God puts in our lives that have helped us get to this point. It’s not easy. We’ve lost hair. We’ve lost sleep. But we’re here, and it’s going to be amazing.”

Alfred Palma is contractor. Work will begin after the first of the year. Porche expects the project to wrap up in about a year.

The project is funded through a
$6,350,000 FEMA grant award.