McComb-Veazey Coterie: Restoring Historical Communities in Louisiana

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LAFAYETTE, La. — With the celebration of McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie’s annual meeting, residents were excited to see and participate in positive change. Through collaboration and determination, the coterie is working to revitalize the neighborhood with equitable initiatives and grassroots building. As the largest concentrated area of blighted and adjudicated properties in Lafayette, community revitalization is hopeful and necessary.

The Black Wall Street Times interviewed the Coterie Chair Raychel Nelson, and Executive Director Tina Shelvin-Bingham on the Coterie’s impactful work and current projects.

The Historical Significance of McComb-Veazey 

The McComb-Veazey community ignited from a rich history of Louisiana Creoles. 

“MCV is one of the oldest Creole neighborhoods in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana. Most of the original homes were built in the first half of the 20th century to house the Southern Pacific railroad workers and their families. McComb-Veazey still has a predominantly [Creole] and African-American community, we are still diverse,” Nelson said, “Many of the residents have lived in the community their whole lives. We do have many elderly residents, along with multiple generations of family members still living in the area.” 

In addition, McComb-Veazey is the beginning route for Lafayette’s first official Black Mardi Gras Parade, which has existed for over 70 years. The Black Masking Indians and Pardi Gras are also in the area.

According to Bingham, Clifton Chenier, Lil Buck, Uncle Fallay, Cupid, and Grammy Award winner Buckwheat Zydeco have played, lived, or raised in the McComb-Veazey community. Bingham said, “McComb-Veazey has always been a city in a city.”

How Neighborhood Coteries Create Positive Change

The McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie is a resident-led neighborhood planning group. Community members and the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) established the Coterie in 2006.

Nelson said, “The coterie is a group of neighbors, friends, and families who share the common goal of nurturing and strengthening the community we live in. It is the heartbeat of our neighborhood. We work closely with the Lafayette Consolidated Government… It was organized about 20 years ago under the leadership of Mrs. Virgina M Jones.”

The Coterie builds connections with community residents, local agencies, organizations, and governments. They work together to bring equitable improvement in the area through active planning committees. These include the Community in Action Committee, 12th Street Committee, Fundraising, and Marketing Committee, and Sustainable Development Committee. 

McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie strongly values organizational involvement and partnerships. 

Bingham shared, “The Adjudicated Properties Pilot Program (APPP), a partnership with McComb-Veazey Neighborhood CDC, the coterie, Lafayette Consolidated Government, and Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, was created from our Sustainable Development Committee to help transform our tax delinquent properties into value-added properties within the community. Our goal is to work with local developers to create market rates and workforce housing within the community. We are partnered with the 100 Black Men and Lafayette Habitat for Humanity in the development of a new tutoring facility in the Veazey neighborhood.”

Habitat for Humanity recently received a Community Revitalization Fellowship grant from Community Progress. Six engaged community workers traveled to Tennessee and New York to learn more about reviving blighted and vacant properties.

The Coterie’s dedication is creating measurable positive change. Through the 12th Street Committee and partnerships, the Coterie built Legacy Park, a neighborhood park for children.

McComb-Veazey Coterie’s Annual Meeting

The annual meeting occurred at the McComb-Veazey Community House (est. 2019).

In attendance were Mayor Monique Blanco Boulet, newly appointed Principal of Paul Breaux Middle School Ryan Martin, School Board Member Amy Trahan, President of 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette, Inc. Alton Trahan, City Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux, and LCG and Habitat for Humanity representatives.

With the community’s fulfilling presence at the meeting, they discussed current projects, ideas, and challenges. Community members also voiced their concerns and perspectives to community workers and civic workers.

Bingham said, “Habitat for Humanity built over 40 homes within the community… They’re building affordable housing for the community, which is great, but we also have people in our community who also need deep affordability. We need to make sure that we are providing housing opportunities for everyone in our community  to be whole and complete and have a good quality of life here in the community.”

In addition, Principal Martin extended Paul Breaux Middle School (located in McComb-Veazey) as a space for community engagement and development.

Community assessments, involvement, planning, feedback, and meetings are necessary. Ultimately, the Coterie plans to implement the community’s immediate and long-term needs and wants.

Community Involvement is Key

Bingham strongly encourages community members to bring their perspectives and skills to the coterie. “Engagement is key in moving the work of the neighborhood’s vision forward. Involvement in monthly and annual meetings is only the start. Residents and community partners can help us make a deeper impact in the community by helping to implement projects and programming that benefit the community and help us continue to grow,” she expressed.

Interested community members and Lafayette residents can join the Coterie, committees, and attend monthly meetings held every 3rd Tuesday.