On Tuesday the Lafayette City Parish Council voted in favor of a one cent sales tax that will extend along I-10 to Louisiana Avenue with the hopes of bringing more commercial development to the area.

“Now we have another opportunity where we can take another piece of property that’s not developed where we can encourage economic development.” says Council Member Brandon Shelvin.

The council voted 6-3 in favor of the TIF tax. In 2006, the council created the TIF district and placed the one percent sales tax within the district. The goal of the tax was to pay for infrastructure improvements for the Stirling Properties Development.

“You have the sterling development which is a successful development because of a TIF.” says Shelvin.

The council now wants to continue collecting the tax to pay for other commercial developments in the district, including a 42-acre development in the northeast section of I-10 and Louisiana Avenue that’s supposed to include a major grocery store, movie theater, and restaurants.

“You know you got people right now that are being laid off in the oil and gas industry, you know people are losing their jobs. this is a way we can pump some revenue back into the economy by taking a piece of property that’s not performing right now and putting it into commerce .” says Shelvin.

Shelvin says he is shocked it has taken the area so long to develop and plans for a new development are long overdue.