Spirit of Place: Thibodaux’s Acadia Plantation neighborhood development
A new kind of utopia is blossoming in Cajun Country this fall. Acadia Plantation is a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) founded by Jake Giardina and Ronald Adams, co-owners of Jayron Enterprises. Giardina and Adams envisioned a better way to live when they set out to create this dream community. They hope that one day their children and grandchildren will enjoy the bucolic stretch of land they have transformed in the heart of Cajun Country. Acadia is centrally located in the city of Thibodaux, only one hour away from either New Orleans or Baton Rouge, and residents are able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with living 10-12 feet above sea level. Designed by Steve Oubre of Architects Southwest, Acadia is built in the same tradition as River Ranch in Baton Rouge, their last successful brainchild. The design fuses natural beauty and safety with traditional building styles, along with a little bit of Thibodaux flair.
Based on the principles of new urbanism, Oubre and the team at Architects Southwest envision the TND as an all-inclusive village, offering large and small houses, businesses, and offices all within a five minute walking distance of each neighborhood. Plans for public parks, jogging paths, creeks, and natural flood basins will allow residents to commune with nature and enjoy peaceful walks and quiet evenings relaxing on the porch.
The quality architecture and cutting edge urban design in these traditional, mixed-housing neighborhoods has been the main attraction for families who move to Acadia. When you combine the ideal neighborhood with the presence of businesses in the community gates, it gives the feel of a small, self-sufficient town. There is no need to spend hours in traffic en route to the grocery store, the bank, or even the office. For business owners, it’s a one—of-a-kind opportunity. Many spaces have already been reserved by doctors, restaurants, professional offices, beauty boutiques, and retail shops in the tree-lined center square. Those who work in the Town Center are able to live nearby or even above their shops in quaint New Orleans-style condos overlooking the landscaped square, complete with a gurgling fountain and nearby arbor.
Thirty families are already living in Acadia, and many more families and businesses are building and moving in. Realtor and marketing director Jeanette Randon Naquin has been at the heart of this process, finding just the right home for each family. “There is something for everyone here at Acadia. We have homes ranging from 1,500 square feet to 11,000 square feet. The cottages we’re building right now are a great example. The Cottage, Village, and Neighborhood lots all sport a service alley to enter the homes’ spacious double garages. Incorporated into the design of these homes are beautifully landscaped courtyards surrounded by fences, perfect for outdoor entertainment and personal enjoyment. Some of the plans even have outdoor kitchens and pools.”
Cottage lots, which are 45 ft. x 115 ft., now start at around $27,900. Each home is subtly colored and inviting, from the bright, warm hues of the Caribbean-style homes to the cozy, beautifully finished brick courtyards of the French Quarter cottages. Naquin elaborates, “There are several architectural styles to choose from, including the ever-popular French design, Colonial revival, Classical, and Greek revival. Prospective residents can purchase a lot and build from an approved design plan, or they can purchase one of our newly constructed homes. Acadia encourages purchasers to build within a specified time frame. We also have an architectural control committee to approve plans with special emphasis on exterior details. This, of course, is to ensure that the property values will be maintained.”
“The arbor is our gathering place here at Acadia,” she says. “Last Christmas we had two local schools caroling by candlelight. Last Halloween we had planned our first ever trick-or-treat party in conjunction with the Children’s Museum. We set up booths and activities all along the town square. By the end of the night, Acadia was making emergency runs around the corner to Rouse’s to clean out their candy supply—almost 2,000 people showed up! We are buying a lot more candy this year,” she chuckles.
The creators have left no stone unturned in this small paradise. Residents are able to enjoy the unique identity of Acadia Plantation while remaining authentic to the history, traditions, and customs of south Louisiana. Most of all, it is a community of families that are growing together, creating places with memory and spirit, places that will be handed down for generations to come. ✦
