Demolition Of Lafayette Building Put On Hold

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A historic building in the path of a downtown Lafayette interchange for the planned Interstate 49 Connector will not be demolished — at least for now.

Department of Transportation and Development spokeswoman Deidra Druilhet tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/XM7clU ) the contract to tear the building down has been cancelled.

DOTD had been moving forward with plans to demolish the Coburn's building, but changed course after state historic preservation officials recommended last month that the building be put on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building, believed to have been built either in the late 1800s or early 1900s, is one of the oldest structures in downtown.

Even with DOTD's cancellation of the demolition contract, officials say the building still might be torn down at some point.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com