Mayor Ray Bourque is pictured in front of the old Broussard Elementary School building, which is planned to become the new City Hall, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Broussard, La.
The city of Broussard is looking to move its city hall and other services into the former Broussard Elementary and Madison Banquet and Reception Centre.
The $3.67 million deal would be a win for a growing city that has outgrown its current space at 310 East Main St., Mayor Ray Bourque said last week. The city is currently working to finalize the deal.
The 3.6-acre property includes three buildings: the former school, the banquet hall and a building behind the Bank of Sunset and Trust Co. The three would house the new Broussard City Hall, the city council chambers and the municipal complex.
The plan to purchase to property has been in discussion for a few months, Bourque said. But lack of space for city employees has been an issue for years. Currently, employees are spread across four buildings.
The move would help consolidate services into one central downtown location while increasing parking in the area.
The city recently celebrated the opening of its public service complex along U.S. 90, another project aimed at addressing cramped conditions for its police, fire and public works departments.
"Which solved three big problems for us, as far as operational space, but it didn't solve our problem here," Bourque said.
The new location, at 406 East Madison St., would allow the city's departments to grow with its population for decades to come, he said.
"It's really going to allow the city to move into a space where we can continue the high level of service that we're committed to for our residents," he said.
Broussard has grown rapidly in recent years. In 2020, the city had 13,400 residents, according to Census data. In 2024, that number grew to 15,300, or a 13.7% increase. Lafayette only saw a 0.7% increase during that same period.
Bourque said he isn't sure what would happen to the current city hall after the move but stressed the city's preservation efforts of historic buildings.
"We have a track record of repurposing buildings for the next highest use so that still needs to be determined. The acquisition is what's important to us right now," Bourque said.