When they say “you can’t” – we do! Southern Mutual Help Association’s (SMHA) has a long history of making things happen, transformational approaches, removing barriers and doing the hard impossible justice work.
Teche Ridge LLC and SMHA have found the best developer to make it the best it can be! Teche Ridge will have a $150,000,000 economic impact in Iberia Parish. Guidry Land Development sees SMHA’s vision and will continue building with commercial and additional residential development in different phases to bring this to fruition.
SMHA overcame several barriers when starting Teche Ridge. We changed local ordinances that made a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) illegal to build. We corrected local law that prevented developers from entering into pre-sale agreements until a final plat was approved by the Parish. We transformed the thinking of the public.
Teche Ridge is rooted in SMHA’s passion for fairness and represents a new way of living together where families of different life experiences can enjoy a quality of life and sense of community in a safe, walkable neighborhood.
Thanks and appreciation for all who saw and believed SMHA’s vision and have supported us along the way:
- Our national lenders, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and NeighborWorks Capital, for believing in SMHA and the huge financial investment to make this happen
- Cliff Guidry, Guidry Land Development, for seeing the vision and taking it to the next level
- Former Senator Fred Mills, Chair of SMHA’s Board of Directors and all SMHA Board members and officers, for encouragement and support
- Gail Romero, formerly an owner of Van Eaten and Romero Real Estate, for encouraging SMHA long ago – “if anyone can do this, you can”
- Theresa LaCour, PMI Integrity Properties, for her years of belief and support
Very special kudos go to SMHA’s staff for their excellent hard work who have stood by the Teche Ridge vision, believed in it, stuck with it and made many sacrifices to make that vision happen. We are very grateful to three time mayor of New Iberia, Hilda Curry, who worked with SMHA to help people understand the economic importance of Teche Ridge.
This is an exciting time for Iberia Parish. We look forward to seeing what is to come and sharing the progress! Expect activity in Teche Ridge to begin very soon!
For more information, be sure to follow this website or the Teche Ridge website at www.TecheRidge.com. Also, follow our Facebook pages.
