Imagine the world coming to your doorstep.
The Louisiana International Festival brings music, food, and people to downtown Lafayette. All Tyler Pattin has to do is step out on the porch of his Cayuette Place home and take part in it all.
“From my experience living in New York City and still having an apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans, I like to be active,” Patin says. “I think there's a good vibe downtown. It's full of artists, musicians, people my age who want to continue the culture.”
Patin, an architect and real estate developer from Acadiana who moved back to Lafayette six months ago, purposefully sought out a space where he could blend his life and work, and found a space near Caillet Place and Jefferson Street. We arrived at a 90-year-old house. . This weekend, he'll be at his doorstep with everything the festival has to offer, including live music, art, food, and more, all without the hassle of parking.
It's a way of life that he hopes to make accessible to many others. “My goal is to bring more viable housing and mixed-use development to Downtown, Fightinville and the Northside,” Patin said. “Housing inventory is very low nationally. And Lafayette Parish is actually growing in population in the state.”
According to the 2020 Census, Lafayette Parish's 10-year growth rate was 9.1%, much higher than Louisiana's overall growth rate of 2.7%. Patin sees an opportunity to increase interest in more sustainable living in urban centers. Plus, downtown residents have the perk of attending festivals and parades that draw visitors from all over the world.
“Living surrounded by cars is not sustainable in the long term. I want more people to own cars, but I think it's better to do it here than in New York or New Orleans. It's much more sustainable. There are a lot of positives,” he says.
One of the good things about Patin outside of Festival International weekend is being able to build relationships in the neighborhood. He says the people he meets in his daily life, whether walking to the coffee shop to work or going out to lunch at Pat's or Tong's, build a sense of community for him.
This community is particularly active during major local celebrations such as festivals and Mardi Gras. While the economic impact of these events in terms of attendance and revenue generated by the events is well-documented, Patin said it's a simpler calculation for him. He just loves the energy that comes with having so much to do and see. It's a few blocks from his house.
“There’s really no downside,” he says. “You are at the center of all activity on this issue that impacts every aspect of Lafayette and the region from an economic and cultural standpoint.”
This is also a benefit for his friends, many of whom appreciate having access to nearby bathrooms and couches. Sure, there's some noise, but for Patin, it's all just part of the atmosphere.
“My house is actually pretty quiet, even though it's only about a block away from one of the main stages,” he says. “When you move downtown, you automatically sign up for it. Especially in the French Quarter now, there are a lot of people who aren't from New Orleans who complain about the noise and visitors and things like that. It's always something to sign up for.''Move to an area that feels like a cultural and music hub. ”