The Lafayette Parish School System recently received approval for a project that involves purchasing and renovating the former RV retailer, Camping World, off of I-49.
Funding for the purchase & improvements for the former Camping World—located at 3030 NE Evangeline Thruway—are provided by the 2019A Bond Construction Fund; Approval of this project allows for a budget revision of about $2,800,000 to accommodate this project out of the contingency funds in that fund.
“It is estimated that constructing a similar facility would have cost about $5,200,000.”
LPSS has outgrown the ability of the current Maintenance facility to handle its large bus fleet. There are also 23 propane-fueled school buses in the fleet, which need a propane fueling station—the new space has one. The former Camping World facility is 10+ acres and contains a secured limestone parking lot with ample space to hold all of LPSS’ buses on one site. The facility also includes eight bays large enough to accommodate buses as well as plenty of workspace to serve the needs of the entire Maintenance Department for future generations.
Kudos to LPSS for purchasing vacant property, instead of building new. We as a community appreciate that this will be one less vacant property in Lafayette Parish. As for Camping World, they have relocated to Breaux Bridge. See that post (here).
