New Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien Jr. Reportedly Planning To Scrap Downtown Project

Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - Ever since Hurricane Laura ravaged through much of Southwest Louisiana and the Lake Charles area back in 2020, one of the biggest questions was "What would happen with the Capitol One Tower in Downtown Lake Charles?" Well, after a 4-year waiting period, that answer was made clear when the tower came crumbling to the ground as many locals sat and watched the iconic building that once lined the Lake Charles skyline fall to the ground. The next question that arose was "What would replace it?" That has been a question that has yet to be answered.

In a May 3rd runoff election, Marshall Simien Jr. defeated incumbent Nic Hunter in the Lake Charles Mayoral race. That marked a pretty significant mark in Lake Charles history as Simien is the first African American to be elected Mayor of Lake Charles.

Prior to the election, former Mayor Nic Hunter announced the plans for a $24 million lakefront amphitheater that was set to go where the old Capital One tower once stood. This project also included a Convention Center and Hotel across the street at the Lake Charles Event Center.

This project drew many different opinions from many locals in the area. Many loved the idea, but there were a few different potential flaws within the project, starting with taking away parking at the Lake Charles Event Center, and the concern for adding a second Amphitheater in Downtown Lake Charles when the Arcade Amphitheatre is already located on the south end of the Event Center.

The money was not going to be the issue with the project, as voters actually approved money for a lakefront amphitheater back in 2023 as part of the “LC Rebound” bond proposal, which used existing taxes already currently in place. The original plan was to update the current Amphitheater that’s been around since the ’90s. But when the city bought the old Capital One site and parking garage for nearly $3 million in December, the idea shifted to building a second amphitheater there.

Per a report from The Advocate, new Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien Jr has already decided on his decision to scrap the plans for the new amphitheater in Downtown.

“I don’t want to build a second one and then have to figure out what to do with the first one,” he told The Advocate. “I’d rather just take what we have and use the funds we have to upgrade the existing amphitheater.”

Per the report from The Advocate, Simien doesn't have a timetable for upgrades or what the plans will include for Downtown Lake Charles, but he does want to be smart with how he spends the city's money. Simien is officially set to take office on July 1st, but is already assembling a team.

UPDATE FROM KPLC 7 NEWS: Early Monday, Simien told KPLC that he has not made a concrete decision on any major projects yet. He also stated to KPLC that the plans would have to be made with the approval of the Lake Charles City Council.