IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY) — A $150 million economic boost could soon reshape Iberia Parish.

The nonprofit organization behind the Teche Ridge development says the long-awaited project is finally moving forward after more than a decade of planning, policy reform and persistence.

The Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) first envisioned Teche Ridge as a Traditional Neighborhood Development; a type of walkable, community-centered neighborhood where homes, shops and parks coexist within the same development.

“It cost us about $10 million just to get the barriers taken down, and that was about 12 years ago,” said Lorna Bourg, president of SMHA and the last living founder of the nonprofit. “It was important not to have only rich people live in one place and only the very poor live someplace else. Why do you have to put a thing on people’s heads and say, ‘This is where the poor people live’ or ‘This is where the rich people live?’”

Bourg said SMHA spent years changing local ordinances to make the project possible — laws that once made developments like Teche Ridge illegal in Iberia Parish. The nonprofit also developed new financing models and partnered with national lenders to bring the idea to life.

The project has since been sold to local developer Cliff Guidry of Guidry Land Development, who has partnered with Andres Builders to expand the site with new homes, townhomes and commercial spaces.

“Over the next 12-16 months, you’re going to see a real blossom in New Iberia,” said Connor Stapley, vice president of Andres Builders. “We’re trying to get most of the amenities inside of Teche Ridge so that if somebody really didn’t want to leave the community for a while, they wouldn’t have to.”

Stapley said the company plans to begin vertical construction on the first homes within weeks, with new builds added each month through next year. The project is expected to bring new jobs in construction, architecture, and local business development, alongside long-term property tax growth for the parish.

Bourg says that for SMHA, Teche Ridge was never just about housing it was about fairness and long-term opportunity.

“I am very pleased that Teche Ridge is going to be what we knew it could be,” Bourg said.

Residents can expect to see increased construction activity through 2026 as Teche Ridge continues to expand into one of Iberia Parish’s largest private developments in recent history.

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