The state of Louisiana received $48.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the National Disaster Resilience Competition for the Resettlement of Isle de Jean Charles. Since the state is using federal grant money to fund the program, the state and anyone who chooses to participate must follow a series of guidelines and rules.
The policy manual and several guidance documents are available to help you understand the rules and regulations of the Resettlement. You are encouraged to work with your case manager or a Resettlement team member on any specific questions you may have.
Wetlands lots are 225 feet by 85 feet and bayou side lots are 250 feet by 75 feet.
You can move in upon completion of your home. Houses will be transferred on an individual basis.
All homes will be 3 feet above the 500-year floodplain. The exact height of each house may vary, as the land throughout the development differs slightly. Each home will be about 2.5 feet above ground.
Upper cabinets are 5 feet above the floor and extend up to 7.5 feet above the floor. Countertops are 3 feet above the floor, with lower cabinets underneath.
There will not be a utility room. However, all floorplans have a closet for the washer and dryer and a separate utility closet for the water heater and HVAC system. All floorplans include a pantry.
No. The houses are designed with wood slats around the perimeter of the foundation to keep out animals, which also allows air and water to pass under the house. It is important that the underside of the houses remain vented in this manner to prevent moisture buildup and allow the passage of any floodwaters.
Depending on how many furnished rooms are being packed and moved, eligible moving expenses will be paid for Options A and D participants as detailed in the chart below:
| NUMBER OF FURNISHED ROOMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| MAXIMUM AMOUNT | $600 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,300 | $1,550 | $1,700 | $1,900 |
The Resettlement is unable to offer moving assistance to Option B participants.
Yes, all lots will have ditches in the front for drainage purposes. There will not be ditches in the back.
It depends. The bayou functions as a drainage way. Any dock, pier, bulkhead or other structure would require a Coastal Use Permit and a Letter of No Objection from Terrebonne Parish.
Each Bayou Blue side lot will have an unobstructed view of the bayou and backyard access to the bayou. In the future, there may be houses on the other side of the bayou and these will be within view of homes facing the bayou.
The state is working to obtain a conservation easement on the wetland area. This easement will protect this area from development in perpetuity. However, this is still in process and the state will contact residents when we have more information.
No. Local law prohibits the discharge of firearms within parish-approved subdivisions or within 300 feet of inhabited structures. A deer stand would also be inconsistent with walking trails.
Yes, you can fish in the ponds with a valid fishing license. OCD will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to determine the appropriate type and number of fish.
Driveway material is likely to be concrete. However, this is still in process and the state will contact residents when we have more information.
Homes are required to be elevated and meet architectural guidelines. Beyond these baseline requirements, homeowners in The New Isle will decide if they want additional rules and who will enforce them.
If a governance structure in The New Isle is established, it can define the parameters of home-based businesses. In addition, home-based businesses are regulated by the parish. If the question refers to the leasing of space in the commercial area, residents and non-residents alike will have the opportunity to apply.
It depends. If two-thirds of The New Isle neighbors wish to install speed bumps on Pelican Lane, they can apply in accordance with Terrebonne Parish’s established policies and procedures here.
Yes. If the addition: 1) does not depreciate the value of the home; 2) meets all parish requirements, including obtaining proper permits and inspections; and 3) meets any neighborhood governance body rules. If following these requirements, you can add on at any time.
This is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
Terrebonne Parish will own the streets and rights of ways, as is common in the development of new neighborhoods. The rest is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
The state will partner with a local nonprofit to engage in housing, community and economic development activities, as well as to improve and/or maintain the physical, social or economic environment of the community and space in The New Isle. The selection of board members is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
This is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
No. Households receiving a new home through Option A or D will not pay any closing costs.
This is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
This is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
This is still in process and the state will reach out to residents as soon as we have more information.
The state will give priority to and exhaust every effort to populate The New Isle with individuals and families who have previously lived on Isle de Jean Charles (Options A and B). The state is working with applicants and using available resources to reach as many past, permanent Isle de Jean Charles residents as possible in order to facilitate and bring back the Isle de Jean Charles community at The New Isle. The hope is that all 120 lots will house members of the Isle de Jean Charles community. However, if properties remain after earlier portions of the Resettlement conclude, those properties will be processed in a manner consistent with CDBG requirements, while taking community needs into consideration. Therefore, as more people with a relationship to the island choose to live in the new community, fewer properties will be available to outside parties. Any lots distributed in this manner will be subject to the same community governance regulations.
The state anticipates up to 120 houses in The New Isle once it has been fully developed. The first houses are anticipated to be complete in 2021.
Yes. If you choose to participate, you will own the lot and home. You will be required to agree to and sign a forgivable mortgage that will be forgiven at a rate of 20 percent (one-fifth) per year until the occupancy requirement is met. After five years, the lot and house will be 100 percent yours.
Should you choose to leave your home in the new community before the five-year occupancy requirement is met, you are free to sell the home, keep any profit from the portion that you own and move.
Foreclosable events include:
This is only a summary. We encourage you to review the Homeowners Assistance Agreement and mortgage documents for all details.
No. MHUs will not be allowed.
While construction of The New Isle will occur simultaneously with residential construction, the Resettlement team will make sure homes are accessible to residents as they are completed.
All Option A lot assignments for current eligible families are finalized.
Yes. You will be required to have both homeowners and flood insurance on your new home, either in the new community (Option A or B) or outside of the new community (Option D).
Depending upon your chosen Resettlement option, you will be required to sign some of the following legal documents:
You can request to review all documents prior to signing by contacting a member of the Resettlement team or downloading them at IsleDeJeanCharles.La.Gov/How-To-Apply.
The deadline to apply for Option A and Option D was Jan. 31, 2020. The application period for Option B opened on Feb. 10, 2020 and the deadline to apply is June 30, 2021. However, all past island residents interested in participating in the Resettlement are encouraged to contact the Resettlement team as soon as possible, as lots are selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are several program deadlines regarding selecting a program option, relocation, construction, appeals, etc. You are encouraged to work with your case manager or the Resettlement team with any questions or to discuss any extenuating circumstances you may have.
The originally planned solar farm is not economically viable due to high initial infrastructure costs, as the site will not generate sufficient revenue to justify the costs. The homes are being designed, built and verified as ENERGY STAR Certified Homes, which are 20% – 30% more efficient than the average home. This energy efficiency will provide sufficient utility savings at lower costs than solar panels.
Past permanent, primary residents who:
Eligible households may purchase a new home at an affordable price constructed by a nonprofit homebuilder at The New Isle. Eligible applicants must be below 80% AMI. This option is made possible by The Louisiana Housing Corporation, which awarded $5 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds to the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, a neighborhood-based nonprofit homebuilder, to construct 19 single-family homes for Option B in The New Isle neighborhood. A $1 million construction line of credit from Enterprise Community Partners plus proceeds from the sale of the first 19 homes will be used to build eight additional homes, totaling 27 new single-family homes for Option B homeownership.
The state is working with current applicants and using available resources to reach as many past, permanent Isle de Jean Charles residents as possible. If you know someone who lived on the island, please share Resettlement information with him or her and let us know, because they may be eligible for Resettlement assistance. Those who have previously lived on the island can contact a Resettlement team member for more information on resettlement options, eligibility, the application process or any other questions they may have.
Expressing interest in and/or completing an application does not commit or bind an individual to participate in the Resettlement.
Yes. The Resettlement requires Option B participants who own an off-island home to sell it prior to or within 30 days of issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for The New Isle home.
Failure to comply with the requirement to sell your previous off-island home or the primary residence requirement may result in an event of default defined within the terms of the Act of Transfer or Mortgage signed by the participant. However, the Resettlement may grant an extension in time to sell the previous home on a case-by-case basis.
No. Based on feedback from Isle de Jean Charles residents, the state has worked with HUD to update participation requirements to better reflect the wishes of community residents. Resettlement participants WILL NOT be required to sign a mortgage document or deed restriction related to their island property. Rather, all participants will be required to sign a Homeowner Assistance Agreement that defines use restrictions for island properties.
The state has worked out a solution with HUD that allows Resettlement participants’ existing island structures to remain intact, while making sure they are not used for residential purposes or redevelopment. This solution is different from traditional HUD funded relocation programs, where vacated properties are returned to permanent open space. The restrictions for use of island properties are only related to the homes/homeowners who participate in the Resettlement and will not be enforced for island residents and/or owners who do not participate. As defined in the Homeowner Assistance Agreement, the restrictions for use of island properties include:
Please review your program documents before agreeing and signing and work with your case manager or a Resettlement team member to answer any case-specific questions you may have.
Maintenance and upkeep of island properties will continue to be the responsibility of the property owner.
No. The Resettlement does not require you to have insurance on your island property.
Resettlement participants who sign the Homeowner Assistance Agreement will be asked to review, acknowledge and comply with the terms of the Homeowner Assistance Agreement and the mortgage related to their new home. The state will monitor the program to ensure compliance with the federal requirements associated with Resettlement funding.
The Resettlement will not impact the cemetery.
The owner of the island property will retain mineral rights.
These events are unrelated. Construction on the Island Road roadway itself is not being carried out by the Louisiana Office of Community Development. Terrebonne Parish is piling rocks on the south side of the road. This is intended to ensure continued access to the island cemetery, fishing piers and remaining homes and businesses on the island.
The fishing pier project is funded by 2010 Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage Assessment funds to mitigate for lost recreational opportunities due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. The project was selected by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group, in collaboration with Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.