Extreme Transformation at Former Northgate Theater

I had to do a double take when I first saw the progress at the old Northgate movie theater on Moss Street. The building is being converted into a shopping center that looks like its brand-new. When I called the number on the sign for more information, I reached Affordable Home Furniture, which is a store located just a few blocks away in the old Wal-Mart building on the Evangeline Thruway.

I haven't gotten a call back, but it seems like the furniture store will be the new shopping center's first tenant. The Affordable logo is on a rendering of the development. It looks like tenants for the other slots have not yet been finalized. The view in the picture above is from Castille Ave., a row of smaller store fronts faces Moss. The Northgate Theater closed years ago.

City Suing Former Northgate Mall Owner

After a scorching Mother's Day weekend, we're all reminded of how our LUS bills will soon make that annual summer jump. Well, imagine just not paying your $378,642.35 utility bill. That's what City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger says the former owners of Northgate Mall did.

In late April the city filed a lawsuit seeking those back charges from Northgate Prime, L.P.; Lafayette Prime Inc. and Thomas E. Morris - named by Ottinger as former owners of the mall on the Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette. The mall was auctioned to new owners in February for $2.85 million according to The Advertiser. Ottinger told me the new owners are current with the mall's utility bills, and the unpaid bills (a few months of mostly electrical service) date to November 12, 2008.

The parties named in the suit have 30 days to respond, as of late last week, Ottinger said he hadn't heard from them yet. "They have to answer the suit and we'll see what their position is," said Ottinger. The three parties listed in the suit are based in Arlington, Texas according to the city.