Coushatta Mayor Johnny Cox leans back in his big chair in the town council chamber room and gets excited when he shares his vision for Coushatta’s Front street. And the mayor says the plans are within reach.

Look down front street today and you see a few businesses and some of the buildings are well cared for. However there are as many in disrepair. One store is undergoing renovation by a local businessman, but many others just sit.

The most prominent vacant building is the LP Stephens store. It is owned by the city and was last used as “Louisiana Unique.”

Mayor Cox says his vision is “to develop an excellent grand entrance to Front Street. Décor will be spectacular.” Cox goes on to explain that he wants to “make Front Street viable for developing tourism and the commercial environment.”

The mayor wants all of the buildings to get a new coat of paint, front and rear. This is to be accomplished with the cooperation of property owners and volunteers plus help from other Coushatta businesses.

The renovation of Front Street is part of a larger plan for further developing this area for tourism. Cox would like to “tie together Grand Bayou, Front Street, and the ADA Plant at Armistead. They are potentially excellent attractions.“ There also is the lock and dam on the Red River and other features of the area that could be made more attractive to tourists.

This idea and others on the subject of improving Coushatta will be discussed at the next Town Council meeting February 14th. The meeting is open to the public.