BY SARA PAGONES, STAFF WRITER, THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE

More than six years after work began on Tamanend, a huge mixed-use development in central St. Tammany Parish, residential construction is set to begin on the first 400 of what will eventually be 1,348 homes, according to Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co.

It’s been a long time coming. Tamanend was first envisioned in 2008, when Weyerhaeuser donated more than 40 acres to the parish for an educational campus to serve as an anchor of sorts for a multi-use development that would include homes, offices and other commercial space.

A sign that stands at the entrance to the 848-acre site says, “Future Site of Residential Neighborhood” and includes the slogan “Heart of the Northshore.”

The claim has geographic merit: Tamanend’s location on Louisiana 434, less than two miles from Interstate 12, is smack dab in the middle of St. Tammany, where the homebuilding is one of the main drivers of the economy, according to Chris Masingill, CEO of St. Tammany Corp., the parish’s economic development agency.

Land along La. 434 has attracted other investment, including Northshore Medical Complex, the former Lacombe Heart Hospital that’s now a post acute care center, a Folgers warehouse and the Social Security office. Tamanend itself is right next door to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office.

The woodlands of central St. Tammany have long been viewed as a logical place for growth in a parish that continues to see its population swell.

“It’s in a very important part of the parish, the center of the parish,” Masingill said, ticking off opportunities for commercial, industrial and residential development. “It’s where the growth is going.”

Tamanend will have a mixture of housing types, including apartments, townhomes, single-family homes and estate-type homes, according to Rose Fagler, economic development manager with Weyerhaeuser.

The development will also have office, retail and light industrial space. A site plan provided by the company shows two office parks, and a news release from the company says Tamanend has two sites spanning 80 acres that are certified for office and warehouse development by the state’s economic development agency.

Beau Box, whose company Beau Box Commercial Real Estate represents Weyerhaeuser in commercial real estate transactions for the development, said they are mainly talking to potential office users and some light industrial users.

Fagler said that most commercial opportunities “like to see a lot of rooftops,” before they commit, although she predicted that the college will help attract some development, including retail and fast food, more quickly.

“The technical college is a great asset,” Box said said. “It’s a good generator, a good hub for families. And it’s of course on I-12, out of the flood zone.”

Parish officials trumpeted the arrival of the college with a ceremonial groundbreaking in 2015, and the new Northshore Technical Community College campus opened in 2017. But another public asset, a new home for the St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center, is on indefinite hold, according to Parish President Mike Cooper, who cited economic uncertainties.

Work on the development itself has been moving forward, Fagler said. The main entrance, a divided boulevard with a wide median and decorative lights, ends abruptly but a phalanx of bulldozers and other equipment were parked where the pavement ended on a rainy morning last week.

Three roundabouts are in place, as well as a sewerage plants, a water tower and utilities. Most recently, new landscaping has been put in place on the south entrance, Fagler said.

The first residential construction will be medium-density homes in the $230,000 to $260,000 price range, Fagler said. The company isn’t ready to announce the builder, but Fagler said new homes will be for sale by the end of the calendar year.

Masingill described St. Tammany’s housing market as extremely healthy, with homes commanding good prices. But there’s a need for quality affordable housing, which he described as $200,000 to $230,000 homes, he said, “so firefighters, teachers, nurses and police officers are able to afford to live in St. Tammany Parish.”

He sees Tamanend as presenting an opportunity for that market.

Fagler said that the developer is going to make sure the builders present a mixture of home styles. “They will not be competing in the same style and price range,” she said, adding that there might be single-family rental property as well.

When Weyerhaeuser, the largest landowner in Louisiana, merged with Plum Creek Timber Co. in 2016, Fagler said that the resulting company took a look at all the properties in the shared portfolio had to see which should move forward with the best chance to be successful.

“This was one of the best in our portfolio,” she said.

COMPREHENSIVE, MIXED-USE COMMUNITY IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 10, 2021) – Beau Box Commercial Real Estate (BBCRE) announced it has formed an official partnership with Tamanend, A Weyerhaeuser Community, located on 848 acres in Lacombe, LA. BBCRE will represent Weyerhaeuser in all commercial real estate transactions for Tamanend’s various retail, office and light industrial opportunities.

The first comprehensive mixed-use community in St. Tammany Parish, Tamanend is a true live, work, play, learn and produce environment anchored by an Innovation District that includes Northshore Technical Community College’s (NTCC) main campus and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program, along with a proposed town center. The community boasts two Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Certified Sites spanning 80 acres for office and warehouse development. Over 1,300 residences in a variety of home styles and prices are planned, along with nature trails, pocket parks and additional green spaces.

“We are eager to showcase the vast potential of what Tamanend has to offer. Tamanend is the model for what mixed-use communities should look like moving into the future as it includes education, civic, residential, light industrial and office opportunities,” says Beau Box, President & CEO of Beau Box Commercial Real Estate. “With Weyerhaeuser at the helm, a respected and responsible partner, we expect this community to attract businesses, families and students from around the region to the Northshore.”

St. Tammany Parish has seen noticeable growth from 2010 to 2019 as population rose by 11.4% and jobs increased by 20%. The Parish’s blue-ribbon school system, top-tier medical facilities, low crime rate and low cost of business make it one of the most attractive places to live, work and raise a family in the country.

Tamanend is uniquely positioned on the Northshore of Greater New Orleans, between Mandeville and Slidell. Being only two miles north of Interstate 12 on LA-434, Tamanend offers convenient access for residents, workers and students alike.

 “We look forward to a successful partnership with one of the area’s top real estate companies. There is so much to offer at Tamanend, whether it be homes, retail establishments or commercial entities, and Beau Box Commercial Real Estate shares our vision of what Tamanend brings to the local area and beyond,” says Todd Powell, Weyerhaeuser Vice President of Real Estate Development.

For more information on Tamanend, please visit www.tamanendla.com. For more information on opportunities with Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, please visit www.beaubox.com.

About Tamanend

Located in beautiful St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain and 37 miles north of New Orleans, Tamanend presents a natural setting ideal for a true live, work, play, learn and produce environment. Developed by Weyerhaeuser, Tamanend is home to Northshore Technical Community College’s main campus, along with the proposed St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center, town center and LED Certified Sites. The community’s 848 acres also includes plans for over 1,300 residences.

About Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaeuser is proud to serve as the developer of Tamanend. Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in North America. Our company is a real estate investment trust. In 2020, we generated $7.5 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,400 people who serve customers worldwide. We are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com.

About Beau Box Commercial Real Estate

As one of Louisiana’s leading commercial real estate firms with offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Beau Box Commercial Real Estate (BBCRE) opened its first out-of-state location in Pensacola, Florida in January 2021. BBCRE’s professional services include sales and leasing of commercial, industrial, retail, land, and investment properties, through buyer, owner, or tenant representation. Property management services include full-service, third-party and consulting to property managers.

Broker of Record, Beau J. Box; Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, Mississippi Real Estate Commission, Alabama Real Estate Commission and Florida Real Estate Commission, USA.

The main roadway at the Southern entrance, Legends Boulevard, is in the process of further extension into the community! Photos taken March 6, 2020

St. Tammany, LA, February 7, 2018 –

Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President, announced today St. Tammany has been selected as a premier retirement destination by Where to Retire Magazine in their March/April 2018 issue. As a lakefront community with several amenities like the St. Tammany Fishing Pier, Tammany Trace, rivers, swamps, beautiful landscapes, and diverse wildlife, the article describes St. Tammany as a place that offers outdoor recreation of every sort. It touts the “pure solace” of these things combined. According to Where to Retire, approximately 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns to retire.

“We certainly take pride in the fact that we have something for everyone, no matter your phase in life. It looks like they’ve discovered our secret — and we welcome anyone who wants to share in our abundant lifestyle,” said Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President. “We have families here that are multi-generational, and this is the foundation for our strong, diverse identity and our ever-present sense of commitment to community.”

In January, Pat Brister presented a proclamation to the St. Tammany Council on Aging (COAST), which declared 2018 the Year of the Senior, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of COAST’s service to the 54,000 seniors in St. Tammany as well as their valuable contributions to Northshore communities. She called on residents to honor and respect our seniors in observance of this designated year.

Tamanend, LA, December 4, 2017 – The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce awarded Weyerhaeuser with the prestigious 2017 Tammany Proud Award for its Tamanend community.

 

“We are truly honored that Weyerhaeuser is the recipient of the 2017 Tammany Proud Award for our Tamanend community,” said Rose Fagler, Economic Development Manager, Weyerhaeuser. “From the onset, we recognized that St. Tammany Parish is a special place. We have planned Tamanend to both enhance the Parish and to become the Heart of the Northshore,” Fagler added.

For the past 15 years, St. Tammany West Chamber has acknowledged local businesses that make an impact on the St. Tammany community during the Business Community Appreciation Luncheon. Weyerhaeuser received the award for its Tamanend community as it is fostering a positive image of St. Tammany Parish while working outside of Southeast Louisiana.

About Tamanend
Tamanend, a Weyerhaeuser Community, presents 848 acres in the initial phase, with a planned 1,348 residences in housing products from multi-family homes and townhomes to single-family residences. With up to 430,000 square feet of commercial and office development in the Town Center, plus two LED Certified Sites spanning 80 acres for office and warehouse development, Tamanend will offer a variety of opportunities for a comprehensive, mixed-use community. The Innovation District at Tamanend includes the Northshore Technical Community College’s new Main and STEM campus. Learn more at tamanendla.com.

About Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control nearly 13 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products. Our company is a real estate investment trust. In 2016, we generated $6.4 billion in net sales and employed approximately 10,400 people who serve customers worldwide. We are listed on the North American and World Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at weyerhaeuser.com.