Retirement Community Will Bring Marked Economic Growth to Mandeville and Beyond
New Orleans – The LSU Health Foundation, New Orleans is pleased to announce one of the largest economic development projects to happen on the Northshore in decades, thanks to a generous land donation by the Al Copeland Family. The estimated $150 million private partner investment will bring an extraordinary, state-of-the-art housing project to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain along with training opportunities, jobs, and wonderful public and commercial amenities. LSU, Mandeville and St.
Tammany Parish residents will benefit from the new development that will produce revenue that will be invested directly into cancer research.
The project is being built on 29 acres of land donated to LSU Health Foundation from the Al Copeland Family. The property, adjacent to Mariners Village, is valued at over $7 million and stands as the largest gift received in the Foundation’s 31-year history. In addition, the deal is set to dedicate and restrict more than $20 million in cancer research funding over the next 40 years as part of the partnership from the land lease revenue.
“This partnership with LSU Health Foundation is a long-standing one, and it is my honor to donate this land in our father’s name,” said Al Copeland, Jr. “We are proud that the Al Copeland Foundation chose to partner with LSUHSC which was ultimately responsible for finding the cure to the cancer that took his life, and they continue their groundbreaking clinical trials that will change the face of cancer care for generations to come. This development is just the next step in our mission to save lives and end cancer.”
Together with Woodward Interests, the Foundation is moving forward on a grand multi-use restricted living and retirement community poised to bring great amenities to the Mandeville community, increasing the quality of life for residents and visitors to the Northshore.
Matt Altier, President and CEO of LSU Health Foundation, envisions the development, adjacent to Mariners Village, will include restaurants, a marina, a hotel, apartments for active adults and healthcare services provided by LSU Health Sciences Center and its students and is thrilled it is now ready to move to the next stage.
“We are bringing a newly developed community based on and incorporating the beauty of the location, providing a true icon for Mandeville and the Northshore that everyone can be proud of,” says Altier. “We’ll be supporting our mission of training the next generation of medical professionals and reconnecting with our 240,000 alums, while also addressing our nation’s aging population, and most importantly, providing a 100-year steady stream of revenue dedicated to the research and the elimination of cancer. We could not be more proud or excited about this public/private partnership and all it will provide.”
Mandeville Mayor Clay Madden says of the project, “We are excited the LSU Health Foundation has chosen Mandeville for this innovative project. While the project is only at the conceptual stage, we look forward to working with the LSU Health Foundation through our planning and zoning process once a formal application has been made.”
“We are proud to have the LSU brand establish roots in St. Tammany Parish, and we welcome their involvement. I applaud their vision and their commitment to our growing community with this quality mixed-use development,” said Parish President Mike Cooper.
Woodward Interests is equally excited to bring work with LSU Health Foundation on the North Shore. President William Hoffman says, “Woodward Interests is excited about bringing this active adult and mixed-use development to the City of Mandeville and partnering with the LSH Health Foundation to provide training opportunities for future health care providers to our communities.”
“The LSU Health Foundation has consistently shown concern for our city and the residents of District 2 and have placed the interests of the community above their own throughout this process, says Skelly
Kreller, Mandeville City Councilman, District 2. “They are the type of investment we need to be attracting into the City of Mandeville and I look forward to working with them for years to come.”
And Maureen Obrien, St. Tammany Parish Councilmember, District 10, says, “LSU has a great concept that will leave an incredible legacy in Mandeville and St. Tammany Parish. I’m excited to see what the future holds for our community.”
Altier says that from the very moment the Foundation received the extremely generous donation of land from the Al Copeland Family, they began planning what he believes to be the most exciting project in the history of the LSU Health Foundation.
With more than 10,000 people retiring daily, the LSU Health Foundation aims to fill a real healthcare need in the growing Northshore community. The development will incorporate cutting-edge services and providers from different partners while providing real-time working and training opportunities for LSU Health faculty and students.
The development will be the first university affiliated retirement community in the state of Louisiana which will allow the university to grow and the Foundation to engage in the type of projects that provide value to the community but also expand LSU Health‘s mission.
“The partnership, growth and symmetry between the LSU Health Sciences Center and the LSU Health Foundation absolutely shines through this project,” says LSU Health Sciences Center Chancellor Larry Hollier, MD. “I am so very proud that the LSU HSC will play such a significant role in the development and future operation of this exciting new community on the Northshore. Having the ability to help train students in geriatric health care while providing new funding for faculty research in fighting cancer, not to mention building a beautiful place for LSU alum (and the public) to retire and enjoy life in a wonderful community is the best of every world.”
Eric McVicker, the President of the Mariners Village Master Association, says he is excited about the future of Mariners Village and this project. “We have no doubt that the LSU Health Foundation will continue to work with the Mariners Village neighborhood and will be a great neighbor for decades to come. Their team hit the ground running to address our neighborhood’s most pressing needs and they have been nothing short of professional, responsive, and eager to assist. This is a winning partnership that will enhance and enrich Mariners Village and the beautiful city of Mandeville,” says McVicker.
Rick Danielson, Mandeville City Councilmember-At-Large and the Chairman of the City Council says, “Through the generosity of the Copeland Family and the vision of the LSU Health Foundation, this looks like a great plan and a great use for this property. I look forward to watching how things progress and working with the LSU Health Foundation as things move forward.”