Al Copeland Sr. who is famous for starting Popeyes Chicken and is native to Louisiana is a big part of a new retirement community coming to Mandeville. Copeland Sr, who passed away in 2008 owned a 29-acre tract of land in Mandeville that the family recently donated to LSU Health Foundation.
Al Copeland Jr. said the family was honored to donate the land in his father's name. The land, worth $7 million is the largest donation LSU Health Foundation has ever received. The site, across from Mariners Village, will house the $150 million mixed-used development which specializes in retirees. This will make the project the first retirement community that is connected to a university in Louisiana.
The multi-use restricted retirement community will feature restaurants, a marina, a hotel and apartments along with health care services. The health care services will be serviced through LSU Health Sciences Center and the center's students. The development will not only aid in training future medical professionals but will also provide revenue for cancer research.
“The partnership, growth and symmetry between the LSU Health Sciences Center and the LSU Health Foundation absolutely shines through this project,” LSU Health Sciences Center Chancellor Larry Hollier said in a prepared statement. "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."
The project will bring training opportunities and jobs to the Northshore. The revenue earned will go towards cancer research in honor of Al Copeland who died of a rare form of cancer. All in all, over $20 million from the land lease will be dedicated to cancer research funding for the next 40 years.
"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,” Mandeville Mayor Clay Madden said.
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