PLAQUEMINE — Plaquemine has a new downtown roadmap aimed at bringing more businesses, residents and visitors back to the historic district.

Multiple sites in the district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and leaders want to build on that history. Some grand homes and historic buildings are starting to find new life.

"We have a lot of grand homes that throughout the years have become neglected or abandoned and in recent years, we sold quite a few of those that have been restored. People use those now for residential and/or business purposes," said Charley Robinson.

Leaders say the roadmap shows gaps in fine dining, sit-down dining, retail, outdoors and recreation. The plan also includes safer crosswalks, more landscaping and gathering spaces, including a proposed park where small businesses and community events could bring new energy downtown.

Leaders also point to more than 24,000 people living within a 15-minute drive as a chance to turn passing traffic into customers. "Our focus mainly is to bring back our historic structures, the ones that can be brought back. And do responsible development where able and new structures to attract new businesses," said Robinson.

The plan also looks to better connect downtown landmarks such as the Historic Plaquemine Lock, where the Mississippi River sits higher than Bayou Plaquemine, to other historic areas of town.

"Instead of driving through our city, we want them to stop in our city," said Robinson.