The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has recognized The Villas at Spanish Court in Minden as one of eight successful Brownfield redevelopment projects honored during the 2025 Louisiana Brownfield Awards held November 18 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette LITE Center.
The award highlights the ongoing restoration led by Minden resident and developer Sara McDaniel, who returned the long-vacant 1931 apartment complex to productive use. “This recognition from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality means so much,” McDaniel said. “Restoring The Villas at Spanish Court proved that when we honor the past and steward the land well, we create spaces our community can be proud of. I’m thankful to help breathe new life into Minden in a way that’s both beautiful and sustainable.”
The Villas at Spanish Court, originally constructed by F.C. McClanahan, once housed some of the most modern apartments in Louisiana. The three-building, eight-unit complex had been empty since the 1980s and had deteriorated significantly. Environmental remediation needs — including asbestos, lead paint and structural damage — placed the property squarely within the definition of a Brownfield site: a vacant or underused property where real or perceived contamination complicates redevelopment.
The Brownfield Awards honor projects supported by the EPA Brownfields Program, which provides grants and technical assistance to assess, clean and return such properties to productive use. This year, Louisiana secured more than $6.8 million in EPA Brownfield Grants for assessments, cleanup and redevelopment statewide.
Alongside The Villas, additional projects recognized include sites in New Orleans, Lafayette, Ruston, Homer and Shreveport. LDEQ noted that each project demonstrates the impact of federal, state and local partnerships in overcoming financial and regulatory barriers that can stall redevelopment.
McDaniel’s work at the Minden site includes extensive remediation and reconstruction while preserving original features of the Spanish-style architecture. Restoration has included rebuilding damaged structural components, removing and replacing materials affected by lead paint, and working with local millwork specialists to recreate historic wood elements. The project has been featured nationally through Cottages & Bungalows and American Farmhouse Style magazines.
LDEQ applauded all project teams for advancing environmental stewardship and community revitalization across Louisiana.