Almost 20 years after the last students attended classes at the old Bastrop High School, a local group and a New Orleans developer are hopeful the facility will soon become a hub of activity again.

Representatives with the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency will tour the facility on South Washington on Monday as the Friends of Main Street and Tom Crumley hope to sell the agency on the viability of a proposal to convert the building into an apartment complex to provide affordable housing for senior citizens.

Crumley has been working for the Friends group for seven years to secure funding for the project. A key part of financing the project is tax credits issued through the LHFA which will help offset some of the $12 million cost of the project.

The project will be administered through City of Bastrop Development, Inc., a non-profit agency created to oversee the development. Mark Rainwater, president of the development company, said the tax credits available through LHFA are crucial to the project.

“Getting the LHFA tax credits would allow us to fill in the final gap that exists in having the project fully funded,” Rainwater said. “We're hoping the trip here by LHFA staff will show them not only the need for the project but the support the proposal has from across the community.”

Rep. Rodney Alexander, Bastrop Mayor Clarence Hawkins, other elected officials and community leaders are expected to attend a presentation for the LHFA staff Monday morning in the library of the old school.