Two new neighborhoods are rising in north Bossier after more than three years of planning.

Folia is a modern, mixed-use community featuring 283 homes, a town center, and amenities designed to serve both residents and the surrounding area. In development since 2022, Folia represents a departure from the traditional subdivisions typically found throughout Bossier Parish.

“We usually have single-family homes on half-acre lots, but Folia will offer a variety of housing types integrated with walkable streets, trails, bike lanes, and retail,” said Carlotta Askew-Brown, executive director of the Bossier City–Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC). “It’s supposed to be fresh and new.”

Meanwhile, The Parc is being built in Benton, north of Kingston. Similar in concept to Folia, it will include 286 homes across 125 acres, with four lot sizes and commercial development positioned outside the residential core. Its proximity to Kingston Elementary and Benton High School will allow pedestrians to easily walk to school, restaurants, and nearby offices.

According to Askew-Brown, these projects reflect a broader shift in the housing market, as more people seek to live near friends and family rather than in isolated neighborhoods.

“These developments are designed so families can move into the same area, with larger homes for growing families and smaller condo-style homes for empty nesters looking to downsize,” she said.

She hopes this type of integrated development continues to expand.

“The temperature is changing on having residential and commercial together,” Askew-Brown said. “We’re moving away from sprawl and returning to how things were 50 years ago, when neighborhoods included libraries, schools, and small businesses within walking distance.”

North Bossier, Benton, and Haughton are experiencing particularly strong growth, driven by available land, high-performing schools, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.

“There is demand from residents and builders, and commercial development tends to follow that,” said Askew-Brown. “You can’t discount quality of life. People like this area, so they’re moving this way.”

The MPC focuses on supporting orderly, sustainable, and smart growth. Using data to identify trends, the commission aims to chart a progressive path that maintains a comfortable, family-friendly environment.

Current initiatives include improving micromobility, enhancing walkability, creating grid-like street networks instead of cul-de-sacs, and strengthening connections between subdivisions. The MPC is also updating its comprehensive plan, gathering community input on what residents believe Bossier needs most.

Askew-Brown said the MPC recognizes the need to ease traffic congestion, upgrade infrastructure, and modernize building codes. But they also want residents to help envision what Bossier should look like in the next 10 to 20 years.

“What are we lacking in quality of life — what makes people want to stay here?” she said. “We need to invest in growth where infrastructure already exists. As people move farther out, older areas can be left behind, so we need to understand where growth makes the most sense.”

Developers typically search for areas with limited housing supply, new businesses, or expanding roadways. The MPC works alongside them to ensure new development serves the broader needs of Bossier Parish.

Once a developer identifies a site, the MPC meets with them to understand their vision.

“This helps us explain what to incorporate, whether that is street widths, walking trails, or if the school board is considering a school nearby,” Askew-Brown said. “We align their needs with the parish’s needs from the beginning.”

Although the MPC’s approach is data-driven, Askew-Brown acknowledged that managing growth is complex, with challenges ranging from traffic and flooding to school capacity.

Zoning, land-use policies, and regulations help manage investment and guide development, and the MPC continuously coordinates with civic and governmental partners.

“Working at the speed of business is difficult. As we identify issues, we have to regulate them, or they worsen,” she said. “As we plan, we uncover problems, so we put rules in place. That’s not a bad thing. It enhances what we already have.”