JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — A development in Gretna will move forward despite one council member's concerns. On Wednesday, an attempt to pause the Gretna Brew Pub project by council member Jennifer Van Vrancken failed. Her concerns about the legality of the project and the parishes return on investment — were not shared by her fellow representatives.
WWL Louisiana's reporter Alyssa Curtis spent the day at the Yenni building and has more.
A multi-use project in Gretna will continue after an attempt to pause it. Eventually, the lot will include a parking garage, a government kiosk, a brewery, and a taco restaurant. But Councilmember Van Vrancken has expressed some concerns after a report by the Office of the Inspector General.
They say parish residents aren't getting anything in return for their $10.3 million investment.
"I’ve never ever seen something where we the parish incentivize to the extent of we will provide free land," said Van Vrancken. "We will provide the building, we will provide the equipment, you will not have to pay us base rent."
But representatives from the project say Van Vrancken's concerns are not valid, saying the brewery will have to pay part of their earnings.
"Rent is not zero rent is 3% of the gross for 30 months," a representative from the project said.
Tuesday Van Vrancken asked the council to pause the project for 45 days.
"I think the pause allows us to put it all on paper and make sure it’s legal because right now I think we are not in a good position moving forward," Van Vrancken said.
But the Council Member At-Large, Scott Walker says the parish attorney hasn't found any illegalities in the project. Plus, Walker said every district got the same amount of money to spend how they please.
"For the people in Metairie, Harahan, and Kenner and River Ridge or anywhere else, this money was never going to be spent in those areas," Walker said. "This money was going to be spent on the West Bank."
By the end of the meeting — Van Vrancken stood alone in her request.
"We don’t need to make this project cost more than it needs to," said Honorable Marion F. Edwards, District 1 Councilman. "I don’t think a pause is necessary I’m perfectly willing to have people look at it."
So for now, the construction at the Huey P. Long and Second Street goes on.
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