"Community leaders" re-igniting efforts to redevelop north Baton Rouge: article deep dive

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Three years after North Baton Rouge voters raised taxes to support an economic development agency focused on the needs of that community, it appears poised to tackle the work in earnest

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No word on what "community leaders" did on their 3 year vacation.

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Jerry Jones, appointed executive director of the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District late last year, has hit the ground running, amending the district's mission statement and goals and working on putting together a comprehensive plan for the district.

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Glad he's pretending to work finally.

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He's partnering with organizations throughout the parish to spur small-business growth while working to build stronger relationships between the district and both Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College. The objective is to help existing businesses expand and create jobs for people in the community.

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He's made a phone call - maybe two.

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It's been a slow process getting to this point, though.

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No one has really done anything yet, but The Advocate doesn't want to come out and say it.

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There was a burst of energy in 2016 when activists mobilized to secure an emergency room to replace what was lost with the closing of Earl K. Long Medical Center that had served that part of town.

The momentum continued as the community later approved a 2 percent hotel tax to fund the economic district created to spearhead future growth, then seemed to stall.

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The Advocate seems surprised that no progress has actually occurred beyond what was already going to happen anyway.

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"I look at what happened downtown. That took 10 to 15 years to come alive again," he said. Redeveloping north Baton Rouge, especially along Plank Road, "is going to take a lot of time and planning."

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"We intend to spend millions of taxpayer dollars before you even see anything begin to change"

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As part of its effort to jump-start economic development efforts in north Baton Rouge, the group Jones now leads is hosting a series of panel discussions and events focused on the community's needs.

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Jones would kick started his new campaign for city council....if only he could spell "city" or "council".

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It's an area that has undergone great change over the years.

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None of it positive.

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Chambers and others on the board of the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District point out that the success of Baton Rouge's Downtown Development District was boosted by the advocacy of former mayor Kip Holden.

They say Holden's focus on downtown aided in the adoption of policies and incentives that made redevelopment for the city-parish's central business district attractive, and profitable, to developers.

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Gravy and others want the parish to shovel money into North Baton Rouge despite zero progress being made and zero sign of intelligent life from "community leaders".

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Chambers said current Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome needs to step up and be visible and vocal about bettering the landscape and quality of life in north Baton Rouge the way Holden was for downtown.

"I think it's time for Broome to deliver," Chambers said. "We're coming up on an election year, and voters will be looking around to see what has changed since Kip left office."

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Chambers thinks Broome doesn't hate white people enough.