Jefferson council declines to pause brewpub development in Gretna

Jefferson Parish Councilmember Jennifer Van Vrancken's proposal to delay paying $10.3 million to begin work on a brewpub and taqueria in downtown Gretna failed in the council meeting Wednesday when it failed to receive a second when motioned for a vote.

The council already approved the spending, but a subsequent 35-page report from Jefferson Parish Inspector General Kim Chatelain questioning the project brought about some second thoughts.

"When you boil it down, in essence the parish is expending 10.3 million and brining a piece of land that has a multi-million dollar value to the table, and in return Jefferson will directly get one dollar," Van Vrancken said before today's vote.

Joe Marino, who represented Gretna in the state legislature when the deal was negotiated, disputed Van Vrancken's assertion that the businesses that occupy the space are not paying rent.

"Rent is not zero," he said. "Rent is three percent of the gross for 30 months."

Marino said after the first 30 months, Port Orleans Brewery, the business that will operate the brew pub, will pay six percent of its gross revenue to the parish, which Marino said is the market rate.