Jefferson Parish Inspector General recommends cancelation of Gretna brewery project

GRETNA, La. (WGNO) — The Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General recently released the findings of the review of Jefferson Facilities Inc. (JFI) lease with POB Gretna Beer, LLC and POB Restaurant Gretna, LLC.

Between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024, the OIG reportedly found that Jefferson Redevelopment Inc. (JRI) failed to establish fair and reasonable criteria for the lease, management and occupancy and selected a vendor without requiring sufficient details.

Additionally, the JFI entered into leases reportedly “materially deficient with significant omissions, and vague or limited detail in certain/important lease language.”

The review concluded that the process was “tainted by preexisting and ongoing discussions with a specific entity, Port Orleans, for the design and occupancy of the space.”

In May 2023, before the development and advertisement of the Request for Proposal (RFP), the JFI, according to the JPOIG, was engaged with Port Orleans and Avo Taco, to design the space to meet specifications.

The JPOIG reported Avo Taco’s formal participation was not documented bringing transparency and accuracy of the development’s tenant representation into question.

Following the review, the JPOIG offered three recommendations:

• JRI, in coordination with JFI, should cancel the project as it is currently constituted, in favor of developing and issuing an RFP that establishes fair and reasonable criteria for soliciting suitable tenants for two commercial lease spaces in accordance with the Parish approved funding.
• JRI, in coordination with JFI, should cancel the project as it is currently constituted, in favor of critically reevaluating lease terms to achieve a more favorable outcome which will protect Parish funds committed to its development.
• The Parish Council should secure the expertise of legal counsel with expertise in representing commercial developers to provide comprehensive advice on risks attendant to these transactions and sufficient experience, directly or indirectly, with governments of a similar size and budget as Jefferson Parish to adequately equate the risks given the unique nature of this transaction.

Councilwoman At-Large Jennifer Van Vrancken agreed with both the findings and recommendations and offered modifications. Councilman Joe Marino along with JFI joined by JRI neither agreed or disagreed.

Read OIG Report

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