Kenner council rejects Esplanade Mall resubdivision amid tax, drainage and redevelopment concerns

The Kenner City Council voted 7-0 at its March 2025 meeting to deny summary ordinance 13,750, a proposal to resubdivide portions of the Esplanade Mall property in Kenner City.

Council members who opposed the resubdivision said splitting the site into smaller parcels would make it harder to clear title issues, resolve tax liens and attract large-scale redevelopment. Councilman Brannigan said the property has been a problem for two decades and that dividing it now could “add problems to the Esplanade Mall property” rather than preserve potential for a single, coordinated redevelopment. He said, “I am voting against this resubdivision … because I feel it is not the right direction that we need for the future of the city.”

Why it matters: The Esplanade Mall site is large and strategically located near the airport and interstate; council members said large, unified redevelopment could produce greater sales and property tax revenue for Kenner City. Council members and outside speakers also flagged unpaid taxes, drainage and recurring property maintenance problems as reasons to pause any subdivision that would create multiple owners.

Councilwoman Bridal Bohannon, who represents the parish-level interest in the area, urged caution on resubdivision while the city explores options to gain unified control. “If I can demonstrate to FEMA that the loss exceeds the cost of the property, we could get their help in purchasing it and turning some of it into green space,” Bohannon said, describing FEMA applications and a $25,000 study the parish had funded to quantify repetitive flood losses. Jerry Bologna, president of JEDCO, told the council developers repeatedly told his office they cannot proceed without control of the whole site: “They can’t do anything substantial there without control of the entire site.”

Tax and title concerns: City staff and elected officials said back taxes on parts of the property total about $321,000. City staff member Liz gave a breakdown in the meeting record attributing roughly $191,000 to a 1992 liability and additional delinquencies for 2023 and 2024, while noting the total includes unresolved older items and more recent unpaid taxes. Mayor Glazer said he would not entertain subdivision until the past-due taxes were paid, adding, “I would vote against it if I was in your shoes … and I wouldn’t entertain anything until they paid the $321,000 in back taxes.”

Public comment and local groups: Residents and neighborhood groups urged the council to hold off. Richard Brown, president of Citizens for a Better Kenner, told the council his organization was unanimously opposed. Resident Stacey Alessandro said the mall owners had “not cared” for the property, citing poor lighting and trash, and asked the council not to make decisions that would hinder a comprehensive plan.

Council action and next steps: After roughly an hour of discussion and public comment the council voted to deny the resubdivision ordinance (summary ordinance 13,750) by a 0-7 vote. Several council members said they support pursuing a coordinated, city- or parish-led effort—Bohannon and the mayor described plans to seek state and federal funding, a $500,000 master-planning study to address flooding, traffic and redevelopment options, and outreach to potential large developers—before approving any parcelization.

Votes at a glance - Summary ordinance 13,750 (plan of resubdivision of Lot D-1A and related lots; case P125): Motion to approve failed, outcome: failed, vote tally: yes 0 / no 7. Mover: Councilman Brannigan; second: Councilmember McKinney. Note: council discussion and public comment cited unresolved tax liens, drainage and developer/title complexity as reasons to oppose. - Resolution recognizing April as Fair Housing Month (Item 13a): passed 7-0. - Resolution authorizing settlement in James Mohammed v. City of Kenner, Civil Service Board Docket 02/2021-04 (Item 13b): passed 7-0. - Appointment of Tiffany Rietz to the Kenner Historic District Design Commission (Item 13c): passed 7-0. - Procurement and contract approvals (selected): MES Service Co. LLC (rain gear; ≤ $20,000 annually) passed 7-0; Pilot Construction & Maintenance Inc. (two fountains at Kenner City Park; ≤ $39,200) passed 7-0; Roofing Solutions LLC (Fast Bender Community Center roof repairs; ≤ $116,724) passed 7-0; CDX Construction LLC (restroom facility at Buddy Lawson Playground; ≤ $370,000) passed 7-0; H and O Investments, LLC (grass cutting; contract cap ≤ $450,000 annually) passed 7-0; State FP&C project funds for Roosevelt Boulevard improvements (project funding $645,500) passed 7-0; Digital Engineering amendment (increase by $25,000 to continue construction management services for the I-10/Loyola DDI project) passed 7-0. (Many other routine bids and amendments were also approved as listed on the meeting agenda.)

Context and background: Council members and parish partners told the council that the site includes multiple ownership interests, outstanding liens and leases that complicate assembly for a single redevelopment. Bohannon and JEDCO said the site’s proximity to the airport and interstate make it attractive for national-scale users, but developers will not commit unless titles and liens are cleared. The council directed no formal staff action at the meeting to re-file or approve the subdivision; several members said a city- or parish-led acquisition and a master plan should be pursued before parcelization.

Ending: Council members who opposed the measure said they want to protect future redevelopment options for Kenner City and avoid creating a patchwork of owners that could stall large projects. Administration and parish representatives said they will continue pursuing funding and planning options—including FEMA applications, state economic development programs and a proposed $500,000 master plan—to determine whether government acquisition or other consolidation strategies are viable.