Council names Hunden Partners finalist as owner's adviser for River Center expansion and headquarters hotel

The Metropolitan Council on June 11 accepted the Project Oversight Committee's recommendation that Hunden Partners (presented to the council as "Hundden Partners") be designated the finalist to serve as the city-parish owner's adviser for a proposed River Center expansion and full-service headquarters hotel development. The council authorized the parish attorney's office to enter contract negotiations with Hunden, subject to final approval of any agreement by the Metropolitan Council.

Rob Hundden (CEO) and Steve Hammerly (executive vice president) presented the firm's approach: a two-phase engagement of roughly 24 months. Phase 1 (about eight months) would define the project program, preliminary budget and financing model; Phase 2 (roughly 16 months) would solicit and evaluate development teams and negotiate term sheets and definitive agreements. The firm emphasized three core areas: creative financing, governance/ownership structure and securing a hotel development partner. Hundden presented prior comparable work and said the aim would be to minimize public subsidy while maximizing private participation and economic uplift.

Councilwoman Rocca, who chaired the oversight committee, recounted the competitive procurement process. The request for proposals was issued Jan. 15, 2025; staff circulated the RFP broadly and received five responses. A subcommittee shortlisted Baker Tilly, Hunden Partners and Johnson Consulting; after interviews the subcommittee recommended Hunden to the oversight committee. Rocca said the oversight committee included representatives from the mayor's office, Visit Baton Rouge and other public- and private-sector stakeholders and that the proposed contract would return to the council for final approval.

Public comment at the hearing included endorsements and objections. Jill Kidder of Visit Baton Rouge voiced support, describing the committee's process and backing Hunden as the right team. Daryl Glass spoke in opposition, saying the parish should prioritize government core services and warning of potential conflicts of interest because council members served on the oversight/scoring panels; he urged delaying the selection given other fiscal pressures. Council members asked the parish attorney and staff about conflicts and procurement legalities; the parish attorney and outside counsel explained committee composition was consistent with the ordinance establishing the oversight process and that the parish attorney's office would lead negotiations.

Several council members spoke in favor of moving forward, saying a headquarters hotel would boost downtown hotel performance and the broader economy if structured to attract private partners and protect taxpayers. Councilwoman Rocca made the motion to approve the committee's recommendation and to authorize the parish attorney to begin negotiations; Councilwoman Coleman seconded. Council discussion reiterated that the proposed owner's adviser contract would come back to the council for approval and that the adviser's work would include community engagement, financial modeling and solicitation of development partners. The motion carried on the floor.

Next steps: the parish attorney and special counsel will negotiate terms; a proposed contract will return to the Metropolitan Council for final approval before work begins.