Pensacola CRA OKs Bayou District Consulting as redevelopment adviser amid public concern over displacement

The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency on a unanimous vote recommended that the City Council award a one-year redevelopment-advisory contract to Bayou District Consulting LLC to guide planning for the former Baptist Hospital site and deliver a 180-day outreach and work plan.

Supporters and opponents framed the debate at the meeting. Several residents, including Sam (public commenter), Jansen Brummet and Sarah Brummet, said Bayou District’s work in New Orleans’ Columbia Park raises a risk of long-term displacement. “Under the contract presented by BBC, they specifically noted that we can expect people to be displaced,” Sam said, urging the board to “seriously consider” the impact on long-time Black residents. Jansen Brummet said BDC’s Columbia Park project “replaced over 1,400 black working class families” and argued that the Pensacola community should be allowed to make decisions for itself.

Bayou District representatives and city staff answered those concerns by stressing the advisory and outreach nature of the contract. Jerry Bruce, chair of the Bayou District Foundation, described the firm’s “people first” approach and said the first 180 days will focus on listening: “There’ll be a lot of listening, and ensuring that we hear what is needed, and then we work to try to figure out how we make those things happen.” Travis Peterson, identified as leading outreach for the team, told the board the work will emphasize small-group meetings, door-to-door engagement and targeted outreach to institutions that represent historically underrepresented residents.

City staff framed the contract as primarily a communications and engagement effort. Staff said the 180-day deliverable is a detailed workplan to be returned to the CRA and council for review and approval; if members are unsatisfied, the city can decline to extend the contract beyond the initial term. Erica (staff) told the board the contract is “a 1 year contract with the option to extend if approved by CRA and council,” and that the first 180 days are focused on outreach, a public website and stakeholder meetings.

Several CRA members voiced mixed feelings but ultimately supported the advisory contract, saying the city can terminate the agreement and that community safeguards should be built into the process. Multiple board members asked for monthly updates and committed to forming an on-the-ground stakeholder group to advise the outreach. The CRA vote to recommend the contract passed 7-0.

What’s next: The CRA’s recommendation goes to the City Council for final contract approval and any conditions the council may impose. Bayou District is expected to deliver the initial 180-day plan to the CRA and council for feedback and potential modification.