Council approves transfer of contaminated River Road parcels to Bayou Land Holdings for remediation and redevelopment

The Jefferson Parish Council approved a resolution to transfer two adjudicated parcels on River Road (Tracks JM3 and JM5) to Bayou Land Holdings LLC, clearing the way for remediation of an asbestos-contaminated legacy property and commercial redevelopment.

Councilman Bonanno described the site as a long-vacant steel warehouse and recounted efforts with the Jefferson Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) and parish staff to return the land to commerce. Jerry Bologna of JEDCO said Bayou Holdings had acquired the front parcel and the transfer of the rear parcels is necessary to make the entire site economically viable. He described prior environmental reviews funded by an EPA/EP A Brownfield-related grant and said Bayou Holdings had already incurred expenses to secure the site.

The parish attorney's office identified a state industrial-inducement law that allows transfer to an adjacent owner provided the buyer accepts responsibility for remediation. Council discussion noted the parcels together measure approximately 7.86 acres (Track JM3) and 3.97 acres (Track JM5) with appraisals cited ($935,000 and $260,000 respectively). The prospective buyer said he had spent $1.9 million purchasing the front property and another $500,000 cleaning the front parcel; he said he would spend close to $1,000,000 to remediate asbestos on the rear parcels.

One resident spoke in opposition expressing concern the transfer relied on grant money and questioned whether the West Bank would benefit, but the prospective buyer and JEDCO representatives said the buyer is funding the cleanup and redevelopment costs and that the transfer is the only viable path to return the site to productive use. The council approved the transfer after public comment.