A plan to build a parking garage in downtown Gretna will no longer rely on an embattled parish-funded brewpub to move forward, according to a new bill awaiting the governor’s signature.
The state will now take charge of fully funding the parking garage, estimated to cost roughly $20 million, after exempting Jefferson Parish from a rule requiring local governments to pay at least 25% of the cost for projects funded through the state’s capital outlay budget. The parish will oversee construction and own the parking garage once complete.
The waiver was added to the state’s capital outlay budget bill on May 26 by Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge. It eliminates one of the many obstacles currently facing the brewpub…