In addition to serving the University as acting chancellor and LSU System president emeritus, William Jenkins is serving the Baton Rouge community by speeding up the development of derelict areas of the city.
Jenkins is a board member of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority, which met for the first time Wednesday morning. He said the Authority is committed to restoring abandoned areas of the city for functional use.
“We talk about blighted property and the re-possessed properties and how those can be brought back into commerce,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said these abandoned properties continually cost the city money. By restoring the buildings to residential or commercial use, Jenkins said Baton Rouge will be able to improve its appearance and economy.
Jenkins said the legislation initially provided for the Authority to meet once a month. But because he is serving the University, it is being changed to allow him to meet with them less frequently.
“I don’t expect to be heavily engaged while I’m acting chancellor,” Jenkins said.
Once Jenkins relinquishes his duties as chancellor, he said he will deal with the Authority more extensively.
Although Jenkins is primarily serving the city-parish, he said his work with the Authority coincides with improving the University.
“We’ve had need of re-development near the campus,” Jenkins said. “I believe Baton Rouge is LSU, and LSU is Baton Rouge.”
Jenkins was one of three Authority board members appointed by Mayor-President Kip Holden. The group was authorized by state legislation in 2007.
—-Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected].