A major step to alleviate the hardships, missed opportunities and untapped potential within North Baton Rouge could take place next week.
If all goes as planned, the Baton Rouge Metro Council will establish the North Baton Rouge Economic Opportunity Zone at its next meeting.
For LSU students new to Baton Rouge, a rule of thumb is to avoid streets named after states once the sun goes down and to only travel north of Florida Boulevard if absolutely necessary.
People tell these cautionary tales because they perceive crime as a problem exclusive to North Baton Rouge, which happens to be majority African-American and poor. North Baton Rouge’s reputation precedes it, and few people from outside the area would like to call it home or pay extended visits.
This creates an untenable situation.
The lack of investment on that side of town perpetuates the idea it’s a place not worth going to in the first place. This then feeds into the economic equation. Why invest in an area where no one goes?
This cycle must find its end, and statutory declaration of the North Baton Rouge Economic Opportunity Zone is the next step in a process started by State Rep. Regina Barrow,D-Baton Rouge, to address this issue.
In the past legislative session, she was the principal leader behind passing ACT 98. This bill constituted the boundaries necessary to create the zone. However, the bill didn’t come with means to fund it.
The Metro Council now has to create the tax credits necessary to facilitate growth in a vital part of Baton Rouge, just as was done downtown.
Downtown Baton Rouge before Mayor-President Kip Holden was a barren wasteland littered with crack pipes, degenerates and a bastion of unadulterated grime.
Under his leadership however, downtown turned into a business-friendly environment. Coupled with an open line of communication, leaders came in and brought a classy nightlife complemented with rooftop sushi, its own geotag on Snapchat and a burgeoning business corridor all within walking distance from the State Capitol.
Downtown is not the only area which has seen significant change.
South Baton Rouge has magnified at an astronomical rate. Consequently the land left to develop has skyrocketed in price, making it less feasible than before.
As eyes turn northward, the people looking to invest there must have clear eyes and seek not only public comment but the resident’s involvement in shaping the future of North Baton Rouge.
People are already rumbling about whether this going to be a massive gentrification effort for the well-off and politically connected. The people in this part of town suffered from corporate greed and environmental injustice long enough.
Aspiring LSU medical students, residents and business leaders should look into the lack of accessible emergency healthcare while developing the area. Building a state of the art medical park with an emergency room would address a serious issue while allowing all to feel better about some of our most vulnerable being without a basic need.
A vote to foster the success, dreams and wherewithal in this part of town is desperately needed and will be appreciated.
Garrett Hines is a 21-year-old political science senior from Monroe, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @GarrettH_TDR.