Land near SU receives DEQ approval for new development

Empty warehouses, overgrown vegetation, and debris from defunct processing plants along Scenic Highway have been an eyesore and concern for residents of the Scotlandville community for a number of years.
“One of my main goals when I took office was to get that area cleaned up,” said Ulysses “Bones” Addison, Jr., district councilman. “I am concern with the quality of life and health and safety of the residents of North Baton Rouge.
The land, extending along the Kansas City Southern Railroad line, has been cleaned and was presented to the community at meeting on Sunday, October 20.
The land on the corner of Scenic Highway and Harding Boulevard will be cleared and turned into a multi-million dollar housing complex called “The Palisades at Jaguar City” for upperclassman, graduated students, and students with families,
However, the property for the proposed complex has come under public scrutiny. Many believe that the area is a toxic waste site.
“The area in which the housing complex is scheduled to be built upon was declared a hazardous waste site,” said George Kramer, an environmental scientist with Arcadis Environmental Consulting Firm.
According to Kramer, the areas in question are the former Western Petroleum Factory and the former Export Drum Company, Inc.
After Western closed in 1984, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality cited the company for not properly disposing material and cleaning up the facility.
The company restored the area to residential standards and in 2002, DEQ issued a No Further Action Status Report. This report indicates that the company complied with DEQ’s standards.
Export Drum Company, Inc., a metal oil drum reclaiming facility also received the stamp of approval in October 2002. However the site was restored to commercial standards.
Jason Efferson, an environmental scientist with the Office of Environmental Assessment at DEQ, residential standard means that a person can live on the land for 70 years, eat from crops and drink water from the land without developing any health problems.
On the other hand, commercial standard means a worker can work on the land and come in contact with the soil for 220 days out of a year, five days a week, eight hours a day for 35 years.
“We would never build on a hazardous site,” said Charles Frazier, an associate of Educational Development Company of America, LLC. “We even bought in our own environmental firm (Arcadis) to inspect the land.”
According to Frazier, the area, which has been upgraded to a commercial standard, will be used to build a shopping area for students and residents of the community.
Construction of the housing complex is set to begin in late November.
The plan has been embraced by the administration by the Southern University Board of Supervisors is awaiting a third party assessment of the area by the Environmental Protection Agency before they give an approval.
Educational Development Company of America is a Tallahassee-based company that specializes in innovative housing solutions for historically black colleges and universities.
The company uses money from private investors and foundation to provide this service.
The development will have 324 units including four bedroom/four bath, one bedroom/one bath, and two bed/two bath units.
The gated community will also have a pool and clubhouse complete with a multimedia room, lounge area, bar, and other amenities.
“I think it is a good idea to develop this land,” said Margie Thomas, a resident of the area. “It would make our area look really nice.”
Educational Development has created university communities surrounding the campuses of Florida A&M, Jackson State, and Texas Southern.