A deal that would have brought a natural gas liquefaction and fueling facility to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge appears to have fallen through, and a New Orleans-based industrial construction company has acquired the land initially planned for the facility.
In a deal that closed Thursday, Barriere Construction acquired the property—a 59-acre tract on Scenic Highway just north of Thomas Road with access to the port—for $3 million. The family-owned firm bought the land from local businessman Sidney Brian, who had owned the it since the early 2000s.
Attorney John Barton Jr., who represents Brian, says Barriere plans to develop an asphalt plant on the site, its third in south Louisiana. The company, which specializes in industrial, highway and heavy civil construction, asphalt, and concrete paving, has two other plants in Boutte and Franklinton.
Last fall, Houston-based Waller Marine announced plans to build a plant at the site, initially capable of producing 200,000 gallons of LNG daily. But Barton says the deal fell through in late January because the company’s purchase agreement with Brian lapsed. It is unclear why. Officials from Waller Marine could not be reached for comment this afternoon.
Barton says that about the time the Waller deal fell through, Barriere, which had previously approached Brian about acquiring the property, made him an offer.
“Barriere had been looking at it during the same time Waller was looking at it, and then they went and looked at other opportunities and came back around about the same time that the Waller Marine deal lapsed,” Barton says. “So it worked out well. It’s a great economic development deal for East Baton Rouge and hopefully for the port. Barriere is a great company with a great reputation. They’re wonderful gentlemen to deal with.”
Barriere executives could not be reached today for comment.
Waller Marine still has a lease on a 20-acre site adjacent to the 59-acre plot. The company’s plans for the site are unclear. Officials with the Port of Baton Rouge could not be reached for comment.
—Stephanie Riegel
