East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority President and CEO Walter Monsour praised the RDA’s role in the community while speaking before guests at the Atlas Foundation’s Annual Friendship and Dialogue Dinner on Tuesday evening. Monsour cited ongoing projects such as the Ardendale mixed retail and residential development, the Model Block venture in Mid City and the planned rehabilitation of the former Entergy building on Government Street, among others, as evidence of his success at the helm of the organization.
However, he offered no response to growing questions regarding his future as head of the agency. When asked by Daily Report to comment on recent speculation of his possible resignation, Monsour offered only, “I have a lot to think about right now.”
The effectiveness of the RDA and Monsour’s role as its leader has been called into question in recent weeks, with Mayor Kip Holden criticizing both the agency and Monsour, his one-time chief of staff and political ally. The controversy began after the RDA board of commissioners voted to ask the Metro Council for an annual $3 million appropriation to keep the agency afloat.
Holden responded by criticizing Monsour’s reported $365,000 annual salary and benefits package and questioning his effectiveness as the agency’s leader. More recently, allegations of impropriety also arose regarding the relationship between the RDA and Butler Snow law firm, where Monsour’s son, Jordan Monsour, is an attorney. Butler Snow represented clients that received funds from the RDA.
RDA Board Chairman John Noland told Daily Report earlier this week that he has been “sounding (out) board members one on one” and that the board is “evaluating our course of action.”
—Gabrielle Braud
