Roughly three months after voting down a special tax incentive to help finance construction of a new Courtyard Marriott downtown, the Metro Council will again take up the matter at its meeting Wednesday. Though it’s risky to predict how the council will vote, at least seven members—the simple majority needed to pass the measure—confirm to Daily Report they will definitely or likely support it.
South Carolina-based Windsor Aughtry Hotel Group and its local partners, Gordon LeBlanc and Moffett LeBlanc Strain, are seeking approval from the council to use tax-increment financing, or a TIF, to help cover construction costs of the $22 million hotel. The developers are requesting a two-cent TIF and will also ask the council for the authority to levy an additional two-cent sales tax on rooms and goods at their 135-room hotel. Unlike some other hotels, they are not seeking any tax incentives from the state.
The TIF, which expires after 20 years, is expected to generate $800,000 a year in new taxes, $100,000 of which will be rebated back to the developers.
Several council members who opposed the TIF earlier this year say they changed their minds after meeting with the developers and, particularly, the local partners on the project.
“I had a great conversation with the owners and have a better understanding of it so more than likely I’ll support it,” says Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis. “I voted against it last time but now they have reached out to most of us and made their case.”
Council members who have confirmed they will support the TIF include Buddy Amoroso, Joel Boé, John Delgado, C. Denise Marcelle and Tara Wicker. Collins-Lewis and Trae Welch both say they are strongly leaning towards voting yes. Chandler Loupe could not be reached for comment, but previously supported the TIF and is another likely yes vote.
The only definite no vote is expected to come from Ryan Heck, who is philosophically opposed to all TIFs and has said repeatedly he will not support any such measure. Chauna Banks-Daniel and Scott Wilson did not return calls seeking comment as of this morning’s deadline. Ronnie Edwards has been out on extended medical leave. It is unclear whether she will attend Wednesday’s meeting.
The hotel’s developers say they are hopeful but they’re not taking anything for granted at this point.
“We welcome and appreciate the opportunity to appear before the Metro Council on Wednesday,” says Bill Fayssoux, project manager with Windsor Aughtry, which also developed the downtown Hampton Inn. “Over the past five years, we have seen firsthand the revitalization of downtown Baton Rouge and believe that this is only the beginning of the transformation.”
The council convenes at 4 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. See the full agenda.
—Stephanie Riegel
