Rolfe McCollister: It’s time for Baton Rouge to come ALIVE

It’s time for Baton Rouge to come ALIVE

ROLFE MCCOLLISTER JR.

THIS SPECIAL EDITION celebrating the past 40 years of chronicling the life of our business community in the pages of Business Report gives one the opportunity to reflect.

We are often so busy with life today or worrying about tomorrow that we don’t look back to celebrate or learn from the past. Sometimes the issue isn’t the changes we’ve made, but, in fact, it’s those we failed to make—usually because of an unwillingness to abandon the past and embrace the future.

That has been, and remains, one of the biggest obstacles to Baton Rouge reaching its potential. It’s the reason we’ve struggled to innovate or grow. We have a love affair with the status quo and “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

We have lacked vision. We have thought small. We have avoided risks. All of which is, in part, explainable by the fact 80% of our residents are Louisiana natives.

We’ve grown up wanting something for nothing. If there is a cost, then the state should pay for it. Let’s face it, mediocre or average is just fine for many of us because at least it’s a little better than our parents had it.

Too often, opportunities have come … and, unfortunately, gone because we either chose not to pay or didn’t trust the government to be good stewards of tax dollars.

One good example that some may remember was the proposed downtown ALIVE project on the Mississippi River in 2008. This was the idea of then-Mayor Kip Holden and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, developed in conjunction with the Audubon Nature Institute, which operates the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.

ALIVE was going to be built on the river side of the levee on the batture near the state Capitol.

It was described as “an interactive adventure; a celebration of Louisiana culture; an exploration of places around the world where great rivers meet the sea.” At ALIVE, you could “get close to spectacular plants and animals. Be active: play, ride, climb and soar.” Plans called for a “floating park, outdoor amphitheater for concerts, a dock, river model, satellite station and an area to ‘live in the zone’ around the world. One could soar high above the Mississippi and fly with the birds.”

It would have been a spectacular tourist attraction on the river known nationwide, right here in the Capital City.

The pitch concluded with, “Baton Rouge is changing. Baton Rouge is energetic.”

Sounds wonderful, yes?

Unfortunately, not to the voters

of East Baton Rouge Parish, who not once but twice rejected the bold plan.

Many complained that downtown, undergoing its renaissance, was already getting too much love. Others were OK approving taxes for local roads and bridges, but not for game-changing, transformative projects that would not only boost the economy but also be an incredible asset for our children and grandchildren.

Instead, we’re the ones cramming the family into a car or plane and spending thousands of dollars to experience something like this in another city.

Our parochialism and lack of vision also meant we missed out on the economic benefits of growing tourism and upgrading our downtown community living room.

Why dream big when we can be content relying on government jobs and those tied to the petrochemical section (which are shrinking)? We chose to embrace the status quo, believing the world will never change and we’re just fine being average.

An economic analysis of the ALIVE project done in 2008 by Wade Ragas and Jim Richardson concluded that there would be millions of dollars in new tax collections and investments as well as $375 million in earnings along with 1,000 construction jobs by 2016. By 2021—last year—the projected all-in count was 22,000 jobs created.

The presentation for ALIVE stressed creating a learning environment using virtual reality and 4D film. It would have added to our quality of life using the latest design and technology.

But, again, the enabling bond issue lost—not once, but twice. It came within 3,071 votes of passing, with 72% turnout, in 2008, but a second passage attempt a year later got trounced 64%-36%.

What a shame and missed opportunity for our region.

A video presentation touting the project declared, “Baton Rouge is

RENDERINGS COURTESY OF BRAF

(Continued on page 146)

REFLECTIONS

STUPIDITY DEFINED

This feature is a tribute in honor of Business Report founders, Rolfe McCollister Sr. & Rolfe McCollister Jr.

TOWARD THE END of Proverbs, Solomon reports of a man who confesses his stupidity. Proverbs 30:2-3 reads: “Surely I am more stupid than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man. Neither have I learned wisdom, nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.” The rest of this Proverb and all 31 Proverbs gives the remedy to bring us out of “stupidity” and into “spiritual intelligence.” Spiritual intelligence is having understanding, learning wisdom and having knowledge of the Holy One. The starting block of understanding is given in Proverbs 3:5-6 and is spoken of frequently throughout the Proverbs. Wisdom comes through learning from the mistakes of others and one’s own mistakes as well as getting revelation from the writings of the wisest man who ever lived who wrote Proverbs, The Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Lastly, is the fatal mistake of any person who does not have the knowledge of the nature and attributes of the three most holy and beautiful people in the universe—the Father, the Son and the Spirit, who are all Holy. Two books that will bring you into knowledge of the Holy One are two classics: Knowing God, by J.I. Packer, and Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. Beloved, seek understanding, learn wisdom and possess knowledge of the Holy One! —Jeff Mitchell, Retired COL and Army Chaplain

(Continued from page 144) on the brink of greatness awaiting the spark that will ignite. ALIVE … an experience like no other.”

Well, our children may never know that experience. That “spark” never came and 14 years later it seems we are still on the brink and waiting.

Is it too late to come alive? I contacted an expert who said, “Definitely doable. Many similar projects have had a major impact on rebranding cities both economically and quality of life.”

Does Baton Rouge need a rebranding? Are we content being known simply as “Louisiana’s state capital?”

It is sad for me to read the CityStats survey that shows a majority of parents encourage their children to move away to seek other opportunity. I am blessed that my children and grandchildren live here and provide such joy for my wife, Teeta, and me. But that isn’t the case for many of you—and it could happen more often in the future.

We must turn it around if we want the talent to compete and our businesses to thrive. ALIVE would take our mayor, Metro Council, legislators, BRAF, BRAC, LED, Visit BR and DDD working together. It’s time to come ALIVE, redeem past mistakes, think big and rally our community for our future—finally.

OTHER EXAMPLES

We have had some wins in the past 40. We have had big misses that could have brought us more wins. Looking at my wish list, some are projects or ideas that I’ve repeated over and over and still have not become reality. Perhaps some of my ideas aren’t for everyone, but they seem like such a big deal to me. In fact, most would be routine in other cities. But here in my good ol’ hometown it’s like moving a mountain.

Why?

I love Baton Rouge and my parents and family have invested our lives here. We have many capital assets, and many wonderful and hardworking people.

But our community must have aspirational goals for the future. The world is changing fast. We must build on our wins:

• Pennington Biomedical

Research Center. Thank you Doc Pennington for such a generous gift to LSU. That’s not to say LSU has always been a good steward, but it is a world-class facility and now has world-class talent. I believe it is a gem and positioned to be known worldwide for the research and benefits it can provide.

• Water Institute of the Gulf

and Water Campus. Many can be thanked for this effort and the critical work so many talented people are doing to benefit Louisiana, the nation and others around the globe. Tying into research at LSU enables us to stand out. And I count the iconic building on the old rusting “City Dock” as a wish come true for me after so many years of complaining of this eyesore at the entrance to our city on Interstate 10. • Downtown renaissance. We have many to thank here, too, including the late Davis Rhorer, John Davies and Mark Drennen. And if there were a new Mr. Downtown it would be Mike Wampold who has four office towers and a first-class hotel, the Watermark, shaping our skyline. He has embraced change, innovated and invested big in Baton Rouge. • The Lakes Project. This is just getting underway, but it is finally happening. And the finished project will be beautiful and a tremendous asset for our community to enjoy. This has been a long time goal of BRAF (Davies and John Spain) and happened with the collaboration of LSU, the state, city-parish government, BREC and others.

WISHES FOR THE FUTURE

I know we can look back with 20/20 hindsight and see missed opportunities. And I wonder what Baton Rouge would be today had we made different choices and taken the risk to be bold in our thinking?

Here are a few wishes for our future: • A safe city. Without this, much of the rest doesn’t matter. • A clean city. It doesn’t seem that hard. We all must commit.

• A city manager and at-large

council seats. What if Mayor Tom Ed McHugh in 1988 had hired Ted Gaebler as city manager to change the way our city operated and become more innovative? Gaebler, a professional city manager, went on to author the international bestseller Reinventing Government. Baton Rouge needs to reinvent its government.

• An all-charter/magnet school

system. What if we had chosen to embrace charter schools in 2003 and allow KIPP Academy into our community to help the underserved children trapped in failing schools for the last 20 years? Where would those children be today?

Or what if we had supported the effort in the Legislature to establish an independent school district in southeast Baton Rouge like the one in Baker, Zachary and Central? Would there be a city of St. George approved by the voters and the resulting lawsuit by Sharon Weston Broome and others to stop it? • A true City Park. Not one with a dusty and hard-turf nine-hole golf course running through it, but one reimagined that ties in with a beautiful new lake system, Knock Knock Children’s Museum, BR Gallery and Cane’s dog park. So many possibilities for this spacious green space in the heart of Baton Rouge.

• A collaborative ecosystem for entrepreneurs to start and thrive. • Synchronized traffic sig-

nals. For decades it has been discussed—and was part of the failed 2009 bond issue that included ALIVE—but remains nonexistent in much of the parish. The technology has been available for decades. What’s the problem?

You probably have your own wish list for the future of our community. We have to dream—and then make it happen.

THANK YOU FOR 40 YEARS!

This 40-year journey is one I hold near and dear for the memories and many valuable relationships. One of joy and making a difference in my hometown and state.

God has blessed me and my family to work with so many talented people in our company and in our state to make things a little better. I couldn’t have made it without Teeta by my side as well as my girls, Jeanne and Elizabeth. I had great role models in my dad and mom. And good mentors in friends Buddy Roemer and Milton Womack. And what great partners in Julio and Sherry Melara.

There are so many to thank for getting to this milestone. It took teamwork—dedicated teammates and clients, loyal readers and friends. I’m proud to be on Baton Rouge’s team. Thank you all for your support and the special memories.

TIM MUELLER Downtown festival

FILE PHOTO The Lakes Project