Mayor Mosca: 'We're going to lose 88 acres of green space to something, whether residential or not, unless we can pool our resources and come up with some sort of help'
About 50 residents packed Harahan City Hall on Thursday night for a question-and-answer session regarding the ongoing fiscal fight over the future of Colonial Golf & Country Club. No representatives were present from the country club, which is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, or its largest creditor, Louis Lauricella-owned Colonial Finance LLC.
About 50 residents packed Harahan City Hall on Thursday night for a question-and-answer session regarding the ongoing fiscal fight over the future of Colonial Golf & Country Club.The gathering became a brain-storming session of sorts, with Mayor Vinny Mosca sharing details he's been privy to while asking citizens their opinions on the matter.
"We're going to lose 88 acres of green space to something, whether residential or not, unless we can pool our resources and come up with some sort of help," Mosca said.
The federal bankruptcy court on Tuesday granted Colonial Country Club's motion allowing businessman John Georges and developer Wayne Ducote to loan the club money to cover maintenance and administrative costs during the proceedings. The motion also states that Colonial intends to file a plan negotiated with Colonial Finance, Georges and Ducote that would satisfy its debts.
Mosca told audience members he suspects that these filings and others suggest that an official owner of the property and a plan would surface within the next 60 days.
"As of today, the city has not received a request for anything regarding the 88 acres at Colonial," he said. "We have received no requests for a zoning change. The zoning at Colonial is residential."
Mosca said he had spoken with what he called three entities interested in the property. In addition to Lauricella and Georges, the mayor identified real estate developer Gordon Konrad. Mosca focused on Georges and said his plans for the property could include a private home with some residential development and green space. Nothing has been decided about commercial development, the mayor said.
When he opened the floor to audience members, Harahan resident Patty Couvillion rose first and voiced frustration with the uncertainty of the closed-door negotiations.
"We don't feel like there's any transparency here," she said, asking Mosca to ensure that citizens could have access to the talks.
Couvillion said she's been delighted by all of the new wildlife that has settled onto the property since the club closed in January.
"I see ducks. I see people with families walking their dogs. I think the entire city would love to have it as a park," she said.
Ray Thompson asked for City Hall to take a stronger stance against commercial development of the property.
"I would like to find a way to make it a public facility," Thompson said "The only reasonable compromise is some residential near the river."
Other audience members asked about the possibility of rezoning the property for parks and recreation.
Mosca said it would take a vote of the Harahan City Council.
Others suggested City Hall conduct a vote or formal poll to determine what residents want to see done with the property.
Harahan resident Bob Illg said he moved to Harahan from Metairie and wants to protect his investment. He, too, backed the idea of a vote.
"The only thing the city can do is represent the will of the people, and in that respect, we the people have to take some action and give you some guidance," Illg said.
Michelle Hunter can be reached at mhunter@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7054.