T. Parker Host CEO Adam Anderson was overlooking a 3,000-foot strip of concrete dock jutting out into the Mississippi River, from the west bank of Jefferson Parish, La., at the former Avondale Shipyard site. For the Virginia-based company, the new dock is part of a multi-pronged strategy for an ambitious plan to revitalize and grow the firm’s logistics business in Louisiana. Getting it operationally ready has become more complex than he had imagined after the company’s $60M purchase of the 254-acre site in October 2018. The company’s plan is to create a vibrant cargo hub, and restore the luster and regional economic impact. But the site has fallen on hard times since its closure and the loss of as many as 26,000 jobs. “We had to reverse engineer” hundreds of pilings and supports for the new dock, he told NOLA.com. “It's been a really super complex project." The project has been littered with distractions - derelict buildings, rusting equipment and infrastructure - and months of high water from the Mississippi River stalling work; and then there was the coronavirus pandemic put an anchor on the cargo business. But, now, the CEO says the site is within months of making a major leap with a potential first on-site tenant, and even possibly a second on deck. "It's taken us three years, but we've finally unlocked the door." Jefferson Parish leadership is also hoping for that economic impact through this project. (Source: NOLA.com 05/30/21) Is the old Avondale Shipyard site poised to be a major industrial player? Check out the plan | Business News | nola.com
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