No matter what the future holds for the upper reaches of West Jefferson, a key player will be Marrero Land and Improvement Association.
Notwithstanding its nonprofit-sounding name, Marrero Land is a closely held, family-owned corporation. It dates from 1904, established by Louis H. Marrero Sr., the Jefferson Parish sheriff and president of Jefferson Commercial and Savings Bank, and his three sons.
The company still holds at least 920 acres in two big tracts in ZIP code 70094, judging from offerings on its website, as well as other properties in south Louisiana. Its president since last fall, Marie “Lori” Ward, would not discuss Marrero Land’s path forward, saying she was still reviewing its portfolio and preparing a strategic plan.
Louis Marrero IV, its president from 1971 to 1981, said Marrero Land historically has built and leased shopping centers and developed industrial sites for long-term lease income, and sometimes swapped them tax-free for property owned by a tenant. When the price is right, it sells land, too.
The company was seen as quite conservative during the tenure of N. Buckner Barkley Jr., the founder’s great-grandson and Marrero Land’s chairman and president for 41 years beginning in 1981.
“Buck never owned a new car, as much money as he had,” said John Alario Jr., the retired Louisiana legislator who was friends with Barkley. “It might be a Mercedes, but still it was a second-hand car.”
Upon Barkley's death eight months ago, Ward, niece of Louis Marrero IV, became president.
She said Marrero Land remains bullish on the West Bank, pointing to Segnette Estates, where she said the company sold 40 of the 160 single-family residential lots last year. Her uncle, in a separate interview, agreed: “The future of Marrero Land is in that ZIP code,” he said.
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CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this article gave incorrect years for Louis Marrero IV's tenure as president of Marrero Land.