Jefferson Parish looks for developers to help revitalize Fat City A 12-year effort to revitalize Metairie’s Fat City corridor continued Friday as Jefferson Parish and its economic development partners sought input from developers interested in working with the parish. The parish, JEDCO and two partnering organizations issued a Request for Information “to identify creative ideas to develop several public/private-owned land parcels in Fat City,” a news release said The deadline to submit is Feb. 22. The corridor includes Lakeside Shopping Center and surrounding retail stores, restaurants and other businesses. This is the first RFI that has been issued for the area, where revitalization efforts began in 2009. In 2013, Jefferson Parish leaders considered a Fat City Business Development District to seek voter approval to collect a property tax or parcel fee within its boundaries and dedicate it to projects such as landscaping and parking. Some of the most recent activity in the area includes a Façade Improvement Program that offers forgivable loans to businesses sprucing up their exteriors, art murals at various locations and a new $8.8 million Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s District station.