Professor Chris Tyson
Professor Chris Tyson, who has served as Chief Executive Officer of Build Baton Rouge for the past four years, is wrapping up his tenure with the city-parish redevelopment authority at the end of the year and rejoining the LSU Law faculty full time in January.
Tyson has continued to teach Local and State Government law at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center each spring since he took academic leave in December 2017 to serve as CEO of Build Baton Rouge, and he has also taught during Apprenticeship Week. Tyson holds the Newman Trowbridge Distinguished Professorship in Louisiana Property Rights 1, teaching and writing in the areas of property, real estate development, local government law and urban land use and development. He joined the LSU Law faculty in 2010 as an Assistant Professor.
During his time with Build Baton Rouge, Tyson oversaw a rebranding of the agency, which was formerly known as The East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority. Under Tyson’s leadership, the agency led and was a partner on the $50 million Bus Rapid Transit project, the development of the award-winning Plank Road Masterplan and its many projects, the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant for the Ardendale development, the $5 million JP Morgan Chase Advancing Cities award, the creation of a North Baton Rouge-focused small business loan fund, and the establishment of Baton Rouge’s first Community Land Trust.
“In just four years Chris grew our agency into a 21st century vehicle for equitable and transformative community development,” said Rodney Braxton, Chairman of the Build Baton Rouge Board of Commissioners. “We’re proud of all that has been accomplished and the foundation that has been established.”
Also under Tyson’s leadership, the agency acquired and/or cleared title to over 20 acres of vacant and blighted urban property and prepared them for redevelopment plans that are currently underway. Build Baton Rouge also administered over $20 million in HUD Community Development grants through its partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Development. The partnership fulfilled Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s goal of restoring the program to full HUD compliance and has resulted in repairs to over 200 homes.
“Chris has been a trusted advisor and a dynamic leader,” said Broome. “We will see the fruits of his labor for years to come and I am forever grateful for his service.”
