Zackman

It appears that the Library in Rouzan has been approved for final design documents. Here is a link to the completed proposal that was presented to the Library Board earlier this week Rouzan Branch Design Development Presentation. Here is the Final Design

Just a quick update. Ground clearing began this week on the old Ford Property. Seems all the permits, etc. are in place to begin construstion of the Library once the final proposal gets approved by the planning commission. Then the act of donation will be signed by the Mayor. Then the final design will have to be approved by the Library Board. Phase 1B (Library) goes before the Planning Commission this Monday for final approval. A few of the Southside CIvic Association Board Members just can't let this happen and willl put up a fight at Monday's meeting. They are leaving no stone unturned to stop this development. So look for some complaint about t's not being crossed and i's not being dotted to try and stall construction. Meanwhile, some of them are still trying to get the new library built on Burbank (swamp land) instead of in Rouzan. They claim to represent the neighborhood, what a shame, but I guess they get to have their say.

It's great that you are discussing this on the forum. However, I would strongly encourage everyone to send their thoughts and comments to the library board. There are a number of people who believe downtown is no place for a library. I personally think they are wrong, but that is my thought. Anyway, please take a few minutes and let the library board know your thoughts concerning the down town library. Oh, also encourage your friends, co-workers, etc., to express their opinions too! You can email the entire board by using the email address [email protected] You may want to reference the Downtown Library in your email subject line.

Wow, good news. A Hilton Garden Inn in Perkins Rowe should be a good fit. Nice hotel without being too high end. Isn't there a Hilton Garden Inn right across from the Mall of Louisiana?

Not so sure about that given the zoning, but even worse would be another lifeless one way in one way out subdivision. Just what Baton Rouge needs. Anyhow, what do you y'all think about the fear and smear campaign against Perkins Rowe. Was it effective? Or do you think the people of Baton Rouge are more open minded and willing to give the court system a try?

I think cajun was referring to the pressure on WAFB imposed by those who don't want Rouzan. They're trying any angle they can think of to stop the development. (sorry about getting off topic, just wanted to clarify).

The problem is the that the Baton Rouge press is not use to this size of a project and the associated lawsuits. This is really bad press... What would you do if you were a developer thinking of entering the Baton Rouge market? I also find it curious that WAFB names Spinosa instead of JTS as the target of the lawsuits.

The Library Board is scheduled to review the new library today for Rouzan. Sounds like they've worked out the parking and maintenance fees with the developer. Hopefully things will go through and construction will begin soon.

The creek is scheduled to be enlarged into a pond/lake (actually closer in size to a pond). This is for water retention, to mitigate the flooding problems in the surrounding neighborhoods during heavy rains. We, along with some other supporters or Rouzan, go to see the developer on occasion. They are very happy to meet with neighbors that are willing to listen and work with them. I think Rouzan will only enhance the charm and character of the surrounding neighborhoods. The bridge Cajun references is a 19th century arch bridge found in Europe. Something like...

From the Baton Rouge Advocate... [url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/34444364.html]Rouzan

Like Richyb stated, it will be much more of a village feel then Perkins Rowe, which is very urban. Most of the land will be used for single family townhomes around the village center and single family detached homes outside the town center. When you say Camellia drive in Lafayette, I'm assuming you are referring to River Ranch, which should be similar to Rouzan (both are TNDs). Rouzan is scheduled to have a Library, Church and school, none of which is found in River Ranch. Also, I would not expect any mega mansions like there are in River Ranch. I think the best example for what Rouzan will be is Harbor Town in Memphis. Here is additional information Harbor Town. This is very similar in size, density, and commercial as Rouzan. Also, Looney, Ricks, and Kiss actually finished Harbor Town and are part of the design team for Rouzan.

I wish I knew why our newspaper is so anti-Rouzan. I know they have to sell papers, but the spin they put on this development only hurts Baton Rouge and angers some already misinformed residents in the area. The fact is that 80,000 sq ft was for a "boutique" hotel, which was to be located adjacent the new lake/pond. The other 20,000 sq ft was for commercial (office/shops) on the one acre just bought. It looks like JTS has pulled the proposal altogether from the planning department.

The Metro Council approved the donation of land for the new Library at last nights meeting. I think most people will be very happy with the details of phase 1 and hopefully the developer will be releasing detailed drawings and rendering to the public in the near future.

I thought it might be appropriate, with the Planning Commissions overwhelming approval of Phase 1, that a dedicated thread be started for discussions and updates about Rouzan.

Baton Rouge takes another step towards entering the 21st century with the approval of Rouzan's 1st phase. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/29515579.html It's too bad that the advocate didn't publish Kathleen Callaghan's other comments, which included her saying something like she thought the opponents arguments were disingenuous. Living in the neighborhood, that's actually an understatement from the comments I've heard from a few of my neighbors over the last few years.

I'm confused on this also... I know they have both apartments and condos for sale. It sounds like (from other sources) that the apartments above barnes and noble sold relatively quickly. I also sounds like maybe only 80 condos are currently ready to be sold, but this is only a guess. As another guess, I would think there are at least 200 - 300 condos in the first phase development with the numbers more than likely much higher.

In yesterday's Business Report TND trinity. Interesting article about the increase in TNDs along the I-10/I-12 corridor. Now if we could only get some good public transit along the same development routes... Maybe in time .

From the Baton Rouge Advocate Perkins library timeline laid out "...Spinosa made it clear Thursday he's ready to move on the 119-acre project on Perkins Road near College Drive. Spinosa said he plans to submit a detailed plan on the project in July and hopes to have approval from the Planning Commission in August. If all goes well, the city-parish could begin construction on the new library in December, Spinosa said." This is wonderful news.

Richyb, Thanks for the post, I missed that one. I usually scan the Daily Report, but that one is kind of hidden in that article. I wish they would have done a full article with some more detail.

Cajun, you've got mail. For anyone else, I'll be glad to PM the email addresses or you can get them at the Library Board of Control Members website.

Love the last part. I think the library board members are getting some similar messages in their inbox. They could always use more...

Okay, did some more checking in to what is going on with the proposed "Southdowns" Public Library, which is scheduled to be built in the Rouzan TND. John Berry, who is the acting President of the Southside Civic Association, is pushing the Library Board to build on the Burbank site. He hopes to force the Rouzan Developer to go again before the Metro Council for approval based on a major change in the proposed plan. This time without the library, which is a major feature of the TND and one of the primary reasons stated by Mr. Skyring for supporting the rezoning of the Ford Property. The Burbank site would require everyone to drive to the site. If placed in Rouzan over 1000 families could easily walk to the library (previously noted by richyb83), including yours truely. Since the Burbank site is located in a flood plain, a tremendous amount of dirt would have to be brought in to the location to raise the site above the flood plain at a great expense. John Berry has convinced some Library Board Members that it has taken too long for the Rouzan site. This is really sad since he and other Southside Civiic Association Board Members are the primary reason it took so long for Rouzan to get approved. I guess in his mind, the end justifies the means. Please contact the Library Board Members and let them know that Rouzan is the better choice for this Public Library. Here is a link containing their email addresses Library Board of Control Members

Technically that is true, with the last quarter showing a 0.6% GDP growth. However, with the way companies account for their inventory, many think that actually there was negative growth last quarter. The next quarter will help determine if indeed we are currently in a recession, since last quarter's inventory will have to included.

Cajun, the Southside Civic Association doesn't care about those things. It's been three months now since the Metro Council approved rezoning for Rouzan. Certainly the library should have been built by now. Didn't one of the two library board members (or his family), that stated the Rouzan developer is taking too long, donate the land they want to build on Burbank? Do they not get their tax write off until the library is built on Burbank???

I'm so sick of Baton Rouge politics (and for that matter the local newpaper). Acosta leaves and everything changes. If the library pulls out of Rouzan, I'm leaving Baton Rouge and going to move to Lafayette. This will be the final straw for us.