Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[dan326]

Do any of you know about the possibility of a new cassino? I remeber seeing something about that on the news a couples of weeks ago and wanted to see if any of you had any information on the matter?

[dimebag1980]

Do any of you know about the possibility of a new cassino? I remeber seeing something about that on the news a couples of weeks ago and wanted to see if any of you had any information on the matter?

I know Monroe is looking into the possibility. There's only one license that's come available I believe, and either one or two riverboats from Lake Charles is available. It was the Harrah's complex that closed down there, correct?

Anyway, I've only heard of the Monroe proposal, but I'd say there are many reasons why Baton Rouge would have an advantage over Monroe: (1) Baton Rouge already has more visitors than Monroe, (2) Baton Rouge would likely be a shorter distance to move a riverboat, (3) Baton Rouge is more receptive to gambling, and (4) Baton Rouge already has casino gambling so they wouldn't be introducing a totally new industry to the city. I'm assuming the downtown Baton Rouge area also has a much better infrastructure for handling a casino than does Monroe as well. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that, though.

[richyb83]

That possibility was actually introduced for West Baton Rouge. IMO the chances are less than 50/50. I think two casino's for BR iS enough. There is too much competion on the nearby Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans. Recently it was announced Lake Charles could be getting a big casino/hotel called Sugar Cane Bay, next to La' Berge du lac (sp.?) I'm not sure if that was what was done with the extra license or not ??

Edited July 10, 2006 by richyb83

[dimebag1980]

That possibility was actually introduced for West Baton Rouge. IMO the chances are less than 50/50. I think two casino's for BR iS enough. There is too much competion on the nearby Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans. Recently it was announced Lake Charles could be getting a big casino/hotel called Sugar Cane Bay, next to La' Berge du lac (sp.?) I'm not sure if that was what was done with the extra license or not ??

Come to think of it... if the Harrah's Lake Charles property contained two boats, then that would mean there were two licenses. So are there two licenses available rather than just one?

[byrde]

Pinnacle Gaming is who purchased the Harrah's Property in Lake Charles. They want to build a new resort next to La Berge Du'lac Casino. The Sugar Cane Bay Resort Rich made refercence to. Pinnacle has also expressed some interest in locating the other boat in West Baton Rouge. I don't think we need another casino in this area. I'd rather see Casino Rouge align themselves with a nice hotel on the riverfront in BR. It could do well with a refurbished riverfront.

[dimebag1980]

Pinnacle Gaming is who purchased the Harrah's Property in Lake Charles. They want to build a new resort next to La Berge Du'lac Casino. The Sugar Cane Bay Resort Rich made refercence to. Pinnacle has also expressed some interest in locating the other boat in West Baton Rouge. I don't think we need another casino in this area. I'd rather see Casino Rouge align themselves with a nice hotel on the riverfront in BR. It could do well with a refurbished riverfront.

Thanks for the clarification, byrde. I feel so disconnected from that area sometimes, but that's where sites like this and people like you guys come into play.

[richyb83]

I agree Byrde. I have seen in the future Riverfront Plans hopes for an additional hotel to align itself with Casino Rouge. I think that should have been done already. I wish we had a glitzy high-rise hotel-casino like Shreveport/Bossier City does on their riverfront. Our tallest hotel in BR is the Marriott at 22-stories that's about 4 or 5 miles from the casinos.

[richyb83]

Perkins Road 5-lane widening project to begin between Essen and Siegen(3.2 miles). This has been badly needed as any project in BR. Now Perkins Rowe is being built at Perkins/ Bluebonnet and Willow Grove TND about to begin is also on this stretch of road.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/3320101.html

[dan326]

Widening a road seems like it would be a lot of work because you have to move and reposition all the telephone poles and light post along the way.

[richyb83]

You ain't kiddin'. But it does look like they do have some of the work started. I think it started a few months back with some poles/utilities already taken care of. But yes, it could take nearly 3 years. It's crazy how a road be so developed and remain 2-laned for so long.

[dan326]

Do you know what is going to be built on Millerville road beside the new Lowe's. It used to be a school,Millerville Academy, but it moved to a new location and last time I passed by they were knocking the place down. Have any ideas?

Edited July 11, 2006 by dan326

[richyb83]

I live in the Millerville area and 5-laning should finally begin next week from I-12 to Old Hammond Hwy(phase I). Along with Lowe's there will be a Best Buy next to the Super Target. Also Hibbet(sp.)?Sports and a few others. Chick-fil-A should go next to Blockbuster. Also 9-acres behind Super Target was purchased yesterday, a possible hotel or offices will go there.

Millerville Academy property could become a Chili's and a bank ? That is going to become a large area of developed land. Across Millerville to the west near I-12 Fairwood CC was bought and will also be developed. And just across I-12 to the south there is a 312-unit Regent condo's currently going up. Millerville is booming to say the least !

[dimebag1980]

Hey guys, what part of Baton Rouge is Millerville Rd in? Sounds like a lot is going on in that area, keeping pace with the other major shopping areas of Baton Rouge.

[richyb83]

Hope this MAP helps Brian. "A"shown is the area in the extreme eastern section, Millerville/I-12 about 6 miles EAST of the I 10-12 split

[dimebag1980]

Ahhh I see! Looks like it's a good distance from Mall at Cortana and Mall of Louisiana, and in the direction of the Livingston Parish sprawl. Looks like a great location for all these new businesses.

[NCB]

^I really like the eastern part of Baton Rouge. If you find the Mall of Louisiana, and go slightly NW you should be looking at a neighborhood, Jefferson Terrace, and that's where I stayed after Katrina and have spent quite a bit of time in over the years. Great area, and you're only a few minutes away from two large interstates, and a third one in I-110, and also only minutes away from downtown and LSU.

[dan326]

The Shaw Group is the biggest corporation in Louisiana and the headquaters are situated right in our city. I just figured that out. They have offices all over the world and if you go to their website they have an interactive map that shows you all the spots.

[dimebag1980]

The Shaw Group is the biggest corporation in Louisiana and the headquaters are situated right in our city. I just figured that out. They have offices all over the world and if you go to their website they have an interactive map that shows you all the spots.

Wow, you just figured that out!? Oh yes, Shaw Group is enormous and is a Fortune 500 company. They may not have made it this last time (I don't recall for sure,) but they are usually a Fortune 500 company.

[bluff2085]

Hey guys, what part of Baton Rouge is Millerville Rd in? Sounds like a lot is going on in that area, keeping pace with the other major shopping areas of Baton Rouge.

Millerville is out in EBRP suburban country.

Looks like massive developments to the east and south of Baton Rouge will be continuing for some time, especially the sprawl-some developments popping up on the I-10 corridor. It's good to see urban projects like Perkins Rowe keeping pace with the suburban fronts in Baton Rouge.

[richyb83]

That's cool you spent time in BR Nate. I have lived in the area all of my life and really do like it too. I like living near I-12, it's very conveiniant.

^I really like the eastern part of Baton Rouge. If you find the Mall of Louisiana, and go slightly NW you should be looking at a neighborhood, Jefferson Terrace, and that's where I stayed after Katrina

Looks like massive developments to the east and south of Baton Rouge will be continuing for some time, especially the sprawl-some developments popping up on the I-10 corridor. It's good to see urban projects like Perkins Rowe keeping pace with the suburban fronts in Baton Rouge.

Agreed ! Southeastern BR has been as busy as any place in the State for the past 20 years. And it's not slowing down. I saw where BR ranked #24 in the U.S. with "Sprawl". That's no suprise. Neither was Atlanta being ranked # 1 on the list. They are the posterchild when it comes to sprawl.

Edited July 12, 2006 by richyb83

[richyb83]

Entergy to remove power-lines along the riverfront in downtown BR. The developments planned along the river will have a better view, particularly the renovated old Capitol House hotel.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/3332996.html

It was also announced Belle of Baton Rouge Casino plans to build a 10-story parking garage with 388 spaces on the southside of it's walkway. The Planning Commision will look at the proposal later this month.

Edited July 12, 2006 by richyb83

[bluff2085]

Agreed ! Southeastern BR has been as busy as any place in the State for the past 20 years. And it's not slowing down. I saw where BR ranked #24 in the U.S. with "Sprawl". That's no suprise. Neither was Atlanta being ranked # 1 on the list. They are the posterchild when it comes to sprawl.

It's exciting to see the transformations going on in Baton Rouge right now. To me, the sprawl out east isn't exactly desirable. But hopefully, more urban infrastructure improvements in BR will result from the city's need to support the metro area's phenomenal growth.

[dimebag1980]

Entergy to remove power-lines along the riverfront in downtown BR. The developments planned along the river will have a better view, particularly the renovated old Capitol House hotel.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/3332996.html

It was also announced Belle of Baton Rouge Casino plans to build a 10-story parking garage with 388 spaces on the southside of it's walkway. The Planning Commision will look at the proposal later this month.

Something is seriously wrong with that article. A 10-story parking garage should have somewhere between 500 and 2,000 spaces. I've never heard of a parking garage that tall having so few spaces. That's only 39 spaces per floor.

Or maybe that was worded badly, and in reality they're building a 10-story parking garage and an extra 338-space lot nearby? Maybe that's it.

[dan326]

I know Baton Rouge has several sister cities, but what exactly do we do with them? And on a differnet note, I got a PSP yesterday!

[dan326]

You know, I read this and see how excited we get about the new highrise buildings and can only imagine what the people thought back when they built the new state capital. At first it probably didn't sound like a good idea since, it was during the Great Depression, but besides that I'm sure they were probably very excited also. I mean, when you think about, 34 stories was tall for a Louisiana building back then.