Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[otowntiger]

Another impressive display Dan. Keep up the good work! My wife is impressed by your math skills. I had been wondering what the height of RiverPlace would be. Remember there is that 3-level parking on the bottom+ 30-stories and slopped roof(hard to see on rendering, white color). I was thinking at least 370'...very close with yours.

When it was 36-stories I thought that RiverPlace and the State Capitol would be virtually neck-n-neck around 45o-460 feet tall. The State Capitol is at a higher land elevation.

bluff2085; I heard them say it would be taller than the Capitol at one time; but my personal opinion (see above) even at 36-stories.

At 30-stories it will be 2nd tallest in BR.

So we now have official word that it will be trimmed to 30 floors? Last I heard (read on this site!) was that we still weren't sure if it were going to be 36 or 30.

[richyb83]

That's what the developer told me, 30-stories. 18% increase in construction cost$(steel, concrete, glass, etc.) due to all the Hurricanes; this called for re-engineering. I admit this has been a mystery bec. even the dev. coordinator lady at the Hospitality Center said there had been no change. There is an article somewhere in BRBusiness Report that the developer said 30 plus; eventhough it had been approved at 36.

[dan326]

^I emailed one of the developers a while ago and he said "closer to 30",which to me sounds like 31-33. You know, we could make a television show out of this issue.

Here's the article for the news Richy was talking about in the Photo of the Day thread.

"City Plaza II plans submitted

Mike Wampold has submitted plans for his City Plaza II office building to the East Baton Rouge Planning Commission for approval. Details are rather thin, and the commission has yet to make a recommendation on the project. The plans call for a 17-story office building with an additional penthouse level that would be built behind the existing City Plaza building on North Boulevard. A parking garage will be part of the complex, built on top of the existing City Plaza lot. The plans also call for a bank with drive-through teller service -- Wampold is talking to Regions Bank about serving as a tenant in City Plaza II. The project is set to go before the Planning Commission on Oct. 2."

[bluff2085]

Great news! Hopefull the "big 3" will all be under construction by spring semester. So let me get this straight...City Plaza II = parking garage (# of floors?) + 17 floors of office space + Penthouse Suite = at least 19 floors?

[richyb83]

Great news! Hopefull the "big 3" will all be under construction by spring semester. So let me get this straight...City Plaza II = parking garage (# of floors?) + 17 floors of office space + Penthouse Suite = at least 19 floors?

Yeah bluff2085 GREAT NEWS! BR's first new modern "true"-high rise since 89'. I'm sure it will be a modern/more-"flashy" than it's boxy counterparts(Chase Bank Towers & One American Place) The penthouse level and spire is gonna set-it-off. Still not sure if the office tower will go on top of the 5 or 6-story parking garage?? Then it could be possibly be 23-25 stories?? I'll have to get some clarification on that. We'll know for sure by Oct 2nd Planning Commission Meeting. 19-floors will still be nice too.

[richyb83]

BREC proposes to tranform Perkins Rd.Community Park into areas "Xtreme sports" headquarters. The 52-acre park already features a Velodrome; only one of less than 20 in the U.S.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/3906106.html

Edited September 13, 2006 by richyb83

[dan326]

Baton Rouge could be in store for another casino. There is much opposition though, so they are going to have to do some fighting if they want to see this one come through.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/3920176.html

http://www.2theadvocate.com/wbrz/videos/3923811.html

http://www.businessreport.com/dailyreport.cfm

[bluff2085]

Baton Rouge could be in store for another casino. There is much opposition though, so they are going to have to do some fighting if they want to see this one come through.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/3920176.html

http://www.2theadvocate.com/wbrz/videos/3923811.html

http://www.businessreport.com/dailyreport.cfm

I'm not a big supporter of locating a casino there. This is between River Rd. and Nicholson Dr--land I'd rather see developed into more student-oriented facilities like off-campus apartments. Another casino would be nice but Pinnacle's site selection is pretty inconsiderate.

[richyb83]

I have said it before, Baton Rouge can NOT support a third casino. Two is plenty. The Mississippi coast is too close; as is Harrah's in New Orleans.

^Agreed. Not my idea of a good location. Look over the cane fields at a 750-room hotel. How tall would that be ? The Bluebonnet extension has egnited a huge new untapped area of development. Some large condominiums and several neighborhoods are planned. Wampold has a master planned community so large that it will take 10 years to finish.

I'm not a big supporter of locating a casino there.

Edited September 15, 2006 by richyb83

[dan326]

I found anb article and a rendering for the Kress/Welsh & Levy Building

"Renovation begins on downtown landmark

Work will start this afternoon on the Kress/Welsh & Levy Building, at the corner of Third and Main streets. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was the site for some of the first civil rights demonstrations in Baton Rouge. The Cyntreniks Group plans to turn the building into a mixed-use development with residential, commercial and office space. Click here for a rendering of what the building will look like. "

[richyb83]

Thanks Dan for posting the new rendering. Another renovation of a historic building is another step in seeing downtown become more vibrant. If you look to the top left you will see a 4th floor addition; that's where the condo's will go.

I have the photo of this building post#9 Future Construction sites.

[dan326]

Lots of development on Bluebonnet.

http://www.businessreport.com/newsDetail.cfm?aid=9579

That Wampold is one busy man.

Edited September 16, 2006 by dan326

[tallbored]

Bluebonnet: more fitting of a riverside park than a casino. In fact, its more fittting for a supertarget or wal mart than a casino...at least that way the nearby residents can shop there.

Major Drawbacks:

1. There is nothing thre but reisdential....so the casino patrons will drive through it. The Casino will have its own restarant, bar, and hotel. It will sustain itself.

2. It would probably generate more useful traffic (pedestrian and otherwise) if it were placed downtown or old south Baton Rouge....or even off of Court Street in Port Allen.

3. Chances are, it will put the Belle of Baton Rouge out of business. This will only hurt downtown.

Bluebonnet doesn't need help with development. Downtown still does.

I plan on writing to every person of government I know to block the Bluebonnet Casino. I am not against a third riverboat....just against one right there. I'd advise you to do the same. Riverboats (and adult entertainment) should go Downtown. Bluebonnet already has a huge amount of retail and commercial development on the way....but this is too far.

Edited September 17, 2006 by tallbored

[richyb83]

Agreed tallbored. Level heads need to prevail against this bad location. I don't believe BR can support a 3rd Casino with the Mississippi Coast re-emerging. It won't be good for downtown either. Somewhere between Port Allen and Brusly would be better if one is to come to the area. And 750-room hotel way down there would be silly too. How tall would that be? It would be better for downtown as well.

Just bec. there is a extra gaming license doesn't mean they should just put a casino anywhere.

[dan326]

Now that I think about it that probably isn't a good spot to put it.

Here are some of the new subdivisions planned around Baton Rouge. If you look in the newspaper you'll see about a hundred more.

http://bbonnetlakes.com/site1.php

http://lexingtonestates.net/images/Lexington.jpg

http://thevillagelifebr.com/images/home_post_r3_c3.gif

[byrde]

I agree with you tallbored regarding the casino along river road near bluebonnet. This Casino needs to be located downtown. The developers could purchase the old Advocate Building for a hotel or purchase that huge surface parking lot on the corner of Florida and River Rd. That would put it between the Hilton and the future riverplace condo project.

[richyb83]

I like your thinking on the location Byrde. Downtown would be a must! That huge surface parking lot was to become the 26-story Laurel Plaza back in 99'; needless to say it never happened. That's 4 "prime" riverfront blocks north of the Hilton. Do you notice the renderings on the Riverfront master plan how they have future high-rises on each side of RiverPlace?? That would be nice. A 750-room hotel would make it as tall as RiverPlace??

I just do not think that Baton Rouge can support 3 casinos.

Edited September 18, 2006 by richyb83

[dan326]

That would be nice. A 750-room hotel would make it as tall as RiverPlace??

It would be as big as the L'Auberge Du Lac Casino as it has the almost the same number of rooms as the proposed hotel.

[dan326]

Here's a little something that lightley talks about downtown development. We might be getting updated plans for the Riverfront Master Plan. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/3901541.html

Hey Richy,were you by any chance tracking the the progres of Shaw Plaza, Jacobs Plaza,or Riverside Tower North when they were being built? I was just wondering since they weren't built a relatively long time ago.

Edited September 18, 2006 by dan326

[richyb83]

^Dan, thanks for posting all those sites. The neighborhoods and condo developments are all over the place. Any open spot around remaining seems like it being developed or nearly ready to.

I was excited when they announced the new 12-story Shaw Plaza on Essen(2001/02'?). I would enjoy riding by watching the progress. I really like the way it's lit-up at night around the top. I don't remember Jacobs Plaza going up; eventhough it's 13-stories. Shaw at 12-stories looks just as tall as Jacobs from the west upper-deck of Tiger Stadium. I can barely remember the Riverside North Tower during construction, that's only bec. a bad T-Storm with high-winds twisted some of it, causing delays with the project.

Edited September 19, 2006 by richyb83

[richyb83]

^ Hey Dan, remember how you stretched the Mariott up to nearly 50-floors?? I was wondering if it wasn't any trouble, you could stretch the current rendering of Two City Plaza 5 MORE FLOORS?? The original rendering has it 14-floors; it looks like it's increased 5-stories to 19 NOW! I'm not sure , but the parking garage may go on the side; like the original plan. I was hoping the parking garage would be under the office tower. That would help it vertically; oh well...19-stories is still better than nothing. The top two-level penthouses with the spire look nice and will be a great addition to the skyline in the CBD . Not another one out on Essen. This was the best location on the Fouth Street corridor near the other high-rises!

[dan326]

^ Hey Dan, remember how you stretched the Mariott up to nearly 50-floors?? I was wondering if it wasn't any trouble, you could stretch the current rendering of Two City Plaza 5 MORE FLOORS?? The original rendering has it 14-floors; it looks like it's increased 5-stories to 19 NOW! I'm not sure , but the parking garage may go on the side; like the original plan. I was hoping the parking garage would be under the office tower. That would help it vertically; oh well...19-stories is still better than nothing. The top two-level penthouses with the spire look nice and will be a great addition to the skyline in the CBD . Not another one out on Essen. This was the best location on the Fouth Street corridor near the other high-rises!

I wish I would have been paying attention whe nthey built Shaw Plaza, but I was only 10 and we never really started going that way until the mall was complete. Of course I couldn't have tracked to other because I wasn't born yet.

They increased II City Plaza from 17 to 19?! That's great. Even if they do put the garage on the side, it is still as tall as we thought it would be before the heigt increase. But I always like to have a little hope, even if I have to scrape it off the bottom of the table.

I'll sure try to strecth it, but I'll have to see the rendering again to make surely sure.

Edited September 19, 2006 by dan326

[dan326]

Here you go. It was a little tricky because it was rendered at an angle, but I think I got thi down pretty weel. I the first is the origna, the second is 19 and the third is 23 just in case. As you can see I didn't bring the left side granite? up but it does make for nice visual interest.

Edited September 19, 2006 by dan326

[richyb83]

GREAT JOB Dan ! Thanks very much for doing that. I am so glad you joined the BR forum. I can't wait to see those cranes all over downtown!

17-story office building with an additional penthouse level that would be built behind the existing City Plaza

17 floors of office space + Penthouse Suite = at least 19 floors?

No it did not increase; the wording is a little tricky. That's the additional penthouse level on top of the 17. If you look, the original Two City Plaza rendering you see is actually 12-stories with the additional penthouse levels, making it 14-stories. So that's were you add the 5-floors. Hope that's not too confusing.

12,14 +5 = 17,19 That's how I got it.

The assistant director of DDD said about 20-stories.

[richyb83]

I think the spire on top(since they count it on the height) should make Two City Plaza a little taller than Riverside North; but a little shorter than Chase Bank Tower.

The new future height rankings for BR could go something like this:

1st-State Capitol 450-460'

*2nd-River Place 350-375??

3rd-One American Place 310'

4th-Chase Bank Tower 277'

*5th- Two City Plaza(spire)???

6th- Riverside North 229'

7th-Mariott (22-floors,not in CBD) 224'?