Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[richyb83]

Looks like the plans for the Cap One Bldg have been updated...I can dig this new design! And the old Commerce bldg looks great in that rendering! If the three prime blocks along the riverfront will not get developed..at least those improvements can be made along the Third Street corridor...

When do they start this upgrade??

[richyb83]

Good to see this building being re-used for something productive.

Bank reborn as BR school

An old Regions Bank branch on Fourth Street at Florida Street in downtown Baton Rouge in two weeks will reopen as a high school, the Mentorship Academy.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/latest/97280719.html?index=1&c=y

[buckett5425]

I think the Mentorship Academy is a great idea and holds a lot of future promise for the development of downtown. As stated in the article, these types of projects have the ability to blossom, and grow in search of new space and facilities and can then renovated empty buildings, as they have with the old regions building. Not to mention by 2013, there could be 1,000 kids running around downtown on a given day, helping to make downtown look more lively and teaching these kids that downtowns have more to offer than the suburbs. Parents who work downtown, and who's kids go to a great school downtown, could then begin looking for homes in and around the downtown area because it will suit their new lifestyles. All in all, i think this will be a win for downtown BR!

[hagetaka]

I have some friends that will be teaching at this new school, now these kids need somewhere to spend their $, Kip, where is our NikeTown you promised.

buckett, "teaching these kids that downtowns have more to offer than the suburbs" my son was born in the high desert of New Mexico, but some way some how he managed to spend his growing years in Ascension Parish, suburban mentality @ it's worst, I tell this dude at least 4 times a week, some people do consider a balcony on the 17th floor a backyard. City kids are progressive IMO,

[dan326]

Great, more people are already starting to jump aboard the redevelopment train!

Microbrewery moving into Nicholson site

A Baton Rouge microbrewery is setting up shop in an old Sears warehouse off Nicholson Drive. Tin Roof Brewing Company, owned by William McGehee and Charles Caldwell, plans to introduce three beers in mid-August: Voodoo Bengal Specialty Pale Ale, Perfect Tin Amber and Second Line Light. Chad Ortte with Donnie Jarreau Realtors arranged the lease; he brokered the sale of the warehouse on Wyoming Street late last year. Ortte says McGehee and Caldwell approached him about space to rent, and he suggested the warehouse, which is owned by developer Mike Wampold. "The solid masonry structure was in good shape, and the location might be able to take advantage of all the redevelopment that is taking place on Nicholson," Ortte says. Wampold had originally planned to pair the warehouse with another 2 acres he owns along Nicholson, but he decided to lease 10,000 square feet of the 32,000-square-foot warehouse because he liked the Tin Roof concept

From : businessreport.com

[richyb83]

Yes indeed! Good to see some more redevelopment! Where exactly is the old Sears warehouse?? Could this be tied into the RiverDistrict?? Wampold had bought that shopping center...

[byrde]

Good to see this building being re-used for something productive.

Bank reborn as BR school

An old Regions Bank branch on Fourth Street at Florida Street in downtown Baton Rouge in two weeks will reopen as a high school, the Mentorship Academy.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/latest/97280719.html?index=1&c=y

I have a kid in middle school and he has his eye on this school for high school. We will give it a serious look in a couple of years.

[richyb83]

That's cool Bryde Wow they grow up FAST!

Capital Region delegation gets funding for projects

The Capital Region Legislative Delegation says it managed to secure funding for all of its priority projects in the recent legislative session. Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, says the delegation was fortunate to get help from Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to get money for infrastructure projects. "However, there is still work to do in seeing those priorities fully funded in future years," Carter says.

The priority projects are:

— $48 million to widen Interstate 12 from Juban Road to Walker. The state has put $15 million in Priority 2 funding and $33 million in Priority 5.

— $11 million in Priority 5 funding for the Interstate 10/Pecue Lane interchange.

— $12 million for the I-10/La. Highway 1 connector. Of that, $2 million is in Priority 2 and $10 million is in Priority 5.

— $10.35 million to replace hot and chilled water lines at Southern University.

— $10 million for LSU to acquire frontage land at the South Campus site.

Carter also notes that the delegation was able to work together with New Orleans legislators to pass a bill allowing for passenger rail compacts. This allows East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes to jointly develop a rail connection

*roughly were the I-10/La.1 Hwy Connector will go

http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/latest/

[richyb83]

Thought this is a intersting new little development just off Stanford Avenue with a view of a nook of University Lake.....it's just 14 residential lots(not $$$ cheap!)Stanford Oaks The 5.4-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Stanford Avenue and South Lakeshore Drive; they have some pretty old Oak trees will be preserved & will have a brick-sidewalks & strict architectual standards....BusinessReport mentioned this back in late March.

where the new street ends will become a new intersection at Cloverdale & Whitehaven

http://www.businessreport.com/news/2010/mar/22/stanford-oaks-takes-root/

[dan326]

I thinks its' neat how they're snatching up all the little parcels for infill.

[nquint1]

I noticed in that rendering it says "exit only gate". I guess this means it will be a gated community. While I applaud them for connecting Whitehaven to South Lakeshore/Stanford, it does absolutely no good if the street is gated.

[cajun]

I noticed in that rendering it says "exit only gate". I guess this means it will be a gated community. While I applaud them for connecting Whitehaven to South Lakeshore/Stanford, it does absolutely no good if the street is gated.

Yeah, wondering how that got the "okay" from planning.

[American Dirt]

That's cool Bryde Wow they grow up FAST!

Capital Region delegation gets funding for projects

The Capital Region Legislative Delegation says it managed to secure funding for all of its priority projects in the recent legislative session. Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, says the delegation was fortunate to get help from Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to get money for infrastructure projects. "However, there is still work to do in seeing those priorities fully funded in future years," Carter says.

The priority projects are:

— $48 million to widen Interstate 12 from Juban Road to Walker. The state has put $15 million in Priority 2 funding and $33 million in Priority 5.

— $11 million in Priority 5 funding for the Interstate 10/Pecue Lane interchange.

— $12 million for the I-10/La. Highway 1 connector. Of that, $2 million is in Priority 2 and $10 million is in Priority 5.

— $10.35 million to replace hot and chilled water lines at Southern University.

— $10 million for LSU to acquire frontage land at the South Campus site.

I'm curious to hear from people who have lived here much longer than I have what the rationale is behind yet another interchange. Pecue Road remains by and large a rural collector street at this point, and though development may eventually stretch so far that it needs to be upgraded, I still question whether another interchange is necessary. Baton Rouge has far more interchanges on I-10 and I-110 than most cities of its size; parts of I-110 almost feels like Chicago, where there's an exit every 1/8th of a mile or so, many of which seem attractive from an accessibility standpoint but do nothing to help the safety and flow of vehicles during peak hours. I understand that the city has surged in growth in recent years, but how do taxpayers feel about having so many exits, on top of growing consideration for a beltway or loop highway?

Any thoughts from others on this forum?

That's cool Bryde Wow they grow up FAST!

Capital Region delegation gets funding for projects

The Capital Region Legislative Delegation says it managed to secure funding for all of its priority projects in the recent legislative session. Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, says the delegation was fortunate to get help from Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to get money for infrastructure projects. "However, there is still work to do in seeing those priorities fully funded in future years," Carter says.

The priority projects are:

— $48 million to widen Interstate 12 from Juban Road to Walker. The state has put $15 million in Priority 2 funding and $33 million in Priority 5.

— $11 million in Priority 5 funding for the Interstate 10/Pecue Lane interchange.

— $12 million for the I-10/La. Highway 1 connector. Of that, $2 million is in Priority 2 and $10 million is in Priority 5.

— $10.35 million to replace hot and chilled water lines at Southern University.

— $10 million for LSU to acquire frontage land at the South Campus site.

I'm curious to hear from people who have lived here much longer than I have what the rationale is behind yet another interchange. Pecue Road remains by and large a rural collector street at this point, and though development may eventually stretch so far that it needs to be upgraded, I still question whether another interchange is necessary. Baton Rouge has far more interchanges on I-10 and I-110 than most cities of its size; parts of I-110 almost feels like Chicago, where there's an exit every 1/8th of a mile or so, many of which seem attractive from an accessibility standpoint but do nothing to help the safety and flow of vehicles during peak hours. I understand that the city has surged in growth in recent years, but how do taxpayers feel about having so many exits, on top of growing consideration for a beltway or loop highway?

Any thoughts from others on this forum?

Sorry about the double-message in the above thread! Technical issues made me think the post didn't make it through the first time around.

[cajun]

I'm curious to hear from people who have lived here much longer than I have what the rationale is behind yet another interchange. Pecue Road remains by and large a rural collector street at this point, and though development may eventually stretch so far that it needs to be upgraded, I still question whether another interchange is necessary.

Any thoughts from others on this forum?

This is a complicated one, and I've thought about it since it has been proposed.

I'm not wild about another interchange either by itself..but this one is part of another large project involving an interconnecting north/south route from Highland Road to Jone's Creek and on to O'Neal/Central Thruway into the city of Central. It will also connect to South Mall Drive and Reiger Road to Pecue.

It's hard to explain because streets have such a tendency to change names in this city.....but the Pecue Lane project is part of a long term plan to create a continuous street from Hooper Road in Central (Central Thruway now under construction), down O'Neal Lane and into south Baton Rouge as an alternative to using the interstate.

Currently, Pecue lane makes a dog-leg approach to Airline, which will be adjusted to interconnect with Jone's Creek. It will reduce traffic on Airline Highway and Highland Road pretty quickly, and Siegen/Sherwood Forest will benefit in the long run. The lack of at least a partial interchange there would be somewhat of an oversight when you consider the connectivity aspect of the entire Pecue project and the rise in traffic that route will see almost as soon as it is opened.

If you have spent enough time in this region, you'd know there are some traffic tie ups when it comes to north-south routes. Sherwood, Perkins, Airline, and Jefferson all get pretty backed up during rush hour.

However, I do not support zoning C-2 up and down Pecue Lane near this interchange. That will just create yet another traffic headache where one is not needed. Residential should be the primary zoning for this area and tightly controlled....with some commerical office if needed. Siegen is already over saturated with retail and I don't see the point of more cookie cutter strip malls.

This is one project I'm on the fence about. I think the interchange is something that could happen WAY down the road after Pecue is properly interconnected as planned. The money would be better spent upgrading or Widening Airline Highway and exploring transit alternatives in the meantime. Widening I-12 out to Hammond would be more beneficial to the region than an new interchange. I'm not saying it's not needed....I'm just saying that it could probably wait.

Edited July 14, 2010 by cajun

[richyb83]

Actually Pecue Lane will tie-into Stumberg Lane...unless something has changed. And a new road was supposed to connect Pecue & the Jones Creek extension; all connecting the new Woman's hospital(not shown on GreenLight Plan map). Your right, the north-south connections have been a problem here in BR & Pecue Lane would better served as residential zoning. Connecting Siegen Marketplace with Pecue should help too...

While there are plenty of interchanges in BR..coming from LSU wanting to go east is not as easy...you have to go all the way to Acadian Thruway or way up to Louise Street...there had been talk of an on-ramp for Dalrymple going east...but it never happened. And coming east from I-12 you can't get onto Essen Lane unless you get off at Drusilla & then Jefferson Hwy or go around to I-10.

I think a good idea would be a new bridge for Harrel's Ferry Road and extending to Juban Road in Livingston Parish. Along with cajun's idea of widening I-12 out to Hammond and eventually the Northshore...also they can add another lane(continuous turn-lane) from Airline Hwy to O'Neal Lane.

Yeah nquint1...I noticed the gate in that site plan too..it's silly...just driving down the new little street I saw of no clue of adding the gate; thought it was a neat connection into Southdowns. Was the gate the idea of the Civic assocation??

Edited July 15, 2010 by richyb83

[richyb83]

CONGRATS to the Baton Rouge Forum! 10,000 replies!! You have come a loong way

The sluggish economy mean only the strong survive??

Game of Survival...Some commercial construction up; but most still struggle

East Baton Rouge

2010 — $143.0 million

2009 — $56.3 million

2008 — $203.3 million

Ascension

2010 — $4.7 million

2009 — $8.4 million

2008 — $16.4 million

Walker

2010 — $888,000

2009 — $190,000

2008 — unavailable

Denham Springs

2010 — $1.2 million

2009 — $1.8 million

2008 — $8.4 million

*Livingston Parish figures were unavailable. Dee Dee Delatte, administrator with the Livingston Parish Permit Office, said totals are unavailable because the valuation of a commercial permit disappears after it is entered into the program that tabulates permit fees.

>>Commercial construction in the metro area more than doubled for the first half of 2010, but don’t expect to hear the sound of champagne corks popping anytime soon. Commercial permits in East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes, plus Walker and Denham Springs, totaled $147.7 million through June 2010, up from $66.8 million for the first half of 2009.

There are, however, a couple of significant caveats.

First, 2009 was one of the most abysmal years in recent memory, with the first six months of commercial activity at less than a third of the $228.1 million during the same period the year before. Second, while there are always big projects, two this year — Woman’s Hospital and Claiborne Elementary School — make up about $50 million of the $143.0 million in commercial construction in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Then there’s the view from the trenches.....

“Things have not changed a whole lot for the better,” said Bill Firesheets, president of Buquet & LeBlanc.“It’s a game of survival right now,” he said. “You just kinda hunker down and be satisfied doing less … come out of this intact and prosper later. There’s just not a lot of good opportunities out there now in the market.”

*The new Woman’s Hospital under construction on Airline Highway was the largest commercial project permitted in the first half of 2010.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/99061144.html

Edited July 26, 2010 by richyb83

[pm_arch]

Hello board! I'm a frequent reader, but this is my first post on here. I thought you would all enjoy this article. I'm not sure if this will ever be built but I thought it was worth sharing. Hope to post more often!

http://inhabitat.com...ppi-riverfront/

[richyb83]

Excellent 1st Post! Welcome to the BR Forum! Glad you can join us! Please do post here more often...

WOW! I'm diggin' the design for the Old Municipal Dock! Will be sure to read that article...thanks!

[hagetaka]

now that redevelopment is something to smile over, thx for the post.

[hagetaka]

wow @ that rendering....

[dan326]

Neat!!! I could imagine those residences must have an insane price tag!

[cajun]

Municipal Dock pics are awesome!

Edited August 5, 2010 by cajun

[richyb83]

One plan had the Old City Dock tying-in with the Brickyard & minor league baseball park...this could tie into the River District nicely if done right!

Follow up in Saturday's Advocate ....

Design depicts ideas for dock

Drawings of a redeveloped old city dock that popped up on the Internet earlier this week came at the request of a local developer, but at this point are little more than an exercise in looking at what could be.

Architect Trey Trahan said the inspiration behind the designs that surfaced in Arch Daily, an online architecture magazine based in Santiago, Chile, was a combination of his longtime personal interest in seeing the old Mississippi River dock redeveloped and an inquiry from an unnamed investor looking for a potential project.

Trahan said the goal of the exercise, paid for by the investor, was to “turn it into something that is reflective of the uniqueness of Baton Rouge. I’ve been interested in the dock for 10 or 15 years,” Trahan said of the structure, which is located on the levee south of the Interstate 10 bridge. “We thought it may be of benefit to conceptualize its potential as a mixed-use development.”

Trahan said his concept would include residential units, office space, a restaurant and some covered space for concerts or public events. He said the design gives visitors and residents a westward view across the river and another view east.

The dock was built in the mid-1920s and was used for decades before succumbing to disuse and neglect. By the 1970s, various potential users had begun discussing redeveloping the dock, typically as a restaurant. In 1976, one would-be user hoisted a 1920s-era steamboat onto the dock with plans to open it up as a nightclub, but that enterprise fell apart and the boat was moved to Biloxi, Miss.

Things quieted down after a 1978 fire and the dock was leased to a maritime repair company in a deal mired in scandal. Plans to lease it to a riverboat casino also fizzled, and the dock sat quietly ever since, save for the city-parish’s 2002 decision to test the pilings for structural soundness. It passed, but no serious suitors have come forward since. That’s where Trahan’s design comes in.

He said he is mostly hoping the design will motivate the city and private developers into finally putting the dock to use. He said Mayor-President Kip Holden is aware of the renderings. Trahan said he hopes to meet with the mayor to discuss the dock’s potential.

Trahan said cost was factored into the design at $225 to $350 per square foot. At 100,000 square feet, the price tag would be between $22.5 million and $35 million. But added that the concept was designed to make it easy to remove components and adjust the price downward, if necessary. “Do we think it could be built economically and that it would meet market needs and fall within the demands of the market? Yes, we do.”

John Carpenter, assistant chief administrative officer to Holden, said the city-parish would love to have the dock redeveloped but has no plan in the works right now. “There are no current plans going on other than (that) we are willing to look at proposals from anybody that has something feasible to go into the property,” he said. “But we’re not actively going out and soliciting proposals.”

Asked about whether it would be something the city would do on its own, Carpenter said, “I would expect that if that property is developed it would be a public-private partnership.” Carpenter said the new design came as a surprise to the Mayor’s Office.

Trahan said his firm has in the past shared projects with Arch Daily. The publication contacted him to ask if he was working on anything interesting. In the following days, the design was picked up by several other online publications, including Fast Company.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/100173939.html

[buckett5425]

I've got bad news guys. The dock developer was pissed that Trahan released this design, which is actually $700 a sqft, to the public without approval from the developer. Their contract with Trahan has been cancelled and his proposal will not be built. For confidentiality reasons and to protect my source, I wont name the new architectural firm that was selected by the developer. But they are located here in BR, and i dont care for any of there work, but they signed the contract on Friday to create a new design.

[dan326]

I've got bad news guys. The dock developer was pissed that Trahan released this design, which is actually $700 a sqft, to the public without approval from the developer. Their contract with Trahan has been cancelled and his proposal will not be built. For confidentiality reasons and to protect my source, I wont name the new architectural firm that was selected by the developer. But they are located here in BR, and i dont care for any of there work, but they signed the contract on Friday to create a new design.

Well.... I can't really say I'm surprised. I didn't want to be negative, but when those designs were first released and it said they were designed by Trahan, I knew it wasn't going to get built, none of his more spectacular designs ever do...

Hmmm, an architectural firm, located in B.R. and you don't care for their work, I think it know.

Edited August 10, 2010 by dan326