Plan Baton Rouge

[richyb83]

Was downtown just a lil' too early to see the new clock...looking forward to checking that out

 

It's really cool seeing all the new Construction/redevelopment with orange barricades & fencing going narrowing the streets Downtown....on Third Street the Onyxx residences at the Shaw Arts Block is not far from going vertical...across the street the old 12-story LNB building has just started being gutted on the inside. A few blocks north the Commerce Bldg/440 on Third; along with the IBM Block; River Road diet w new Plaza at  Florida Street....& LASM

[greg225]

Expanded city dock plan, bike-sharing program outlined at Downtown Development District meeting                                                                                                                                                                                                     Friday is the deadline for firms to submit their proposals to modify and expand the downtown city dock. The city-parish and Downtown Development District earlier this year issued a Request for Qualifications for the project, which will entail expanding the docking facility to accommodate multiple boat operators and provide a new landing and dock area with a passenger facility for disembarking passengers.

At a monthly meeting of the Downtown Development District Board of Commissioners held this morning, DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer said the return of river cruising vessels to the city is the driving force behind the project, which is expected to cost around $4.5 million dollars.

This year, 84 vessels are scheduled to use the city dock, a 47% increase over the 57 dockings in 2014. And with European river cruise giant Viking establishing its first North American home port in New Orleans—with Mississippi River cruises expected to start in March 2017—Baton Rouge could be among their stops, requiring even more dock space.

“One of their proposed stops is Baton Rouge, and we want to position ourselves to be able to handle the increased traffic,” Rhorer said. “This is another game-changing project along our riverfront.”

Also at this morning’s meeting, DDD officials announced that planning work will begin in the next few weeks on the city’s proposed bike-sharing program. The Environmental Protection Agency, which earlier this year awarded the city a technical assistance grant to help develop the program, notified city and downtown leaders Monday that they will be sending a team of consultants to Baton Rouge in the next couple of weeks to start meeting and planning.

The bike-sharing program will be developed in conjunction with the downtown greenway—a 2.7-mile, tree-lined path for cyclists and pedestrians that will wind through downtown and connect with City Park, the LSU Lakes and Southdowns neighborhood. A later phase of the project will connect the greenway through the Rouzan and Kenilworth neighborhoods and tie into a BREC greenway project also under development that will eventually stretch all the way to Siegen Lane.

The bike-sharing program will be an important component of the greenway project. Rhorer said EPA consultants will spend several weeks here working out details such as how many sharing stations should be established and where they should be located.

—Stephanie Riegel  http://www.businessreport.com/article/expanded-city-dock-plan-bike-sharing-program-outlined-downtown-development-district-meeting

[richyb83]

Curious to see what the expanded City Dock is supposed to look like with more space?

[Antrell Williams]

Very curious! I hope they rebuild it completely.

[dan326]

I had always thought the dock was for decoration, like a fancy gazebo. Its funny to think it's was probably modern style for the time.

[Mr. Burnham]

It would be interesting for it to make an impact from the river on the cities skyline and serve as an entrance hall of sorts for BR. 

[greg225]

IBM workers begin moving into building in downtown Baton Rouge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The first IBM employees are getting settled in their new riverfront offices.

The building in downtown Baton Rouge is not quite finished, but some office space is already available.

The $55 million complex features two towers. The residential spaces will be ready this fall.

The IBM services center will also have space for a few other tenants, like Raising Cane's. The chicken empire is moving its Baton Rouge headquarters into the eighth floor later this year.       http://www.wafb.com/story/28954050/ibm-workers-begin-moving-into-building-in-downtown-baton-rouge

[greg225]

Company demonstrates lighting under downtown Baton Rouge overpass                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Decorative lighting was put on display Thursday evening as a demonstration project underneath the Interstate 110 overpass downtown on the north side of Florida Street.

 

The Downtown Development District plans to spend $250,000 this year to add parking spots underneath I-10 and I-110. Part of the work will involve lighting the areas, with security lights over the parking spots and decorative lighting along the road.

Phillips Lighting and Color Kinetics set up the sample display. City and downtown leaders will determine a timetable for selecting a firm to supply the lights.    http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/12258066-123/company-demonstrates-lighting-under-downtown

[greg225]

I wish they would build more buildings like Downtown                 Maybe this could be be the the transit station Downtown for the street when its developed.                    

[richyb83]

Those decorative lights for the underpass will look cool!

 

Yeah Greg225...that would be nice! BR really needs some streetscape retail with sidewalks....some digital billboards(I have suggested here in the past to dress up bland walls of parking garages on Third Street)  A  scene they tried to start from the ground up a Perkins Rowe...almost fake & not organic/occurring naturally.

[richyb83]

DDD Commission Meeting
May 12, 2015, 8:00 a.m.
Expressway Park Recreation Center, 935 S. 11th St
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Declare Quorum
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve April 14, 2015 Minutes
5. Board Action
6. Update from Previous Board Meeting
a. Governmental Issues
b. Development Initiatives
• Expressway Park Master Plan
• Louisiana Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
• Holiday Inn Express
• Rotary Centennial Project Update
• Nicholson Streetcar Project
• LASM North Courtyard Renovations
• Riverfront Improvements
• Downtown Maintenance Committee
• Downtown Greenway Update
• EPA Bike Share Program
• New Businesses
• Events
o Live After Five - May 15 & 21
o AIDS Candlelight Memorial - May 17
o St. Jude's Run for the Children - May 23
o Memorial Day Concert - May 25
o Red Stick Festival - May 29 & 30
o Children's Hunger 5K - May 30
o FUMC Community Worship - May 31
o Baton Rouge Arts Market / World Peace Day - June 6
o Just Want to Be Heard, R&B Concert - June 7
o Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion
o Manship Theatre Events / LSU MOA
o Capitol Park Museum
o Old State Capitol
o River Center Events
o BRSO
o LASM
o USS Kidd
7. Strategic Plan
a. Plan Baton Rouge II
8. Ongoing Projects
• CPEX
• BREADA
• DBA
9. Correspondence
10. Public Comment

[greg225]

Downtown Baton Rouge clinic to rebrand as Lake Urgent Care after Mid City ER closure                                                                                                                                                          Lake Quick Care, a walk-in clinic on North Third Street downtown, is rebranding itself as Lake Urgent Care.

Though the services offered at the clinic are not changing with the name, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, which owns the clinic, is trying to increase awareness among downtown residents about the accessibility and availability of the clinic.

“It is important for people who work or live downtown to have convenient access to health care,” says OLOL spokeswoman Kelly Zimmerman. “The education efforts around seeking the right care in the right setting are paying off, and we want patients to know they can receive care for common illnesses and minor injuries at a location that is convenient.”

The change is part of an overall community-wide outreach in the wake of the closure of Baton Rouge General Hospital’s Mid City emergency room. Though no facility has emerged to fill the gap created by the closure, OLOL has been trying to make patients aware of other primary care and urgent care clinics in the area that can treat them for illnesses and minor injuries

Since the ER closure in late March, OLOL has seen usage in the emergency department on its main campus on Essen Lane increase between 20% and 30%. Zimmerman did not have statistics about usage of the downtown clinic, which opened in 2013.

—Stephanie Riegel   https://www.businessreport.com/article/downtown-baton-rouge-clinic-rebrand-lake-urgent-care-mid-city-er-closure

[greg225]

A movie theater that could fit in Downtown Baton Rouge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[greg225]

                                  LSU Lakes Masterplan                                                                                                                                   http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5374cff1e4b075c0a1161471/t/55535733e4b02a4d730ccdaa/1431525171916/20150512_Public-Meeting-5+Media_SHORT.pdf

Edited May 15, 2015 by greg225

[Mr. Burnham]

I wish they would have more elegant and beautiful bridges and buildings rather than the ultra modern stuff they are proposing.

 

The amazing thing about this though is that it practically turns University Lakes into one large city park, a fantastic city park. 

Edited May 15, 2015 by mr. bernham

[greg225]

Would be better if BREC would just close that golf course what people being asking that for years. If they move the golf course they can add buildings and other things.

Edited May 15, 2015 by greg225

[dan326]

Looks like a good plan. Of course some Italian inspirited inspired structures would be nice, but I actually kinda like the ultra modern-wood siding style, of course it may end up looking terribly dated in 20 years.

[greg225]

Would be nice to have one of theses in between Baton Rouge Metro Airport and Downtown. Connecting the Airport and Downtown could be big for Baton Rouge.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

[Mr. Burnham]

Would be nice to have one of theses in between Baton Rouge Metro Airport and Downtown. Connecting the Airport and Downtown could be big for Baton Rouge.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Why? Nobody substantial lives Downtown. A better place would be Government Street, closer to where people who can actually afford to fly live. 

 

But I do agree that adding more connections to the airport would be massively beneficial to both the area surrounding the station and North Baton Rouge. 

Looks like a good plan. Of course some Italian inspirited inspired structures would be nice, but I actually kinda like the ultra modern-wood siding style, of course it may end up looking terribly dated in 20 years.

Some of it looks nice, but a lot of it will be come dated. 

 

I think some elegant bridges and maybe one classical/beaux arts/Italian Renaissance/etc. building would stand the test of time and add some more architectural beauty to the lakes.  

And I know I said this earlier, but this whole plan will really make the lakes one big central park for the city. 

 

Would be better if BREC would just close that golf course what people being asking that for years. If they move the golf course they can add buildings and other things.

Totally agree. Close that golf course down, build a new art museum and turn the rest of that area into a beautiful park that flows with the rest of the lake area. 

[greg225]

Why? Nobody substantial lives Downtown. A better place would be Government Street, closer to where people who can actually afford to fly live. 

 

But I do agree that adding more connections to the airport would be massively beneficial to both the area surrounding the station and North Baton Rouge. 

 

Its more about connecting incoming people into the city to downtown.

[Mr. Burnham]

 

Its more about connecting incoming people into the city to downtown.

What you are failing to understand is that the airport here is primarily used by locals for business trips or to connect to another airport for a vacation. Rarely is it used by people coming to BR to visit. Therefore it makes more sense to construct the station close to those who would actually use it rather than building it downtown away from people who would use it. If too many people have to use a car to get there it is pointless to build it because people will just use their car. 

 

A train station on government is close enough to Downtown for guest to use (and if this train station also serves as the main hub for buses guests could take a bus to Downtown) and it is close enough to the business class neighborhoods for people to walk to. You're close to Webb Park, Garden District, Broussard, etc. it's a cash cow. Not to mention it would help spark development and growth in Mid-City. Downtown is booming, now we need to let Downtown naturally grow and start to focus on areas like Mid-City. 

 

If BR wants to see more investment in public spaces, we have to be very strategic on where we build those spaces. Not to mention, where the hell are we going to build a train station downtown? At least on Government Street you have the old entergy building and a place to start building something new.

[Antrell Williams]

 

 

What you are failing to understand is that the airport here is primarily used by locals for business trips or to connect to another airport for a vacation. Rarely is it used by people coming to BR to visit. Therefore it makes more sense to construct the station close to those who would actually use it rather than building it downtown away from people who would use it. If too many people have to use a car to get there it is pointless to build it because people will just use their car. 

 

A train station on government is close enough to Downtown for guest to use (and if this train station also serves as the main hub for buses guests could take a bus to Downtown) and it is close enough to the business class neighborhoods for people to walk to. You're close to Webb Park, Garden District, Broussard, etc. it's a cash cow. Not to mention it would help spark development and growth in Mid-City. Downtown is booming, now we need to let Downtown naturally grow and start to focus on areas like Mid-City. 

 

If BR wants to see more investment in public spaces, we have to be very strategic on where we build those spaces. Not to mention, where the hell are we going to build a train station downtown? At least on Government Street you have the old entergy building and a place to start building something new.

 

Building for the future here. Let's be real here, Baton Rouge will never be NYC/SF/CHI style density. No one is walking to a train station with loads of luggage to get on a plane, it will likely be a taxi or Uber. Most of the people who would use the train station would be people without cars, which is visitors and people living close to downtown. Majority of people in Mid-City have cars.

 

It would be a perfect fit in the old train station now occupied by that terrible LASM. I'm not against the Entergy buildings but I feel downtown would be better. It brings people smack dab in the middle of downtown and no need to get in another form of transit to reach downtown.

[Mr. Burnham]

Building for the future here. Let's be real here, Baton Rouge will never be NYC/SF/CHI style density. No one is walking to a train station with loads of luggage to get on a plane, it will likely be a taxi or Uber. Most of the people who would use the train station would be people without cars, which is visitors and people living close to downtown. Majority of people in Mid-City have cars.

 

It would be a perfect fit in the old train station now occupied by that terrible LASM. I'm not against the Entergy buildings but I feel downtown would be better. It brings people smack dab in the middle of downtown and no need to get in another form of transit to reach downtown.

Keep in mind that the old train station is now occupied by a park and trails, and their is considerable want for more park space along the river front. Building a new train track there would only ruin the possibilities for reviving the river front. 

 

You are right that BR will never be as dense as NYC/SF/CHI, but there's no point in making a train if people would save time by driving. By building the station in a more central location most people who would use the train will be closer to it. Let's be honest, no one really lives Downtown aside from a few people because BR is no NYC/SF/CHI. 

And light-rail is what can bring people right into Downtown, but for actual rail transport the mid-city location is much better.

[greg225]

                              Found is the picture online                                                                                         

[dan326]

I think that might be Los Angeles.