Baton Rouge City Profile

[richyb83]

^I'm a map junkie too hagetaka

Nice article in the Sunday Advocate...2TheAdvocate website not making it easy to copy & paste parts of these articles...

Spanish Town Thriving...Residents enjoy neighborhood's strong sense of community

Spanish Town is a lively, eclectic neighborhood of mansions, bungalows and everything in between. There are manicured English cottage gardens and overgrown junglelike gardens. There are houses painted traditional Williamsburg-style colors and houses painted bright orange with electric blue trim. “Sherwin Williams loves this neighborhood,” said Travis Moore, a resident of Spanish Town for three years. Neighbors will tell you they like Spanish Town just the way it is.

Ask developer Richard Preis, who for the past few years has been trying to demolish some rent houses along State Capitol Drive and North 7th Street to build an apartment complex.On every street are signs urging residents to “Keep Spanish Town Preis-less.”

http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/99178019.html

Edited July 26, 2010 by richyb83

[cajun]

Looks like Holden is going to have last year's bond proposal on the ballot this spring.....sans the controversial riverfront project.

Infrastructure improvements and convention center improvements will be there. I can't stress how much this city needs this to pass.

[buckett5425]

Looks like Holden is going to have last year's bond proposal on the ballot this spring.....sans the controversial riverfront project.

Infrastructure improvements and convention center improvements will be there. I can't stress how much this city needs this to pass.

It will fail because the tea-baggers will refuse to vote for improvements to the River Center, I guaranty it. Those are the comments being made on the Advocate website anyway. They are also saying its poor timing because of our economic climate, but, its actually the perfect time because its the best investment for the city as a whole with such low interests rates when our city has such a high bond rating.

Visit this website and look at what the tea-baggers have rated the lowest, any project that promotes economic development or quality of life. http://stimuluswatch.org/project/by_city/Baton%20Rouge/LA

[richyb83]

Thanks for the link Buckett Interesting to see the % percentages on those ratings.

[dan326]

While it's kind of understanding, it's still kind of a shame the downtown improvements got such low ratings.

[richyb83]

Some good recognition Baton Rouge makes the list as one of America's most recession proof cities...Las Vegas was the Weakest performing

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/15/news/economy/recession_proof_cities/index.htm

And Rank #6 out of the Top 40 Strongest Metro Economies! However in typical BR fashion...and old-outdated skyline picture is shown

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1022_40_strongest_us_metro_economies/7.htm

[hagetaka]

However in typical BR fashion...and old-outdated skyline picture is shown

http://images.busine...economies/7.htm

They could have found better than that...

[cajun]

It will fail because the tea-baggers will refuse to vote for improvements to the River Center, I guaranty it. Those are the comments being made on the Advocate website anyway. They are also saying its poor timing because of our economic climate, but, its actually the perfect time because its the best investment for the city as a whole with such low interests rates when our city has such a high bond rating.

Visit this website and look at what the tea-baggers have rated the lowest, any project that promotes economic development or quality of life. http://stimuluswatch...aton%20Rouge/LA

The Tea Party movement still baffles me. I never thought I'd see the day when so many old people would actually protest.

That being said, this proposal has a very logical shot if timed correctly. It's much cheaper than before. Without ALIVE, there is very little pork in the bond proposal to complain about. Unless something has changed, it's got my support.

[richyb83]

Baton Rouge Ranked # 7 on this list....

Where Americans Are Getting Richer

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/111382/where-americans-are-getting-richer?mod=career-salary_negotiation

[richyb83]

No suprise here...

Report: Baton Rouge has the worst traffic among midsize cities

A new report that measures traffic congestion says Baton Rouge has the most clogged highways for a city its size. Commuters spent an extra 37 hours behind the wheel in metro Baton Rouge during 2009, according to the Urban Mobility Report, released today by the Texas Transportation Institute. That made Baton Rouge the worst in medium-size cities, defined as having between 500,000 and 1 million residents, and 18th worst overall, tied with San Diego. Those delays cost local commuters and truck drivers $1,030 last year, because of lost time and excess fuel consumption, the report says. Chicago and Washington, D.C., were rated as having the worst traffic congestion problems. The report blamed local traffic congestion on the highway construction going on across Baton Rouge.

http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2011/jan/20/2050/

[itsjustme3]

Here's a pic of baby Baton Rouge in 1960. Interesting to see Old Hammond Highway and Harrell's Ferry has been around so long.

There's more maps on the link below the pic. I especially like seeing 1960's-50's before even Sherwood Forest and Bluebonnet area neighborhoods where built.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/louisiana/index.html?p=print

Dan (or anyone) do you know where I can get either a copy or a hi resolution picture of old Baton Rouge maps? I'm a old map art junkie.

[dan326]

You mean one that's printed out already? I'm not sure they have too many of those, you'd probably have to take a file to print shop and get them to do it for you. They best place I've found a collection of Baton Rouge maps is that link under that pic.

[dan326]

Here's an interesting article on Baton Rouge's growth. What I don't really get is that depending on your definition, Baton Rouge hasn't been a "small town" for many, many decades. Another fact some people don't really seem to get is that while BR city only makes up about 1/4 of the metro area, so do a lot of the other big contendors like Atlanta(1/10), Birmingham(1/6) , Richmond(1/6), and Jackson(1/3). Therefore, while Livingston and Ascencion are important, they're not neccesarily the "new" important area. And I mean come on, neither parish has yet to reach a single city with over 15,000 people (unless you count Prairieville).

"How Baton Rouge measures up

Think of it as Anderson Silva meeting Cain Velasquez in the Octagon. Sugar Ray Leonard facing Mike Tyson in the ring. LSU’s baseball team playing against the New York Yankees. Or for people not so keen on sports metaphors: Justin Bieber starring on the big screen opposite Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

The Capital Region is in the big leagues now, squaring off against the likes of Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Charlotte, N.C.; Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Memphis, Tenn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Oklahoma City; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and a whole host of other major-market metropolitan areas.

The region has been one of the top dogs in the mid-market category for decades. As if on cue, on March 1, Site Selection magazine ranked the Capital Region No. 1 for new and expanded corporate facilities in 2010 among cities with a population between 200,000 and 1 million. Southern Business & Development magazine has thrice named the region Mid-Market of the Year for its performance in attracting industry."

http://www.businessreport.com/news/2011/mar/08/how-baton-rouge-measures-edvl1/

Edited March 10, 2011 by dan326

[dan326]

Here's interesting little tidbit about a plantation that used to be in the area. I guess this is were the street names Gardere and Staring come from.

"Chatsworth Plantation was built in 1859 and is situated in the Manchac area, East Baton Rouge Parish, on the east bank of the Mississippi. It consisted of 2300 acres, and mostly produced sugar cane. Originally developed by Fergus Peniston, the adopted son of Fergus Duplantier, it was bought by François Gardère (1792-1871) in 1866. A store was operated on the plantation, which may be connected with, or possibly be, the Good Intent Store at Manchac Landing. Between 1895 and 1920, the plantation was owned by the Womack family. It was acquired by Joseph Staring in 1920 who operated it until his death. In 1930, Chatsworth Plantation House was torn down due to the encroachment of the Mississippi River."

And it all ended up as the casino.

"A 344-acre tract of land that was the old Chatsworth Plantation has been sold to SRA Properties for $8.1 million and will be part of the proposed Pinnacle Entertainment casino complex at River Road and Gardere Lane. SRA has been purchasing land on River Road for the casino, including a 12-acre tract that belongs to attorney Karl Koch, who led opposition to the project. Pinnacle is set to go before the Louisiana Gaming Control Board on Tuesday and discuss its casino plans. "

http://www.princeton.edu/~rpascal/Chatsworth.html

businessreport.com

Edited March 11, 2011 by dan326

[richyb83]

Neat history lesson! Thanks Dan

Street names have always been interesting to me...

[dan326]

Here's another interesting little tidbit about a planataion in Baton Rouge. I'm guessing the Arlington Plantation went the way of the Cahtsworth was demolished do to river movement. Oh well, it's still commemorated through development names such as the proposed shopping center at Lee and Burbank.

"On August 24, 1852, Eliza Chinn and James Alexander McHatton were married in Lexington, and for ten years thereafter they lived at Arlington plantation on the Mississippi, a few miles below Baton Rouge, leaving hastily in '62, upon the appearance of Federal gunboats at their levee."

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/ripley/ripley.html#ill16

Edited March 16, 2011 by dan326

[dan326]

Sorry to keep blowing this thread up ya'll but its just so fascinating to me that this "boring little town" has so much history!

I did a little more digging and found this.

"76.6 miles - Woodstock Plantation was on the upriver side of Bayou Manchac in the early 1800s. By the 1970s, all of the original buildings had disappeared.

77.0 miles - Burtville was settled in the 1880s as a logging camp of the Burton Lumber Company, and called Burtville Plantation. The Margaret Ebenezer Baptist Church, founded in 1893, is located in what was the riverfront area of Burtville.

78.3 miles - Longwood Plantation house was built circa 1785 and enlarged in 1835.

78.6 miles - La. 327 continues as River Road. La. 327 spur, to the right, leads from the river to Highlands, three miles inland. Spur 327 is Gardere Lane, the approximate road to the Chatsworth quarters row.

78.8 miles - An Indian village until the 1780s when it was parceled out to Acadians. Bought in 1853 and named Chatsworth Plantation, and a fifty-room mansion was begun in 1859. It was demolished in 1930 in order to move the levee back.

79.0 miles - The approximate site of Mulberry Grove Plantation in 1897.

80.3 miles - Ben Hur Road is the site of the former Ben Hur Plantation, sold to LSU in 1936.

84.1 miles - In the trees are the brick and columned remains of the circa 1825 Cottage Plantation house off the river's Conrad Point. In 1859, the steamboat Princess, heavily loaded with passengers and freight on a voyage to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, exploded in midstream off the point. The lawn of the Cottage was covered with sheets filled with flour in which to roll burned or scalded victims, and planters and slaves alike pitched in to care for the injured. The Cottage was struck by lightning and burned in 1960.

85.7 miles - Two live oaks suggest the possible site of the former Laurel (or Laurel Place) Plantation. A few of the plantation outbuildings from the early twentieth century remain but are dilapidated.

86.6 miles - Hope Estate (Plantation) was on an English land grant made in 1768. That part of Hope Estate not consumed by the river or levee setbacks is currently owned by the East Baton Rouge Port Commission.

86.8 miles - Baton Rouge city limits.

87.4 miles - Brightside Lane is the former site of the circa 1820s Arlington Plantation. It was named Arlington for its similarity to Robert E. Lee's Virginia mansion. Much of the property has been claimed by the river and a small upriver part was sold, renamed Nestle Down Plantation, and became part of the LSU campus.

88.7 miles - Gartness Plantation began with a Spanish land grant in 1786. From the end of the Civil War until 1918 is was owned by the Williams family, and by 1918 it was called Williams Plantation, or sometimes Williams Grove. The property was sold to LSU and the first classes were held in the university's new Italian Renaissance buildings on the Gartness tract in 1925.

89.5 miles - McKinley Street leads to Nicholson Drive where, a block to the left, is the Magnolia Mound Plantation house. The property was first recorded in 1786 and the house constructed in 1791. The house was expanded and modernized in 1802. Plans called for the demolition of the deteriorating house in the 1960s but preservation efforts saved it in 1966. The property now boasts a reproduction kitchen where open-hearth demonstrations are given. A pigeonnier, circa 1820, was moved from downriver Sunshine, and the Magnolia Mound overseer's house, circa 1860, was moved to the grounds from its original location about a block away. Two slave cabins, circa 1830s, and the Hart House, built in 1904 as the home of the mayor of Baton Rouge (who at the time owned Magnolia Mound), are part of the complex."

http://www.thecoastalcruisers.com/la-rivrd-2/

http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/bookPages/9780807127315.html

Edited March 17, 2011 by dan326

[richyb83]

Thanks for the interesting research Dan

Real Estate Turnaround Hasn't Happened in Area

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/Still-waiting.html

Multi-Family Looks Up in BR

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/Multifamily-market-looks-up-in-Baton-Rouge.html

Even Esplanade is downsizing the vacant building between Clicks & Fox-n-Hound from 35,000sq ft to 20,000sq ft' to create more parking ; a W aLoft was considering this at one time a few years back; but fell thru...

Retail Still Feels Credit Crunch

The restuarant continues to buck the stagnation trend

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/Retail-still-feels-credit-crunch.html

Vacancy; Falling Rent in Commercial Market

Rental rates declined all across BR office submarkets; even in downtown which is typically one of the city's three strongest...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/Vacancy-falling-rent-in-commercial-market.html

Nice aerial of downtown; but new Courthouse not shown

Industrial Space Still Feeling Pinch

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/Industrial-space-still-feeling-pinch.html

[Antrell Williams]

Is Perkins Lane fully occupied? It seems like they are noting that developments like that are what will turn around the market in BR. People like to say the new generation is returning to the city, hmm is it actuallly true?

[richyb83]

Perkins Lane looks like it will be a neat little live/work type of nook...but single-entrance on to Perkins Road at that location will be a headache.

In the Sunday Advocate

Baton Rouge's Hidden Gem; Westminster - Pine Park a "Neighborhood with Character"

http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/Baton-Rouges-hidden-gem.html

Edited June 5, 2011 by richyb83

[itsjustme3]

Perkins Lane looks like it will be a neat little live/work type of nook...but single-entrance on to Perkins Road at that location will be a headache.

Yep. Just going to add traffic. Plus add mail, deliveries and guests coming in and out of that neighborhood will create a cluster f***.

[dan326]

I don't remember if I already posted this, but here's a picture of the Old Old Governor's mansion before Huey Long knocked it down to build the regular Old Governor's mansion.

Edited June 7, 2011 by dan326

[richyb83]

Nice photo Dan

Good article in the Advocate...the Historic neighborhood founded in 1806 was one of America;s First Planned Communities

Beauregard Town Thrives in Downtown

http://theadvocate.com/utility/homepagestories/625566-98/beauregard-town-thrives-downtown.html

[cajun]

What is the most organized, cleanest suburb of Baton Rouge?

All of them seem so thrown together, poorly planned, and generally ugly. Someone asked me what the best area to look for a house was, and I honestly didn't know what to say.

[Antrell Williams]

Probably Denham, maybe Zachary? Gonzales and Prairieville are getting better.

Edited February 1, 2012 by Antrell Williams