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You'd think Esplanade Mall(like the old/original name Corporate Square better) has so much potential...perfect location? Along highly visible I-10/College Drive btwn LSU; Acadian Village; & Towne Center. Thought a Dave & Buster's may have worked perfectly at that location; but Hooter's & Click's billiards; etc.  maybe not...unfortunately the W 'a' Loft hotel attempt failed due to parking issues several years ago.  WHAT will go in this vacant space?? It says rear...but it's the front when driving I-10

 

Rear of Esplanade Mall to house new retail tenant

 

New details are emerging about plans for the space at the rear of the Esplanade Mall, where work crews have been busy for months demolishing a portion of the building and clearing ground. According to commercial broker Jonathan Walker of Maestri-Murrell, the space will house a new retail storefront measuring about 14,600 square feet, as well as 15,000 square feet of additional parking. The entire space previously held an office for a Chase Bank service center.

 

“There will be about 14,000 square feet of new retail space that will front the interstate, and it will be ready in about four to six months,” Walker says. “They tore down half of the old bank building and are remodeling the existing structure. The rest of the space will be used for parking.”

 

The 100,000-square-foot shopping center fronts on Corporate Boulevard and houses such long-time tenants as The Melting Pot, Hooter’s and Sullivan’s. The property is owned by Richard Hartley and David Vey, who acquired it out of bankruptcy in 1993 for $3.5 million.  Hartley and Vey decline to comment on their plans, as does leasing agent Scott Bankston.

 

The shopping center, which was built in the 1970s and originally named Corporate Square, is in a prime location, according to local real estate agents. But they say rental rates—around $23 per square foot—are high for the type of tenants the center would be able to attract.

 

Last year, outparcel tenant TGI Fridays closed at the shopping center, and the building it was housed in remains vacant. In August 2013, Fox and Hound, an English-style pub and grill, also shut down its spot in the center. The location that Fox and Hound occupied is next door to the space being redeveloped, and it also remains vacant.

—Stephanie Riegel

 

https://www.businessreport.com/article/rear-esplanade-mall-house-new-retail-tenant

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Legislature asks union to designate Baton Rouge as production center for TV and movies                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Louisiana Legislature is weighing in on a contract dispute between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the union that represents film industry crews over whether to allow Baton Rouge to become a “production center” for movies and TV shows. Both the House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday asking the IATSE Local 478 out of New Orleans to allow Baton Rouge to join the list of 38 U.S. cities—including New Orleans and Shreveport—that are designated as production centers. The designation is important because it costs more to produce films and TV shows in markets that are not production centers. Union workers are paid a $56 per diem if they have to travel to work in non-production centers like Baton Rouge.

IATSE and AMPTP are currently negotiating the issue, as they do every three years during contract talks. The issue last came up in 2012. Then, as now, the local movie industry asked for the production center distinction but was unsuccessful.

Though Wednesday’s legislative resolution will likely make little difference this time around—resolutions have no force of law—local industry executives say it sends an important message to the union.

“This is critically important,” says Patrick Mulhearn, director of Celtic Studios. “I was told by one major film producer that it cost them a million dollars more last year to film here than it would’ve in New Orleans because we are not a production center. We can’t grow our crew base. We can’t grow our workforce because it costs more to hire them.”

IATSE and the AMPTP are scheduled to conclude their contract negotiations Friday.

Stephanie Riegel    https://www.businessreport.com/article/legislature-asks-union-designate-baton-rouge-production-center-tv-movies
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Downtown Development District to unveil sample tonight of decorative lighting concept under I-110                                                                                                                                                                                                              As part of the ongoing improvements under the Interstate 110 system downtown, the Downtown Development District tonight will unveil a sample display of decorative lighting under I-110 at Florida Street that will help illuminate and improve the appearance of the space under the interstate. The lighting will mark the entrance to the pedestrian corridor of the underpass area, which is being redeveloped as a parking lot. Phillips Lighting and Color Kinetics have set up a sample of what DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer calls a “decorative gateway lighting concept.”

“We’re going to put security lighting under the interstate as well, but at the pedestrian corridor we’re going to do decorative lighting and this is a sample they are going to show us,” Rhorer says. “It looks great and reminds me of Richmond, Virginia and Buffalo Bayou (in Houston).”

DDD has identified 500 spots for badly needed downtown parking under the I-110 and I-10 systems. Work crews from the city-parish are currently restriping some of the areas, and security lighting is being installed. Rhorer estimates it will be late fall before all of the spaces are available for use.

The lighting display will begin at 8 p.m. The public is invited.

Stephanie Riegel    https://www.businessreport.com/article/downtown-development-district-unveil-sample-tonight-decorative-lighting-concept-110

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Pinnacle advances real estate talks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. said Monday it is engaged in “productive discussions” about selling its real estate assets, which include four Louisiana properties, to a Pennsylvania company.

 

Pinnacle owns L’Auberge Casinos in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles and Boomtown Casinos in New Orleans and Bossier City. Two months ago, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. offered to buy Pinnacle’s properties in a deal worth around $2.2 billion. Gaming and Leisure would also take on about $1.9 billion in debt from Pinnacle.

Pinnacle would then lease the properties from Gaming and Leisure, a real estate investment trust that specializes in casino properties

Pinnacle said Monday its board of directors and management are committed to maximizing shareholder value, but there is no guarantee that the deal will take place.

Pinnacle also said it does not plan to make additional comments on the proposed deal until there is something “definitive” to report.    http://theadvocate.com/news/business/12278452-123/pinnacle-advances-real-estate-talks

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Video: Trampoline parks bring high-flying fun to Baton Rouge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         There’s a new legal way to get high in Baton Rouge.

Trampoline parks are the newest frontier in recreation, and now two warehouse-sized parks — Area 51 Extreme Air Sports and Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park — are opening here.

These parks feature thousands of square feet of trampolines, with basketball goals to dunk and foam pits to flip into.  http://theadvocate.com/features/12220283-123/ready-to-bounce-trampoline-parks
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Proposal to sell, close Capitol Park Welcome Center in Baton Rouge goes to lawmakers                                                                                    A prime piece of real estate in downtown Baton Rouge could soon hit the market.

Lawmakers will consider next week a proposal by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration to sell the Capital Park Welcome Center at 702 River Road and a parking lot across the street from the center, which would be closed following the sale.

“The welcome center is a great facility that just isn’t being utilized enough to justify the expense for taxpayers,” says Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols in a prepared statement. “Managing our finances and our properties responsibly means recognizing when a facility isn’t being used to its full potential. This sale will allow another organization to take advantage of the prime location while providing more value for downtown Baton Rouge.”

Nichols says the 4,242-square-foot welcome center—which includes a theater space, meeting space and a patio with room for up to 600 people—has been appraised at a value of $7.34 million. A parking garage across the street has been appraised at $4.05 million, she adds.

Both property sale proposals will go before the Legislature next week for approval. If approved, the state will have several options for how to move the process forward, including sheriff’s sale, sealed bids, or a real estate broker.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne says he agrees with the Jindal administration that selling the welcome center and parking garage is a good idea.

“It will spur more economic growth in downtown Baton Rouge while being fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ assets,” Dardenne says in a prepared statement. “The Louisiana Welcome Center inside the State Capitol remains open seven days a week, and I’ve long felt this is the most suitable place to direct tourists.”

The proposed sale comes as the Jindal administration and lawmakers look to plug an estimated $1.6 billion budget hole for the coming fiscal year that begins on July 1. Proceeds from state property sales are deposited into the general fund. A spokesperson in Nichols’ office says there are four employees who work at the Capitol Park Welcome Center, and that they’d be transferred to other locations if and when the center closes.

—Steve Sanoski                                                                             
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Former Robinson Brothers site on Interline leased for Western film, but remains on market                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In recent months, buildings mysteriously have popped up and then disappeared at the long-vacant, 11-acre property at 9550 Interline Ave. that was formerly home to a Robinson Brothers Lincoln dealership.

George Kurz of Kurz & Hebert Commercial Real Estate says despite the activity, the property is only leased temporarily by MGM Studios for a film production and it remains on the market for $7 million.

“A film that they’re currently producing here requires them to build a Western town, and that’s what you saw being constructed out there,” says Kurz, who represents the property. “And then the production was moved to another location for filming and finishing, so they hauled it away.”

Kurz says he cannot disclose the film’s name due to a nondisclosure agreement he signed. He said MGM’s lease runs through this fall.

The property, which includes a 52,000-square-foot building that was home to the dealership, has been on the market since late 2011. That’s when Robinson Brothers consolidated the dealership with another one at Airline Highway and South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.

“We’ve had a lot of lookers, but no takers so far,” Kurz says, noting the property can be split and has flexibility regarding its use. “It’s a fabulous piece of property that’s located right in the middle of the parish along I-12, which is the highest-traveled roadway in the parish.”

This isn’t the first time the property has been used for film purposes. Kurz says it was leased last year by Celtic Media Centre for use by 20th Century Fox.

—Steve Sanoski     https://www.businessreport.com/article/former-robinson-brothers-site-interline-leased-western-film-remains-market
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E’tage Gardens developer buys site for new neighborhood at Lobdell-Jefferson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The developer of E’tage Gardens, an infill community on Government Street, has purchased a 2-acre site near the intersection of Lobdell Avenue and Jefferson Highway for $650,000.

 

Michael Hogstrom, the owner of Onsite Design, said he plans to build a development with six to 10 lots on the property, which he said is near Baton Rouge Stone Gallery.

“We’re still working on a number,” Hogstrom said, “but this will be higher-end than E’tage Gardens, with larger homes and larger lots.”

LA7, a limited liability corporation set up by Hogstrom, bought the land from Winston and Patricia Turner Riddick and Rester Properties in a deal that was filed Friday with the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office.

Hogstrom said he’s working with about three different site plans and business models, so the details of the yet-to-be-named development are still being worked out. But he said the lots would be over 6,000 square feet. In E’tage Gardens, the majority of lots were 5,000 square feet.

The success of E’tage Gardens, which is located at Government and Croydon Avenue, led Hogstrom to plan another development nearby.

All of the lots in the development were sold in a month, and five of the eight homes have been finished. The remaining properties should be completed by the end of the summer.

“On all eight houses, we got over $200 per square foot, so we exceeded our expectations substantially,” he said.

“Our goal is to improve our developments where we can and keep things top notch,” Hogstrom said. “We’ve gotten a good response.”                  http://theadvocate.com/news/12321696-123/etage-gardens-developer-buys-site

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 Has this been posted?

 

Deal for 20 acres on Ben Hur first step toward another student housing development

 

Birmingham, Alabama-based Capstone Collegiate Companies is planning to develop a 179-unit student housing complex on Ben Hur Road following the company’s purchase of about 20 acres for $7,028,000.

Arlington Townhomes and Manors would be located just down the road from The Cottages, a 382-unit, 1,290-bed student housing complex at the corner of Ben Hur and Nicholson Drive that Capstone also developed.

“It will have some similarities to The Cottages,” says principal Rob Howland, adding Capstone sold the development about a month after it was completed in August 2011. “We’re looking to have this development ready for August of 2016.”

 

 

https://www.businessreport.com/article/deal-20-acres-ben-hur-first-step-toward-another-student-housing-development

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Wampold lands flag for Marriott Autograph hotel in downtown Baton Rouge                                                                                                                                                                            Mike Wampold has finalized a franchise agreement with Marriott to redevelop the old LNB Building downtown into a new 148-room Autograph hotel that will be called Watermark Baton Rouge. The developer has been working on plans for a hotel on the site for more than one year, but did not have a flag for the hotel until Monday, when the deal was signed.

The Autograph brand is one of the newest and ritziest in the Marriott family of hotels and Wampold says his hotel at 150 N. Third St will be “upper upscale,” with high-end amenities, restored vintage artwork and a full-service restaurant.

“This is going to be more upscale than the Renaissance,” says Wampold, referring to another Marriott hotel he owns on Bluebonnet Boulevard. “This is going to be the most upscale hotel in Baton Rouge.”

Wampold’s announcement comes on the same day developers of a Courtyard Marriott, which is planned for a vacant lot just down the block at Florida and North Third streets, are planning to ask the Metro Council to create a special Tax Increment Financing District to help finance construction of their project. Wampold secured TIF financing for his project from the Council earlier this spring.

With two competing Marriotts within a block of each other and seven hotels altogether, the downtown hotel market will be a competitive one, but Wampold says he’s ready to compete.

“We feel good about our position and the quality of our product,” he says.

The hotel is scheduled to open in August 2016. Read the full story in Daily Report PM this afternoon.

See a rendering of the Watermark.

—Stephanie Riegel     https://www.businessreport.com/article/news-alert-wampold-lands-flag-marriott-autograph-hotel-downtown-baton-rouge

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  • 2 weeks later...

Baton Rouge population declined 0.2% between 2010 and 2014, while NOLA returned to one of US’ 50 largest cities                                                                                                                                                                               Newly released city population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau for the years between 2010 and 2014 paint a drastically different picture for Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

While Baton Rouge’s population dipped by 0.2% between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2014—falling by 598 residents, from 229,493 to 228,895—New Orleans added 40,491 residents over the span and returned to the list of America’s 50 most populous cities.

The population estimates, released Thursday, mark the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that New Orleans has been listed among the nation’s 50 largest cities. Arlington, Texas, dropped off the list. New Orleans’ population swelled from 343,829 residents in 2010 to 384,320 in 2014, a growth rate of 11.7%.

Meanwhile, in the Capital Region, population growth was a mixed bag between 2010 and 2014. If you think residents have been leaving Baton Rouge for the suburbs, the figures suggest you’re only half right.

While cities such as Central, Gonzales, Livingston, Walker and Zachary all posted population increases over the span, others such as Baker, Denham Springs, Port Allen and St. Francisville all saw their populations fall. Here’s a rundown of the specifics:

  • Baker: 13,776 in 2014, down 0.8% from 13,895 in 2010.
  • Central: 28,119 in 2014, up 4.6% from 26,894 in 2010.
  • Denham Springs: 10,097 in 2014, down 1.1% from 10,215 in 2010.
  • Gonzales: 10,457 in 2014, up 6.9% from 9,781 in 2010.
  • Livingston: 1,905 in 2014, up 7.6% from 1,769 in 2010.
  • Port Allen: 5,144 in 2014, down 0.6% from 5,180 in 2010.
  • St. Francisville: 1,716 in 2014, down 2.7% from 1,765 in 2010.
  • Walker: 6,238 in 2014, up 1.6% from 6,138 in 2010.
  • Zachary: 16,219 in 2014, up 8.4% from 14,960 in 2010.

Nationwide, the new figures show the U.S. is now home to 10 cities with a population of 1 million or more, with Texas and California being home to three each. However, of the 19,509 incorporated places in the United States, the figures show around 76% (14,819) had fewer than 5,000 people in 2014. And only about 3.8% (749) had populations of 50,000 or more.  https://www.businessreport.com/article/baton-rouge-population-declined-0-2-2010-2014-nola-returned-one-us-50-largest-cities

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Maybe Baton Rouge need to do more redevelopment in other areas of the city. Maybe more annexation need to be done into Baton Rouge city limits. Maybe Baton Rouge need to have a better transit system and more jobs. Maybe East Baton Rouge Parish is to segregated. Maybe Maybe. The only reason New Orleans population is growing because their parish is one city its not segregated and tourism. Who knows maybe in 10 years Baton Rouge population could be 400,000 +?   

Edited by greg225
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I think all2neat has illustrated this perfectly. Baton Rouge offers limited potential, in a world with rapidly changing job demands Baton Rouge is lagging behind and people see this, see the horrible school, terrible traffic, and lack of true leadership and leave for cities like Houston or Atlanta that offer better opportunities for the families and their carers. 

 

It is not a matter of expanding the city limits to inflate our population numbers. Hell, Baton Rouge could try and annex the whole Parish into city limits and while it would make the population seem larger it would be false growth and doesn't fix the overarching problem facing the capital region. Baton Rouge lacks economic diversity and opportunities. It lacks good infrastructure, and it lacks good schools. The biggest problem is that it lacks leadership, leadership that is willing to change the city for the better and make Baton Rouge what it can be. 

 

Baton Rouge needs to fix its roads. I'm not just talking adding more lanes or repaving because that only prolongs the problem, I'm talking brand new roads that let residents get from point A to point B with out having to get on I10 or I12. For schools we need to take the failing schools and turn them into charter school, build some public boarding schools so students can live in a better environment. Aggressively gentrify North Baton Rouge, to the point of almost bulldozing the whole area. Investing in more attractions, creating more universities, etc.. We need to start organizing areas like Ascension and Livingston Parish, regardless of what the public votes. We need to have leaders that's don't give a damn about re-election and are willing to put the public complaints aside and embark on aggressive change. 

 

And being 'divided' (in terms of separate cities within a parish or metro) as you say does not hurt the city as much as you may think. I come from Tampa, one of the most separated metro's in the nation and it's still larger than New Orleans. I will agree however, that New Orleans metro is way too big and that inflates their numbers, but the numbers used in that article are for the city proper. 

Edited by mr. bernham
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A lot of cities have bad schools, but they still grow because more options of schools. FutureBR plan been out since 2011, but the Metro Council make it hard for progress. Transit sucks part of me wish they would just go with a private company. 

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A lot of cities have bad schools, but they still grow because more options of schools. FutureBR plan been out since 2011, but the Metro Council make it hard for progress. Transit sucks part of me wish they would just go with a private company. 

However, when you go into the suburbs they have better schools or the opportunities within the city balance out the bad schools. BR has some of the worst schools in the nation and not a lot of opportunities in the city to have a bit of balance to it. 

 

I wish transit would be private too. But not roads for the time being. 

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                                           Salt Lake City 191, 180                                                                                                                                 salt-lake-city-light-rail-flickr.jpg2030-Transit-projects-SLCO.jpgGreen_line_Trax_at_Gallivan_Plaza.jpg

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 Salt Lake City 191, 180                                                                                                                                 

 

That is a very misleading number. The population of SLC is actually around 1 million. In fact it is a requirement for any city that hosts the Olympics to at least have a population of 1 million, SLC has hosted the Olympics before. 

Also, according to my calculations if the two transportation bills pass the House and Senate, paired with a third that was just passed. Louisiana could take in nearly 10.4 billion dollars in ten years all going towards transportation. 

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I'm assuming by segregation, Greg means official city limits, but there's also the other type. I read tha BR and NO are the 7th and 10th most racially segregated cities in the US. I'm not speaking against anything as I've come to see people want what they want but flight definitely is real as I have witnessed a shift in demographics even in my own neighborhood and I think that (if we're being honest about what is meant by "better schools") is the reason for BR's and Denham Springs decline. I hate to say it be we can pretty much forget about further annexion and gentrification of North BR, unless the residents move to another city or for them to transform their own community. Like I've said, I don't think EBR can just tap a magic wand like people seem to think and "fix" the schools. I think the students are just bad and unfortunately the system has become apathetic and accepted (whether its true or not) that its an excercise in futility to expend too many resources trying to reform the "schools".
 
Now I do think we could fix infastructure, but that's just a question of how much people want to spend. Maybe a Greenlight Plan 2.0?

Edited by dan326
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The point I was making the city limits of Salt Lake City population is smaller and they have better transit system than we do.

1. They are an Olympic City, advanced transportation is required

2. Their transportation covers the main metro. The official city limits are only the top part of the map you posted.

3. SLC is a global city, BR is not

I'm assuming by segregation, Greg means official city limits, but there's also the other type. I read tha BR and NO are the 7th and 10th most racially segregated cities in the US. I'm not speaking against anything as I've come to see people want what they want but flight is definitely real as I have witnessed a shift in demographics even in my own neighborhood and I think that (if we're being honest about what is meant by "better schools") is the reason for BR's and Denham Springs decline. I hate to say it be we can pretty much forget about further annexion and gentrifiaction of North BR, unless the residents move to another city or for them to transform their own community. Like I've said, I don't think EBR can just tap a magic wand like people seem to think and "fix" the schools. I think the students are just bad and unfortunately the system has become apathetic and accepted (whether its true or not) that its an excercise in futility to expend too many resources trying to reform the "schools".

 

Now I do think we could fix infastructure, but that's just a question of how much people want to spend. Maybe a Greenlight Plan 2.0?

I agree with all of this. That's why gentrification is the only option. Move them to Baker.

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Well, I wouldn't say all that now. lol

Yeah, I was joking a bit  ;)

 

But you do bring up some great points. It will be hard for Baton Rouge to redevelop NBR because it's in such dire state. I think what the city should focus on is creating three or more anchors to the area or enhancing existing one. For starter there is the metro airport. I would go in and around that area construct a small scale business and conference center, expand the airport, and add more ways to get there. I then would redevelop many areas around Florida Blvd. and once again make it the city's main drag. I would then redevelop Earl K. Long Hospital and the surrounding area into the University Hospital and Magnolia School of Medicine. This would create to catalyst near one another and expand the opportunities in the area. 

 

I don't think building new neighborhood will work there. You need to make a reason for people to go there, to live there, something to make the place attractive.

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