Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[southeastBR]

I would be very interested in seeing the renderings for that $69,000,000 RiverCenter parking garage(s).

[cajun]

Let's hope Baton Rouge (and the state) gets at least half of it's requested infrastructure improvement funds.

Those little improvements here and there on parish/city roads along with a new, wider I10 and I12 are going to go a long way for Baton Rouge.

I'd like to see them add an Airline HWY widening btw Florida Blvd and Plank Road and btw Coursey and the parish line on that list.

[richyb83]

Yes indeed! It sure would be nice for Airline Hwy to add lanes from Florida Blvd to Plank Rd/Coursey Blvd to the fairgrounds/parish-line.

Hold up...wait a minute

Woman's Hospital stopping work on new campus

Woman's Hospital is suspending construction on its new campus at Airline Highway and Pecue Lane until it can secure permanent financing for the $350 million project. The hospital's plan had been to pay for the new campus by selling bonds, though the national recession has created an unfavorable credit market, making this a bad time to go after financing, according to hospital officials. The suspension will last as long as it takes for the credit market to turn around. Woman's President/CEO Teri Fontenot says health care facilities all over the country are making similar decisions on capital expenditures and projects. "This does not mean the project will not be completed, but rather that we need to wait until we can obtain financing that better fits our long-term plans," she says. Construction started in June, and the hospital, medical office building and support facilities were set to open in early 2011.

[richyb83]

Will be interesting to see what will happen to this prime property?? The asking $price$ for under 12-acres should call for a multi-story building; something like the defunct plans from the 8-story Summa building that turned into just 2.

Old Advocate press building on Bluebonnet to be Razed soon??

The company has signed a contract with American Construction & Demolition Co., of Baton Rouge, to raze the former press building on Bluebonnet. The site has been idle since November 2006, when the newspaper opened a new press facility on Reiger Road.

Advocate Publisher David Manship said old press equipment already has been removed from the Bluebonnet

location.

[richyb83]

Still looks to be a large development even if with the plan to drop high-density residential.

Planning Commission to look at Mickens Road project

The city-parish planning commission is set to hold its first meeting of 2009 at 5 p.m. today. Commissioners will look at a revised concept plan for a Planned Unit Development on Mickens Road. The project, proposed by National Development of America, a Florida developer, was originally approved for 150 low-density housing units, 441 medium-density units and 172 high-density. National Development is now planning to drop all of the high-density units.

Also the commission is also set to vote on a 72-unit assisted living development at Jones Creek and Terrell Road and Pelican Broadcasting, a film production studio on Scenic Highway.

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

[dan326]

It's neat to see thing still getting developed.

N.O. developer plans Brightside condos

"New Orleans-area developers are planning to build a 10-building condominium development at Brightside Drive and Doris Street called Brightside North.

Brightside Estates LLC, listed in the Secretary of State

Edited February 3, 2009 by dan326

[richyb83]

Yeah Dan; it's been pretty incredible to see how much new housing has been going up along Brightside! That aerial is now filled up with 3-story apartments on the south-side of Brightside.

Edited February 3, 2009 by richyb83

[richyb83]

Well this answers my questions from last week; was wondering what was up?? There were numerous threads this could have gone to. Hopefully these projects can still happen??

LED office, amphitheater on hold

Two major downtown state projects are on hold because of budget constraints. The state had hoped to build a new office building for Louisiana Economic Development on Fifth Street, and a 4,000-seat amphitheater on the former site of the A.Z. Young building. Division of Administration spokesman Michael DiResto says the state is committed to both projects, but not right now.

[Southdowns]

Riverfront railroad track underpass work set</SPAN>

Developer Pete Clements said work will begin soon on the $10 million to $12 million project to put an underpass below the railroad tracks that will separate his planned mixed-use development on the riverfront near Hollywood Casino from downtown.

Clements said he is almost done hammering out the necessary details with the railroad and moving utilities and hopes to begin later this year and finish the 1.5-acre road portion of the project by the first quarter of next year.

He said the contract for the part of the first phase that deals directly with the tracks has been awarded and he's narrowed down to two contractors for the remainder of the road project.

Clements unveiled his plans for the 36-acre, $600 million River Park development just under a year ago and said he will have his first announcements about the rest of the development later this year. He said plans approved by the city-parish call for 1,200 residential units. -Thanks to 2theadvocate.com

This is good news. I hope this means River Park is still a "go." Even if its modified, it's still a huge project for downtown.

[richyb83]

Thanks for the head's up Southdowns! I'm with you; even a modified version would be nice for me! Do all the componets have to be in it's place for a mixed-use project like this to work??

I'll be sure to take this to the River Park thread

Edited February 10, 2009 by richyb83

[cajun]

What happened to the development on Government/Acadian?

Baton Rouge really needs to invest more in this area.

[richyb83]

Metro Council OKs garage site funding

The Metro Council signed off Wednesday on a proposal to spend $820,000 to buy property across Government Street from the River Center for a future parking garage. With downtown parking already at a premium and a new courthouse under construction, Mayor-President Kip Holden

[richyb83]

One Eleven @ The Shaw Center for the Arts on Third Street

[southeastBR]

That is some state-of-the-art apartments! They look great!

[richyb83]

Yeah those are some hip-looking condo's. A few months ago 225 Magazine had some nice pics of the interior. But those units ain't cheap; way out of my $ price range! Pretty crazy how the units(floors 2-4) are in the middle of the action on weekends; guess you gotta like it "noisy" with all of the Live music next door at Roux House!

The first floor is still vacant; not sure if it will be occupied by the Greater BR Arts Council?? which is supposed to relocate from it's HQ's at the Old Bogan Fire Station on Laurel Street.

[cajun]

Is there any chance that the old shopping center on Laurel at 16th will be redeveloped?

[nquint1]

Is there any chance that the old shopping center on Laurel at 16th will be redeveloped?

Renaissance Park, I believe it's called, is being occupied right now. I think it's FEMA? It would be nice if it was redeveloped. Especially since you can see it from Florida.

[cajun]

Renaissance Park, I believe it's called, is being occupied right now. I think it's FEMA? It would be nice if it was redeveloped. Especially since you can see it from Florida.

I think that this should be a top priority for the DDD.

Baton Rouge is ignoring this area and Mid City (Florida/Foster, BR General, and Government/Acadian) area for too long.

[richyb83]

Yeah the parking lots are plenty filled up in & around Renaissance Park; there were some plans for the future(not sure if fell thru?); but it slips my memory right now.

The North Blvd RR overpass has been a nice addition as a "gateway" connecting downtown & Mid city.

If Westmoreland shopping center could ever get re-developed; it would be a HUGE step forward!

Edited March 15, 2009 by richyb83

[byrde]

USAgencies signed a contract to purchase the old Godchaux's/Maison Blanche/Dillard's building just prior to Katrina. In the weeks after the storm they subleased it to FEMA and they have been there ever since. I don't think USAgencies owns the building anymore.

[fla_tiger]

I heard somewhere that Netflix has one of their national distribution centers in the building directly to the west of FEMA.

Edited March 17, 2009 by fla_tiger

[richyb83]

Alot of us here on UP have been be curious to see what becomes of the prime property along I-10 in the medical corridor.....

OLOL trying to decide on land use

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center has hired a consultant to help the hospital figure out the best use for 60 acres of undeveloped property between Essen Lane and Interstate 10, where it has long-term plans for new facilities and where soil work is under way.

Consultant Philip Crochet, who helped the Lake evaluate some of its other properties, will perform an evaluation that will tell the Lake what its options are, spokeswoman Catherine Harrell said.

The Lake paid $15.25 million for the property in a deal that closed Dec. 31.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/41444462.html

[cajun]

^10 bucks says it's a school.

[byrde]

I heard somewhere that Netflix has one of their national distribution centers in the building directly to the west of FEMA.

That's correct.

[richyb83]

Capital Region legislators pushing seven projects totaling $318.5 million

The Capital Region Legislative Delegation meets with Gov. Bobby Jindal today to discuss funding priorities for the 2009 session. The delegation is requesting state dollars for four road projects, in order of priority: