Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[dan326]

That does look nice. Whenever I needu to go to the library I go to the Jones Creek Library. It's pretty nice so if all the newer libraries are like that then they must pretty nice too.

[Southdowns]

Can anyone give an update on the progress of the new shopping area at Burbank/Lee? I think Target is the anchor. They've been moving dirt but I haven't seen any signs of when they're planning on opening. Thanks in advance.

[richyb83]

Any news I get about this development/or bordering it; I POST in the "Arlington Creek" thread(found below)....I would imagine things are in a holding pattern with Target, etc...I'll be sure to keep my eyes open

Edited May 19, 2009 by richyb83

[richyb83]

The new mixed-use project at the old Perkins Road Hardware; work on the Perkins Road overpass continues; this area has alot of potential with widened sidewalks and other street-scape improvements hopefully in the works??

[dan326]

Hum, that looks better than I thought it would, I still think it would be a little strange living so close to the interstate.

[cajun]

Hum, that looks better than I thought it would, I still think it would be a little strange living so close to the interstate.

I don't think I'd mind as long as I couldn't hear it from inside.

Then again, I'm the kinda guy that think Exxon looks badass.

[hagetaka]

Seems like we will lose our Red Lion Hotel, this west coast beauty hasn't been popular, it will change to a Raddison soon, sorry to see it go, let's welcome the Raddison back.

[dan326]

Seems like we will lose our Red Lion Hotel, this west coast beauty hasn't been popular, it will change to a Raddison soon, sorry to see it go, let's welcome the Raddison back.

Well that stinks, we were the only one east of the Mississippi to have a Red Lion. Oh well, Maybe it will come back one day like Radisson is doing.

[cajun]

On the right path

full article:

http://www.businessreport.com/news/2009/ju...ght-path-gnit1/

map:

http://www.businessreport.com/photos/2009/jun/02/3395/

CYCLE MENTALITY: Mark Martin, the founder of Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets, hasn’t owned a car in more than 18 years.

By David Jacobs (Contact)

Monday, June 1, 2009

Mark Martin hasn’t owned a car in more than 18 years, including the past four in Baton Rouge. He says getting around Baton Rouge on two wheels isn’t as dangerous as people think.

“I could be passed by a thousand cars, and most of them don’t behave badly,” he says. “All it takes is one person being an ass, and that’s the one you remember.”

Martin, founder of Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets, has been yelled at and threatened while biking; one young woman felt the need to reach out and touch his elbow from the passenger seat of a car while imploring him to “get on the sidewalk.” Except there was no sidewalk, and biking on the sidewalk is illegal.

“If I was twitchy, I’d be dead,” he says.

Martin was one of about 25 people who biked to Capital Heights on May 13 to hear Mayor Kip Holden announce improvements to the city’s bike facilities. The improvements are part of the mayor’s “Healthy Baton Rouge” initiative and a response to numerous requests from bike-minded constituents.

“By June of 2010, over 44 new miles of bike lanes and paths will be added or programmed to our existing facilities of over 23 miles,” Holden says, “with additional facilities already being identified.”

Article and map continue at link.

Edited June 3, 2009 by cajun

[richyb83]

^ Like to see BR finally realizing the importance of bike lanes/paths! Not sure how safe I would feel riding a bike on the North Blvd overpass?? I'm really looking forward to the paths being built along the creeks/bayou's & waterways(not included in this article)!

This has been posted before; looks like a done deal now...

BR buys $820,000 parking garage site

The city-parish has completed its deal to buy the property at the southwest corner of Government and St. Louis streets for $820,000. Its plan is to ultimately put a parking garage there.

The Metro Council approved the purchase in February at the request of Mayor Kip Holden, who said it was important to take advantage of Louisiana Casino Cruises Inc.

Edited June 3, 2009 by richyb83

[richyb83]

Where are the renderings to this??? Before I was thinking Capitol Lofts would be a 4-story project; but 115-units on the tract of land that size?? Would that be 7, 8, 10-floors?? This should be interesting to watch unfold!

Proposed Spanish Town development draws opposition

Capitol Lofts, a proposed 115-unit development in Spanish Town on land owned by Richard Preis and Chuck Cline, would require rezoning from A4 to A5, which the neighborhood civic association opposes.

[nquint1]

This will definitely be interesting. While I'm all for keeping Spanish Town historic, they are about to build a tall state building right across the street from this property.

[richyb83]

According to Preis Capitol Lofts will be either 4 or 6 stories depending on zoning...guess we will find out in a couple of weeks! This should not effect the historic character of Spanish Town; that proposed state bldg(on-hold) across the street is supposed to be 5-stories. That old state bldg that was demolished was almost twice that tall.

Edited June 10, 2009 by richyb83

[buckett5425]

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/47486192....index=1&c=y

Personally, I'm for this development. This particular block of Spanish town has lost all of its original character. Pries actually owns almost the entire block. Below Ive provided a map showing the land he owns(red) and where i live (blue). My apartment window looks out onto the land and as much as i am in support of preservation, those small houses are dumps, and are beyond being saved. We need more density downtown, and its projects like this that will bring that. My only beef though, is that they are doing the faux Spanish (Disney world effect). Everyone knows this is a new building, so make it look like something of our time period. I dont think anyone is going to be fooled into thinking this building is original to the area, and if they are, they are stupid.

[byrde]

We need development like Capitol Lofts downtown to help attract more retail downtown and keep the area 'alive'.

I agree it looks like something @ disney. They could do better with the design.

[richyb83]

Yes indeed! This is exactly what downtown needs! The retail will never come w/o developments like this! Bring some more density to the urban core!

This civic association thing sure is getting old! There is ALWAYS opposition; not athestically pleasing /character blend crap! Some people in BR have such a small town mentality! Downtown real estate is not cheap! Sometimes it's necessary to go "vertical"! Compromise?? Does that mean only 5-floors?? Instead of 6??

Hey buckett5425, given where you live.....they sure could use your "imput" at the Metro Council meeting! I'm sure deep down DDD "FAVORS" this project; they just don't want to upset the SpanishTown civic association...

[dan326]

While the architecture does leave a little to be desired I just want something to get built.

I dont think anyone is going to be fooled into thinking this building is original to the area, and if they are, they are stupid.

Lol! Don't you think that's kind of harsh?

Edited June 10, 2009 by dan326

[buckett5425]

While the architecture does leave a little to be desired I just want something to get built.

Lol! Don't you think that's kind of harsh?

No, it follows the same principles of Perkins Rowe, or Atlantic Station. Why are we trying to fool people that perkins rowe looks like it has existed since the 1900's? Its fake architecture, the facades of those buildings, although interesting, were stripped from previous existing buildings. The Domain, in Austin is also a TND with high density. Although they used a contemporary context for their design making it much more interesting. We should be designing buildings that respond to our time period, not trying to recreate the past (the disney world effect)

[buckett5425]

The Nimby's are already out in full force. This flier has been plastered to every telephone pole in Spanish Town. I am rather upset, because I will be out of town during the metro council meeting, and for this anti-development meeting. I definitely would have gone to both meetings to give my input on why i support this development. I plan to email the Planning commission and my council woman about the issue since i cant make the meeting. I do wish how ever the Nimby's would have put a contact email on their flier so i could respond to them as well.

P.S. that flier is complete crap, and full of spin. I love how they are trying to trick people into thinking they are building a development that looks like lake towers, so they can push their anti-development agenda....

[richyb83]

Wow! What a pile of crap that is! Sorry you won't be able to to make those meetings; but glad to see you being so pro-active! Your voice needs to be heard! 6-stories does not even qualify as a high-rise! What about the next block over to the west with the new proposed state bldg or the 12-story Galvez Bldg & 14-story Presbyterian Apts on Spanish Town's edges?? Surely those multi-story buildings dismantle the "character & so-called charm"?? I just don't get it!

Since I don't live in that neighborhood; it probably gives me no authority to speak in favor of this development.....but what I would like to do is write the Advocate and title it "America's Next Great Town" instead of city as Mayor Holden's slogan says...fact is BR is an overgrown country town that doesn't even know what the term "density" means!

Someone has already written a anti-development letter in the paper Monday.

Edited June 16, 2009 by richyb83

[dan326]

That flyer is hilarious!!! If you didn't know better you'd think they were going to build a project.

Edited June 17, 2009 by dan326

[cajun]

I'm for the development....provided they are not tearing up anything historically significant. Since that's not the case, then go for it!

The funny part is that most of the people I know in Spanish Town (all three of them) live in a cheesy, 1960s apartment or renovated home that might be beautiful to the type of person who drives bland Japanese sedans and wears polo shirts with Hush Puppies (not that there's anything wrong with being boring)

Another funny thing....they are fighting a 6 story building when you can see the thirty something story capital from most intersections in Spanish Town.

Edited June 17, 2009 by cajun

[southeastBR]

I totally agree! This opposition to this is ridiculous. I just hope Preis has his "ducks in a row " this time and wont be another let-down!

[richyb83]

The re-zoning hearing for the 6-story/115 unit Capitol Lofts has been delayed til July 22nd. The developer wants to meet with the Historic Spanish Town Civic Association. A board member said high-density is unacceptable; the property is currently medium-density residential.

Wonder how much this will be scaled-down?? Most of BR doesn't even know what density means...

According to Plan Baton Rouge....

*Downtown BR 700 acres....2,000 residents

*Downtown NOLA 640 acres....9,000

*Downtown Shreveport 520 acres...4,500

Edited June 23, 2009 by richyb83

[dan326]

It's kind of funny to see hoe downtown Baton Rouge has the biggest downtown with the fewist amount of people.