Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[dan326]

I guess they read our posts. lol.

Also they're building a Joan's Fabric and Crafts store in Seigen Market Place by Book's a Million.

[richyb83]

Yes indeed Antrell...it's a win win situation!!

Thanks for the update Buckett If only the next block to the west along the riverfront could say the same thing...

This site seems to have some pull...it's not the first time that's happened! lol

Edited September 22, 2011 by richyb83

[richyb83]

Developments seek approval

EBR panel hears plans Monday

The city-parish Planning and Zoning Commission will consider a concept plan for Fairfield at Baton Rouge, a mixed-use development at the southern corner of Burbank Drive and Ben Hur Road.

The development is among two apartment complexes and several residential filings going before the commission at 5 p.m. Monday on the third floor of the Governmental Building downtown.

Plans call for 12,000 square feet of commercial and retail development, 350 medium-density units and seven acres of green space.The Irving, Texas, developer could not be reached for comment. The planning commission staff is supportive of the development.

A Boise, Idaho, developer that is behind the Hooper Springs senior apartments is seeking site plan approval for Cypress Springs, another senior apartment development on Cypress Road southeast of Hooper Road.

Cypress Springs would feature three two-story, 48-unit buildings with 76 one-bedroom units and 68 two-bedroom units.

Hallmark Campus Communities, of Columbus, Ohio, will be looking for site plan approval for University Edge, a three-building apartment complex at Iowa and McKinley streets.

University Edge would have 474 beds in 158 units, with 20 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, 38 three-bedroom units and 70 four-bedroom units. Two of the buildings on the roughly six-acre site would be four stories and the third three stories.

The development provides a buffer for the houses along nearby Taylor Street.

The plans for University Edge were deferred from a previous meeting.

Several subdivisions have filings on the agenda:

• The Lake at Anselmo and Todd Waguespack are pursuing subdivision approval for 75 lots on 13 acres behind the homes on the east side of Madeira Drive between Perkins Rowe and Anselmo Lane.

• Richard Cappo and Hidden Grove are seeking subdivision approval for 52 single-family lots on just under 12 acres on the south side of Coursey Boulevard with some frontage on Parkhurst Drive.

• Sinclair Kouns is also seeking approval for a ninth filing — 55 lots on 27 acres — at University Club, just north of the Iberville Parish line

http://theadvocate.com/news/business/884765-63/developments-seek-approval.html

Edited September 22, 2011 by richyb83

[Antrell Williams]

Sometimes I think we'd do a better job than the buffoons running the show. I haven't seen better ideas from anywhere else than UP and (another forum which I cannot name but you all probably know of).

Fairfield at Baton Rouge sounds like a win. Hopefully fostering more than a gas station and a McDonalds.

Regarding University Edge, will this be on the NE corner? There are houses on each and every corner on Google Maps, there is one lot that is rather large but it doesn't look large enough for a 6-acre apartment complex.

[dan326]

Haha, that's for sure!

I guess the Baton Rouge recession is over, with all these projects being proposed.

[itsjustme3]

University Edge will not be in a safe part of north campus. Very surprised they'd pick that location.

[Antrell Williams]

Haha, that's for sure! I guess the Baton Rouge recession is over, with all these projects being proposed.

Well we've fared much better than equivalent cities during this downturn, just imagine if the recession was over. I'm sure we'd see River Place again along with double the amount of proposals.

[steve3n8]

Shrimp processing plant coming to B.R.

A new shrimp processing facility is coming to Baton Rouge, officials announced today, bringing with it a $2.2 million capital investment and the creation of 38 direct jobs. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Mayor Kip Holden made the announcement this morning, saying Baton Rouge Shrimp Company will be located on Neosho Avenue in a 50,000-square-foot warehouse. The company will purchase fresh, wild-caught shrimp at ports along the Gulf of Mexico, then process and distribute the product nationally and internationally. It will start with head-on and headless shrimp, but has plans to add peeled meat to the product line. Owner Tommy Lusco has been associated with processing and marketing seafood on the wholesale and retail levels for over 25 years. He started Louisiana Seafood Exchange in 1988 and grew the company to $16 million in annual sales by 2000. He sold the company a year later to his management team and retired. BRAC, in conjunction with Louisiana Economic Development, worked to help Baton Rouge Shrimp Company obtain permitting and resolve sewer issues, as well as obtain state and Enterprise Zone incentives. The United States recently increased the taxes on foreign shrimp coming into the country for another five years, which will allow domestic shrimp to be sold more profitably.

Businessreport.com

Edited September 26, 2011 by steve3n8

[Ronald120]

It's funny how that's coming full circle right before our eyes. With Dillard's closing that location I wonder what the next store to close will be. Cortana reminds me an awful lot of Belle Promenade Mall on the west bank. When I was a kid it was a good mall. As time progressed the stores began to close. Within a few years of the first major tenant over half the mall was shut down and then within another year or two it was completely abandoned.

You can read about it here.

http://southernretai...-louisiana.html

Interesting comparison, indeed; however, I likenend Cortana's situation to Oakwood Mall now. Oakwood looks and feels very dead after all of the renovations. I remember back in the late-90's (and mid-90's too) how live Oakwood was. I think the development of Manhattan was killing Oakwood then I think Katrina will prove to be the final nail in the coffin.

[steve3n8]

Plans for a new Associated Grocers supermarket announced

St. Amant-based Murray's Inc. has purchased approximately 3.5 acres of vacant land at Highland Road and Perkins Road East, across from Blue Bayou Waterpark, on which it will build an Associated Grocers neighborhood supermarket, says company President Lathan Alexander. "We are hoping to open in the fall of 2012," Alexander says. "It will be named Alexander's Highland Market." Murray's operates an Associated Grocers supermarket in St. Amant, and also owns a chain of wholesale and retail auto parts stores across south Louisiana, including two B&B Automotive Warehouse stores in Baton Rouge. Murray's purchased the land for $1,329,091. It is a part of a 17-acre tract owned by seller Highland Marketplace, Alexander says. Ground will be broken on the supermarket "as soon as possible," Alexander says, "hopefully around the first of the year."

All Star Volvo getting a new green home

All Star Automotive has broken ground on a 16,500-square-foot showroom and service center for its Volvo dealership at Airline Highway and Coursey Boulevard that should become Louisiana's first LEED-certified auto dealership, says COO Dennis Carlin. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an international green building certification program that's been around since 2000. Carlin says the Volvo building will feature recycled or locally produced building materials, as well as an on-site solar panel field that could generate as much as 10% of the electricity used by the dealership. Solar and wind power credits will also be purchased to further offset traditional electricity sources, he says. All Star Automotive is spending about $300,000 on various features required for LEED certification, which usually occurs months after a building has been completed and all the green features have been verified. The total cost of the new dealership is roughly $3 million, Carlin says. Completion is expected in late April, weather permitting. All Star Automotive has been operating its Hyundai and Volvo dealerships jointly at the site for about the past year. Meanwhile, Carlin says, the company acquired a license Wednesday to expand its Dodge dealership in Denham Springs to include Chrysler and Jeep. That dealership will likely get an extensive remodel in the latter half of next year, he says.

Businessreport.com

[Antrell Williams]

http://theadvocate.com/home/1075414-125/jindal-trims-br-projects.html

Jindal trims BR Projects

Doesn't make sense to cut funding for the port, yet renovate the French House?

[itsjustme3]

http://theadvocate.com/home/1075414-125/jindal-trims-br-projects.html

Jindal trims BR Projects

Doesn't make sense to cut funding for the port, yet renovate the French House?

Which one cost more?

[Antrell Williams]

$I million was supposed to go to the Port Authority. French House was renovated for a total of $1 million. Not suggesting that it's the same funds, but that's irresponsible prioritization.

[dan326]

They're building a Family Dollar on O'Neal Lane near Old Hammond.

[steve3n8]

Retail development planned at Brightside Drive and River Road

The Shoppes at Riverbend, a retail development of roughly 13,200 square feet on about 1.25 acres of land at Brightside Drive and River Road, is expected to break ground in the next three to six months, depending on tenant interest, says Matt Valiollahi, son of project developer Mark Valiollahi. "Right now he’s entertaining the possibility of a convenience store, some retail and restaurants," Matt Valiollahi says. "There are no hard leases at this time. There are a lot of calls coming in." The development will be located next to the Aspen Heights condominiums, which opened this summer. Mark Valiollahi is also the owner of University Car Care on Highland Road, and has developed several retail centers in Prairieville.

Businessreport.com

[Antrell Williams]

Ehh..

[steve3n8]

B.R. to get a walking path from a $3.6M grant to La.

Louisiana is getting $3.6 million for a walking path in Baton Rouge, a bridge in New Orleans and sidewalk improvements in Kenner and Jena. The money comes from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program, says U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, adding the grant's aim is to improve roads and create more biking and walking paths. Baton Rouge is getting the lion's share of the grant—$1.4 million to construct a 6.5-mile-long walking path along the crown of the Mississippi River levee from Farr Park to Ben Hur Road. In New Orleans, $844,400 will be spent to rehabilitate the Magnolia Bridge. In Kenner, $423,000 will be spent on sidewalks and landscaping. In Jena, $967,000 will help make the town compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Businessreport.com

[Antrell Williams]

Hey where do you find this? The new site has me confused.

[steve3n8]

Hey where do you find this? The new site has me confused.

Its sort of in the middle of the page where it says Daily Report. I don't like the new page! Why change something when it isn't broken, lol.

[Antrell Williams]

Exactly, but thanks. Over looked i I guess.

[steve3n8]

Walgreens under development at Highland and Lee

Dirt has been moved at the corner of Highland Road and Lee Drive for a new Walgreens that should begin to come out of the ground in the next four to six weeks, says Jonathan Lanza, vice president of Lanco Construction, the contractor on the project. “Realistically, the store will be completed about six months after we start construction,” Lanza says. “Right now we’re still doing the preliminary site work, and we’ll be looking to take bids from subcontractors in the next two weeks.” The store will be roughly 15,000 square feet, Lanza says. It will be the 16th Walgreens in Baton Rouge when completed. A Walgreens spokesperson did not have an anticipated opening date for the new store or any additional information.

Businessreport.com

[steve3n8]

Two Family Dollar locations under construction

A slab has been poured for a new Family Dollar store at 801 O'Neal Lane, and ground is set to be broken on another store at 12190 Plank Road, says Jonathan Lanza, vice president of Lanco Construction, the contractor on both projects. The O'Neal Lane store should be complete in the second week of January, and the Plank Road location should be complete in early March, Lanza says. Family Dollar spokesman Josh Braverman says the stores have a targeted 2012 opening, but no specific dates have been set.

Businessreport.com

[Antrell Williams]

S.C. company plans to build green energy plant in B.R.

A company that turns food and yard waste into energy and compost products says it will soon begin filing for permits to build a $12 to $25 million plant in Baton Rouge. W2E Organic Power has begun site work on its first such plant, called an anaerobic digestion facility, in Columbia, S.C.—where the company is headquartered—and expects to be operational in May, says Daniel Rickenmann, W2E founder and CEO. "Basically, we build giant Crock-Pots. We take pre- and post-consumer waste and we heat it up to 130 degrees, and then we harvest the methane that rises to the top—like condensation that gathers on the lid of a Crock-Pot," says Rickenmann. The methane can be converted into electricity, he says, while the leftover byproduct can be turned into high-utrient compost products for home, commercial and agricultural uses. Rickenmann says he's found a suitable site for the Baton Rouge plant on about five acres of land off Scenic Highway. "We'd like to start building the facility late in the third quarter of 2012 or early in the fourth quarter," says Rickenmann, who started W2E in 2008 after owning and operating a number of restaurants for 16 years. "We feel Baton Rouge has some real potential, not only because of its growth and port system, but the strides it's making in the recycling community." You can learn more about W2E at its website here. Read the full story here. —Steve Sanoski

http://www.businessreport.com/section/daily-reportAM

[buckett5425]

S.C. company plans to build green energy plant in B.R.

A company that turns food and yard waste into energy and compost products says it will soon begin filing for permits to build a $12 to $25 million plant in Baton Rouge. W2E Organic Power has begun site work on its first such plant, called an anaerobic digestion facility, in Columbia, S.C.—where the company is headquartered—and expects to be operational in May, says Daniel Rickenmann, W2E founder and CEO. "Basically, we build giant Crock-Pots. We take pre- and post-consumer waste and we heat it up to 130 degrees, and then we harvest the methane that rises to the top—like condensation that gathers on the lid of a Crock-Pot," says Rickenmann. The methane can be converted into electricity, he says, while the leftover byproduct can be turned into high-utrient compost products for home, commercial and agricultural uses. Rickenmann says he's found a suitable site for the Baton Rouge plant on about five acres of land off Scenic Highway. "We'd like to start building the facility late in the third quarter of 2012 or early in the fourth quarter," says Rickenmann, who started W2E in 2008 after owning and operating a number of restaurants for 16 years. "We feel Baton Rouge has some real potential, not only because of its growth and port system, but the strides it's making in the recycling community." You can learn more about W2E at its website here. Read the full story here. —Steve Sanoski

http://www.businessr.../daily-reportAM

I think this is fantastic news. I am curious to see how they will collect the yard refuge though. Will they have separate bins are drop off sites where you can dispose of your glass clippings?

[Antrell Williams]

I think this is fantastic news. I am curious to see how they will collect the yard refuge though. Will they have separate bins are drop off sites where you can dispose of your glass clippings?

Should be like the separate bins, something I've missed since living in Ascension.