Baton Rouge Riverfront Plan

[byrde]

3 plans have been laid out for residents to cast their opinions on. The details can been seen @ http://www.batonrougeriverfront.com/03.html.

Concept A

The program calls for: (1) Ball Park, (2) Skate Park (3) Garages, (4) Hotel/Residential, (5) Residential/Retail on the Old Municipal Dock

Concept B

The program calls for: (1) Ball Park , (2) Amphitheater, (3) Skate Park (4) Garages, ( 5 ) Hotel/Residential and ( 6 ) Utilization of the Old Municipal Dock

Concept C

The program calls for: (1) Residential, (2) Garages, (3) Hotel (4) Retail/Commercial (5) Retail/Commercial Utilization of the old Municipal Dock

[richyb83]

Thanks Byrde for posting these pics for everybody to see. I have been sending the articles/website on this great development too; but your instant visuals posted above are just better !

I went to the meeting two-weeks ago. They are asking the public for imput . That's great, because this is "Big-Time"for Baton Rouge. I learned a new word "Batture", then they showed examples of La Guardia Airport. WOW, part of the park above the river along the levee.

I hope they have that new minor-league baseball stadium adjacent to the bridge and dock. That could set-it off with some additional entertainment.

I proposed an iconic "Red Stick" observation tower there. It would provide a alternative view-to the State Capitol. People like the idea,but I am not to sure how serious they would be in considering this ?

[dimebag1980]

Sorry guys, as you know I'm not totally familiar with Baton Rouge, but does the city have a baseball team? If not, are they going to build the stadium as an incentive to lure a team to the city?

Thanks. By the way, the layouts look great. Everything flows together the way it should.

[richyb83]

No, Baton Rouge does not currently have a minor-league baseball team.

I would say there is about a 60% chance that the stadium will be built.

[byrde]

I like all 3 but I feel that option #3 will be the most feasible because it does not include the baseball stadium.

[richyb83]

Public Invited for imput on Thursday, June 8 at 6:30 A concept plan(phase 4) will shown for the redevelopment of the riverfront.

http://www.batonrougeriverfront.com/04.html

[byrde]

New article about the plans for the riverfront from the BR Business Report

http://www.businessreport.com/newsDetail.cfm?aid=8860

[richyb83]

Riverfront Park features a terrace effect

*Computer rendering shown

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/3006971.html

[NCB]

^Here's the rendering Richy is talking about.

I think the plans look awesome.

[richyb83]

Thanks so much Nate for posting that pic. You are right, the plan looks awesome ! I hope they are able to pull this bold project off, it won't be cheap. But we have a get-it-done Mayor now, working with the Downtown Development District people who also have a get-it-done mentality that have already done so much.

Here are some MORE PICS provided today. They have drawn in the 30-storyRiverplace Condo; and added some more future high-rise development, including the land where the old Advocate bldg. is. But they do not have Laurel Tower or Two City Plaza added

http://www.businessreport.com/assets/promo...ontProjects.pdf

Edited June 9, 2006 by richyb83

[byrde]

Take a look at this slideshow from The Advocate. It gives more detail on each segment of the plan and some of the options being considered.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/multimedia/2853931.html

[richyb83]

Thanks for posting that Byrde. It's a great plan to me. A very bold and impressive project. I hope they can pull this off ! What do you think about them replacing both existing water features at Riverfront Plaza and Repentance Park ?

[byrde]

Thanks for posting that Byrde. It's a great plan to me. A very bold and impressive project. I hope they can pull this off ! What do you think about them replacing both existing water features at Riverfront Plaza and Repentance Park ?

I'm not sure I like the idea of them removing the fountains but I like the overall plan so I won't complain to much.

[dan326]

I proposed an iconic "Red Stick" observation tower there. It would provide a alternative view-to the State Capitol. People like the idea,but I am not to sure how serious they would be in considering this ?

I remeber reading that in a big report on the riverfront plan and downtown development in the Adobe Reader format. Unfortunately I accidentaly erased the link from my favorites a few months back and could never find it again. I only got to about half way because it was about 60/70 pages, but I do remeber reading some info on an observation tower. It said something like it would have the "red stick" theme, be 200 feet tall, and be very iconic so vistors could know they were entering Baton Rouge. So you never know, they might be drawing up plans right now.

[richyb83]

Thanks very much Dan I saw that Red Stick Observation Tower in the background in some of the renderings. But I was not aware of the 200' height. Hmmm That would be great. My proposal for the observation tower was actually on the other side of the Miss. River Bridge; near the Old Municipal Dock that will be redeveloped near a ?possible minor league baseball (park)stadium. If people could not find the ball park they could just see The Red Stick Tower(330ft) and follow it. It could be (south) opposite side of downtown from the State Capitol to the north.

Well there proposal is better than nothing at all; I will be happy to see it come about.

[dan326]

Some more news on a piece of the Riverfront Plan sounds like some good stuff. :)

Riverfront development being eyed

The owner of a 36.3-acre tract of land on the Mississippi River, just north of Hollywood Casino, says he's working with developers who are looking at building residential/retail projects on the site. On Tuesday Pete Clements will update the Downtown Development District Commission on his plans. Clements says he signed a purchase agreement two years ago to buy the downtown site, which was being used as a limestone distribution yard. Now that the company has been relocated to West Baton Rouge Parish and wetlands permits have been issued, Clements says he can talk to developers about other uses. "We're working with quite a few people," he says. "Our plans will shape up after we see what sort of interest they have. This is not going to be a 'build it and they will come' situation." Some of the uses discussed for the land include building a planned unit development, or a mixed-use commercial/retail development or building high-rise apartments/condominiums. "This will not be developed over a short period, it will probably take two or three phases," Clements says. A master plan for the site is being done, and Clements says a timeline for developing the property should be ready in the next three to four months.

Edited March 9, 2007 by dan326

[richyb83]

Thanks for the breakdown there Dan Good to see this thread move back up the list too!!! That's cool they can now redevelop the area with the limestone yard moving to WBR. I was just saying last night's casino thread; wondering why Casino Rouge oops, now Hollywood Casino did not build an adjoining hotel. But this looks like a spread-out development with multiple buildings. It will surely be interesting to see what happens! Watch the domino-effect come on strong on the Riverfront

Hartley and Vey need to decide what they want to do with there block(giant parking lot) between Hilton and River Place.

[Trel-Ellis]

not to crush everyones hopes, but I just dont see a Riverfront Deck coming anytime soon. It just looks kinda unstable, and i think it takes away from the levee...just my opinion

[bobby255BR]

not to crush everyones hopes, but I just dont see a Riverfront Deck coming anytime soon. It just looks kinda unstable, and i think it takes away from the levee...just my opinion

No hopes crushed here. I'm not expecting it to be built over night, but I know that eventually it will get built or something similar to it. Baton Rouge is progressing right now and I feel that in order for it to continue, it needs to utilize something(the river) that other cities die to have.

[Trel-Ellis]

No hopes crushed here. I'm not expecting it to be built over night, but I know that eventually it will get built or something similar to it. Baton Rouge is progressing right now and I feel that in order for it to continue, it needs to utilize something(the river) that other cities die to have.

^ I agree with the progression part definately, and I am 100% with the new buildings downtown. But for some reason, and I guess its just the 3d rendering of the riverfront, the bottom of it looks very artificial and I think it would take away from the density view....but I could be wrong..

[brresident]

not to crush everyones hopes, but I just dont see a Riverfront Deck coming anytime soon. It just looks kinda unstable, and i think it takes away from the levee...just my opinion

I agree....I would have wanted something closer to the water. That thing looks like it is 50' in the air. It's going to look really ugly most of the year when the water is low.

I really think this is a bad plan just because of that. I would have wanted somethng like New Orleans has with a board walk, etc.

[elise]

I agree....I would have wanted something closer to the water. That thing looks like it is 50' in the air. It's going to look really ugly most of the year when the water is low.

I really think this is a bad plan just because of that. I would have wanted something like New Orleans has with a board walk, etc.

That's what I want too, something like the Riverwalk. The first thing I thought when I saw that thing was what would happen if a barge got loose and bam! I would much rather walk on solid ground next to the Mississippi River than walk on a platform dangling above it.

[Trel-Ellis]

That's what I want too, something like the Riverwalk. The first thing I thought when I saw that thing was what would happen if a barge got loose and bam! I would much rather walk on solid ground next to the Mississippi River than walk on a platform dangling above it.

Well they can build it if they want, but you won't find me on it...............well maybe once or twice,

but its just not appealing to me..

[dinner roll]

Any news on the Riverfront Master Plan? The Mayor's website stops at stage 4, "consensus." Any info on if/when bids will be solicited and when construction will begin? What about the proposed AAA baseball park, has there been any work on securing a team?

[richyb83]

This is what the website had to say.....

>The City of Baton Rouge is preparing for the first phase of implementation.

Work is currently underway developing the scope of work for phase one projects

- the design of the "Front Lawn" and the adjoining North Boulevard Town Square.

Final design of this phase will commence in 2007.

I am saying...

The "Front Lawn" is considered the green area around the Old State Capitol and to the fountains at the River Center. I can't remember where I saw the illustration?? Work has began on the black cast-iron fence around the Old Capitol. Don't know exact plans but fence has come down. This will be implemented(connect-to) the North Blvd. Town Square. And part of that is the new "state-of-the art" Courthouse should begin real soon

As far as the terraces(battures) paralleling the levee, that could be awhile before the Army Corps. of Engineers moves any dirt. Not sure what phase that is??

I went to the meeting last year; Louisville has had something similar at their riverfront... it's long process done in phases that has/will taken them 20-years. So I would expect this to be a long term project. It's a massive job.

No word on a minor-league baseball team. It's somewhere between doubtful and pipe dream IMO. LSU's nearby presents hinders this IMO. Minor-league baseball works well in suburban Round Rock TX, rather than Austin and nearby UT.

We started a BR Riverfront MasterPlan way down the list; it hasn't been active since April 4th.

Edited May 29, 2007 by richyb83