Baton Rouge Riverfront Plan

[greg225]

Years ago instead of putting the up levees near the riverfront, they could have build up the land with the dirty they used for the levees that would have been better for the riverfront. That would have giving Downtown more room to build on the riverfront. Chattanooga have a dam system something else we probably could have had other than the levees. 

[fla_tiger]

IMO.....Baton Rouge is taking a step in the right direction. The new entrance at Florida Street and River Road is attractive and a huge improvement over the railroad ties and gravel that previously existed. The city needs to continue to emphasize it's location on this important river.

Does anyone know if the tables and umbrellas are permanent? Am I the only one to recall a proposal showing a sculpture being located at this important vantage/entry point?

The leaning garbage cans would also look more attractive if they were leveled by placing them on concrete pads.

[greg225]

Baton Rouge riverfront property owner objects to suggestion area should be rezoned for non-industrial use           

At the height of the controversy last month over a barge cleaning facility proposed for a site along the river near LSU and a heavily populated subdivision, Metro Councilman John Delgado announced he would like to rezone the entire riverfront in Baton Rouge from the Iberville Parish line to beyond downtown to make it more attractive to development.

That idea didn’t sit well with some city leaders, including Mayor Kip Holden. Riverfront property owners aren’t happy about it either.

“We don’t think it’s a good idea,” says Andy McKinney, whose family owns nearly a mile of industrially zoned property along the riverfront between the Water Campus site and LSU and operates a barge company there. “We wouldn’t go for something like that. We’d oppose it.”

The McKinney property, home to McKinney Fleet and Barge Service, has been zoned M2, or heavy industrial, for as long as anyone can remember, and the family has operated its company there for decades. He says industrial activity along the riverfront is vital to the area’s economy.

“The port of Baton Rouge depends on this property staying industrial to keep it viable,” he says. “They need to have a place to store barges and provide jobs for the city of Baton Rouge.”

Delgado says his previous comments have been misinterpreted and what he hopes to do is create a framework for commercial development along the entire riverfront—not just downtown. Ideally, he would like to create an overlay district with the same special zoning designation used downtown—C5—which allows for a variety of commercial uses.

“It would allow restaurants, bars, hotels and residential,” Delgado says. “All the things we see downtown would be allowed but not industrial use.”

Property owners like McKinney, whose land is zoned industrial, would be grandfathered in under Delgado’s plan. Property owners farther south down the river, whose property is zoned rural, would be “upzoned” or included in the new overlay district.

“This isn’t going to happen overnight,” says Delgado. “But the key is to create a framework to attract development.”

Delgado says he is set to meet Wednesday with Planning Director Frank Duke to discuss zoning in the area and his ideas.

—Stephanie Riegel       https://www.businessreport.com/article/baton-rouge-riverfront-property-owner-objects-suggestion-area-rezoned-non-industrial-use

[richyb83]

A MESSAGE FROM THE DDD IDA Merit AWARD River Road: Public spaces The Downtown Development District, in conjunction with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish, has received the Award of Merit from the International Downtown Association for the transformation of River Road into a 'complete street.' The award was announced at its annual conference in San Francisco today. This is the eighth year in a row that the International Downtown Association has recognized the DDD's leadership and management in the development of Downtown Baton Rouge's public spaces. Experience River Road's transformation into a tree lined 'complete street,' enjoy the sweeping views of the Mississippi River at the Florida Riverfront Access Point, and become part of the daily social gatherings happening along this historic corridor! Press Release >> Slideshow >>

[cajun]

Very cool.  With the IBM facility and the new residential projects going up there, this was needed.  

[greg225]

Design work on Baton Rouge city dock under way    

A joint venture of GraceHebert Architects and global engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol is beginning the planning and design work of an expansion to the city dock, a process that will take at least nine months to complete.

The city-parish issued a request for proposals earlier this year and the joint venture of the two firms was selected in August for the $300,000 project.

“They’re doing due diligence before they start designing so they’ve been meeting with a lot of operators, studying the existing structure, understanding the existing boats and planning for the future,” says Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District. “We’re very excited about this. It opens up a whole new industry of tourism along the river.”

The city is expanding the city dock to accommodate more riverboats that will be stopping in Baton Rouge. Currently, about 84 riverboats will stop in Baton Rouge this year. That number is expected to increase to more than 100 in 2017, when Viking River Cruises initiates voyages along the Mississippi River.

The existing dock can only accommodate a single vessel at a time. The expanded dock, however, will be able to accommodate at least two vessels. In contrast to the existing pedestal dock, which ramps down to the water, the new dock will be a floating structure that runs parallel to the levee, says Adam Fishbein, a partner with GraceHebert.

“At a minimum, it will support two riverboats at a time and maybe three at some point,” Fishbein says. “We’re planning for future expansion if need be.”

Construction on the new dock could begin as soon as next summer and be completed by 2017.  https://www.businessreport.com/article/design-work-baton-rouge-city-dock-way

[greg225]

Interest in riverfront rezoning loses steam, though planning director and BREC hope to create new parks zoning district        

When controversy erupted last summer over a proposed barge cleaning facility on River Road that was to be located near a residential neighborhood and a BREC park, Planning Director Frank Duke suggested the city-parish should reexamine the zoning all along the riverfront, most of which is M2, or heavy industrial. But more than four months later, no changes have been proposed by the Metro Council or property owners in the area.

“I think it should be done but I don’t get to make that change,” Duke says. “That call would have to be done by either the Metro Council or the property owners. I’ve done all that I can do, which is to identify the issue.”

One neighborhood in particular, College Park, sits within the industrially zoned area. Houses there were developed before current zoning regulations, adopted in the 1980s, prohibited residential development in areas zoned industrial. It’s a problem that needs to be corrected, not in the least because having houses in an M2 area constitutes what is known as a nonconforming use. If any of the houses burned, for instance, or if residents needed to get a permit to rebuild or renovate they would not be able to because of the zoning restrictions.

“It needs to be corrected,” Duke says. “But if the property owners and council members are not bothered by it, oh well.”

Another potential trouble spot along the riverfront is BREC’s Farr Park Equestrian Center, which sits across from where the proposed barge cleaning facility was to have been located. It, too, is in an industrially zoned area. Duke is hoping to create a new zoning district that would specifically apply to parks in the city-parish—not only Farr Park but all BREC parks. He has met with BREC Superintendent Carolyn McKnight to discuss the new zoning district and her staff is working on drafting the language.

“We have to identify what kind of uses are appropriate for parks and make sure and include that because if you don’t include it it is automatically excluded,” Duke says. “It’s not a simple matter and it takes time. Her staff is working on it—the ball is in their court.”

Duke says he doesn’t have a time frame for when the new parks zoning district might be ready to present to the Planning Commission and Metro Council for approval.   https://www.businessreport.com/article/interest-riverfront-rezoning-loses-steam-though-planning-director-brec-hope-create-new-parks-zoning-district

[greg225]

Winning Rotary Club Centennial Project will allow people to sing with the Mississippi River      

Po Shu Wang and the Living Lenses team have been selected to construct the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge’s Centennial Project along the intersection of Florida Boulevard and River Road in downtown Baton Rouge after wowing the selection committee with a piece allows people to sing with the Mississippi River.

The stainless steel art piece will incorporate three large spheres, with the largest one in the middle surrounded by two rings coming out of the ground. The tallest ring stands at about 14-feet tall.

Inside the steel will be antennas and receivers that will connect with underwater sensors to provide data into a computer that will choreograph lights and sounds in the middle sphere and allow people to sing with the river.

In his proposal presentation to the committee, Wang says working on the Mississippi River is the opportunity of a lifetime. Upon seeing the river in person, he says he was overcome with a “desire to focus on the intimate, to create a work that will provide you and visitors with a tangible way of having a real duet with the river.”

Downtown Development District head Davis Rhorer, who sits on the committee that chose Wang, says he envisions the sculpture as something people will visit several times because they can connect with the river.

“You can literally sing with the river,” Rhorer says.

The project will be unveiled in 2018 as part of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge’s Centennial Celebration. Wang will be awarded $400,000 to bring his vision to life. The club was looking for a piece that made a visual statement and reflected the club’s service to Baton Rouge.

The other finalists were Thomas Says, and Linda Covit and Jeffrey Carbo.

See the full proposal.    https://www.businessreport.com/article/winning-rotary-club-centennial-project-will-allow-people-sing-mississippi-river      

[dan326]

I like the idea but I'm not so sure about the execution...I hate to be negative but it makes me think of a poor man's Chicago Cloud Gate.

[richyb83]

Ha ha....Was thinking (mild version) of Cloud Gate in Chicago too when first seeing this!.

Looks like this could potentially be an eye-catching structure at the foot of BR's major east-west thoroughfare Florida Street....add the Crest and Water Campus Dock...& the riverfront area could have a lil' flair

[Antrell Williams]

Does Cloud gate have an interaction factor to it? Other than taking pictures? 

I can see the similarities but it's still pretty cool.

[dan326]

53 minutes ago, Antrell Williams said:

Does Cloud gate have an interaction factor to it? Other than taking pictures? 

I can see the similarities but it's still pretty cool.

Yeah I like that it's interactive, I was referring to the shape of it. I don't think Cloud  is  interactive.

[Antrell Williams]

Excited to see this installed!

[Mr. Burnham]

On 12/2/2015 at 6:33 PM, dan326 said:

I like the idea but I'm not so sure about the execution...I hate to be negative but it makes me think of a poor man's Chicago Cloud Gate.

That was my first thought too...looks a lot like the Bean mixed with Toronto's International Terminal's entrance sculpture...don't like the random balls at either side.

On 12/3/2015 at 10:31 PM, dan326 said:

Yeah I like that it's interactive, I was referring to the shape of it. I don't think Cloud  is  interactive.

No, it's just really cool. 

The Face Sculpture is though...I love Millennium Park, probably one of the best public spaces in the nation, I wish we could build something similar here in BR.

Face Sculpture, Millennium Park, Chicago 

 

[richyb83]

A MESSAGE FROM THE DDD apa great places AWARD River Road improvements The Downtown Development District, in conjunction with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish, has received the Great Places Award from the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association for the transformation of River Road into a 'complete street.' The award was accepted yesterday by Davis Rhorer, Executive Director of the Downtown Development District & Whitney Cooper, Development Project Director at the annual conference in Houma, La. The true success of River Road is reflected in the thousands of people that can be seen sharing opportunities and enjoying the spectacular, sweeping views of the Mississippi River. The success of River Road is made possible by those that support our mission to enabling Downtown Baton Rouge to grow and develop into an exciting place to live, work, and play. We are extremely grateful to Mayor President "Kip" Holden, the Metropolitan Council, the Department of Public Works, and the designers that provided valuable insight and project direction. Please see the links below for more about the project. Press Release >> Slideshow >>

[richyb83]

COMING SOON :  BATON ROUGE RIVERFRONT PLAZA RENOVATIONS

Planning is underway for a makeover of the downtown Riverfront Plaza, the recreational space along the levee directly across from the Raising Cane’s River Center.

The renovation will include new decorative and security lighting, landscaping and the installation of a sound system for the small, underutilized amphitheater in the plaza.

“The vision is to create another attraction on the river, like we have at the LASM and the U.S.S. Kidd,” says Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer. “I think it’s going to be a great environment for people.”

Jeffrey Carbo Landscape Architects is currently designing the upgrades for the plaza, which will include planting grasses and seasonal flowers around existing water fountains to create a water garden effect.
The plaza will also have a levee green, where recreational users can play soccer, for instance, and the updated levee amphitheater, which many people don’t even realize exists, Rhorer says.

“We really need to use the space on the riverfront because there has been so much demand for the use of Town Square,” he says. “So we need to find some relief for that.”

Rhorer hopes the design phase will be completed by the end of the summer so the project can be put out to bid this fall and completed by next April.

The upgrades to the Riverfront Plaza dovetails with another nearby riverfront project—the installation of shade sail structures at the end of the dock. The $280,000 project, also part of the Riverfront Master Plan, will provide much-needed shade along the iconic dock, frequented by river cruise ships.

Construction on the shade sails, which were designed by Post Architects, will begin this summer and should be completed by August.

“It will create a much nicer environment on the riverfront,” Rhorer says. “With the boats we have coming here, it’s important to have something really memorable. This is the first and last impression people will have of the city.”

https://www.businessreport.com/article/coming-soon-renovations-downtowns-riverfront-plaza-planning-underway-makeover-downtown-riverfront-plaza-recreational-space-along-levee-directly-across-ra

 

Edited May 31, 2017 by richyb83

[dan326]

The renderings look nice.

[Mr. Burnham]

On 5/31/2017 at 7:17 AM, dan326 said:

The renderings look nice.

Yes it does.

[richyb83]

Will have to check it out...bet it looks cool at night from atop the Bridge

Throwing Shade

Downtown’s paper clip statues on the Mississippi River have a new look. Builders installed new shade structures atop the dock, an effort from the Downtown Development District to make it easier for people to enjoy the area during the day. The district also plans to add colored LED lights that will illuminate the semi-transparent shade structures and will be “prominent” from the Mississippi River Bridge. The DDD hopes the new project will attract more events to the area.

https://www.businessreport.com/article/news-roundup-lsus-pennington-gets-6-7-million-study-health-troops-downtown-landmark-new-look-health-insurers-exacerbating-opioid-epidemic

[richyb83]

Downtown Event

Fantastic Friday of fun Downtown will be abuzz with six big events! Come be a part of the fun and choose from more than six events this Friday! We also welcome the inaugural docking of the American Duchess riverboat on Friday. Check out the boat and see the new shade sails installed this week on the Riverfront dock! Phase two of dock improvements will include lighting the sails in various colors. The dock now host over 70 different stops from various riverboats with visitors from all over the world annually. Take a look at the Friday night special events below and make it a full weekend with dinner and/or staying in a downtown hotel!

[dan326]

You can tell I'm looking for anything to be excited about. I looked at the picture and thought " Wow, they're going to have a flying ship" lol! The shades look nice though.

[richyb83]

This is the riverfront park where Audubon Alive! was to be built.  My as well do something nice with it! Would have posted in that Topic thread(started in 08')...but it was " Archived " on the back pages....Hard to believe Audubon Institute had an BIG announcement coming 10 years ago.

This place has some potential...dress it up some; already has two nice ponds on the property.  MAYBE...just maybe Audubon Alive! OR something similar could be built there.  Sounds like article didn't rule out something going up there in the future.

Downtown officials: Proposed park with 'wow' factor would include trails, fishing ponds

The head of the Downtown Development District wants to turn a 20-acre site across River Road from the Pentagon Barracks into a park, with trails and fishing ponds

Since 1990, there has been discussion about developing the state-owned land, with plans to build boardwalks on the site. Most recently in 2008 and 2009 voters rejected capital improvement plans that would have helped fund Audubon Alive, a nature-themed tourist attraction that would have cost more than $225 million to build. But Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, said the proposed DeSoto Park would be a modest development that would cost a couple of hundred thousand dollars for trails and signs.

"You can enter from North Street and you can enjoy an authentic Louisiana attraction," Rhorer told the Press Club of Baton Rouge Monday. Plans are to have a one mile trail for hiking, biking and walking, install signs identifying the plants and trees that are on the land and to stock fish in the pits that were created by the excavation of fill material

The DDD plans to apply for a $100,000 recreational trails grant from the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to help cover the cost of installing signs and building trails. "I would love to see a role for BREC here," said Rhorer. He said BREC Superintendent Carolyn McKnight has expressed interest in the idea. Other potential sources of funding could come from local nature and bicycling organizations.

"This is an opportunity for an incredible attraction in a downtown area that would really just wow people," he said. "You get to see the Mississippi River in its natural state."

Rhorer said he's waiting to hear back from the state to determine a timeline for developing the park. He said the park wouldn't preclude any future development on the site. "If there's some sort of huge project down the road they want to do, they can still do it," he said.

http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_96a8da74-bdb1-11e7-96b4-ab175a372178.html

https://www.businessreport.com/article/take-hike-nature-park-proposed-downtown-baton-rouge

Edited October 31, 2017 by richyb83

[dan326]

I really like this idea and glad it doesn't preclude any future development.

 It's amazing to read all the negative comments. They're really being petty over the city spending a few thousand dollars on a beautification project. 

[Antrell Williams]

I like it. Downtown needs greenspace and those comments are very telling.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[cajun]

About time they did something with that plot of land.