River Place Condominiums

[itsjustme3]

I went to lunch with a friend who is familiar with the market study I mentioned earlier. I was incorrect when I said 1000 units are desired downtown, its actually 1200 units.

I desire a crime free Baton Rouge. Doesn't mean it will happen though. I can wish it though.

If it were profitable then developers would be doing it. Over a span of 5-10 years? Sure. But anytime soon? No.

[cajun]

I haven't personally seen the study, so I can not verify many of those questions but I think we already know the answers to many of them. I know they are trying to keep costs and rents low but they are at least starting at 1000, minimum, which isnt unreasonable when compared apartment developments on Corporate. Also, for example, Normal Chenvert's development on Main Street, is using HUD Financing. But that is because banks aren't willing to lend, even though there is demand, so developers are finding other sources to fund their developments.

Cool.

I'm very weary of HUD housing. Seems like the last thing you want in an area that you are trying to keep desirable.

$1000 a month is not going to work for RiverPlace....but it will for some other properties.

[buckett5425]

I desire a crime free Baton Rouge. Doesn't mean it will happen though. I can wish it though.

If it were profitable then developers would be doing it. Over a span of 5-10 years? Sure. But anytime soon? No.

Developers are doing it. The Elysian(under construction), Capitol Lofts(stalled due to the HPC), Riverplace, the place on Main(currently under construction). If the economy were in better shape we'd be seeing more activity and at a faster pace. Not to mention the developments occurring around downtown, that will offer the same amenities at a lower cost, River District, River Park, new development on North Blvd. I could go on, as I have in the past before, but I think you get the idea.

[itsjustme3]

Developers are doing it. The Elysian(under construction), Capitol Lofts(stalled due to the HPC), Riverplace, the place on Main(currently under construction). If the economy were in better shape we'd be seeing more activity and at a faster pace. Not to mention the developments occurring around downtown, that will offer the same amenities at a lower cost, River District, River Park, new development on North Blvd. I could go on, as I have in the past before, but I think you get the idea.

Not really. In the past when the economy was good there wasn't a fast pace to build 1000 units downtown. But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) gone on and on why there isn't and won't anytime soon, but you get the idea.

[Antrell Williams]

Not really. In the past when the economy was good there wasn't a fast pace to build 1000 units downtown. But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) gone on and on why there isn't and won't anytime soon, but you get the idea.

Ha! Ha! You mean when downtown was a place to be ashamed of? Or when downtown was alive back in the 50s?

But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) go on and on, about how wrong you are about half of the things you say or the hatred you have for downtown itself, but you get the idea.

[itsjustme3]

Ha! Ha! You mean when downtown was a place to be ashamed of? Or when downtown was alive back in the 50s?

But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) go on and on, about how wrong you are about half of the things you say or the hatred you have for downtown itself, but you get the idea.

looks like someones having a bad day.

[cajun]

Not really. In the past when the economy was good there wasn't a fast pace to build 1000 units downtown. But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) gone on and on why there isn't and won't anytime soon, but you get the idea.

Downtown was still recovering from the 1980s blight until about 5 years ago.

[Antrell Williams]

looks like someones having a bad day.

You seem fine to me, never addressing my posts as usual.

[buckett5425]

Not really. In the past when the economy was good there wasn't a fast pace to build 1000 units downtown. But hey, whatever makes you feel better. I could (and have) gone on and on why there isn't and won't anytime soon, but you get the idea.

Actually, I would like to hear your ideas. It would make me feel better.

[oneman83]

Any update on the proposed "New RiverPlace" development? Any renderings? I would love to see downtown B.R. with some color to its skyline, or some lights or something..

[richyb83]

Some new renderings please

Traigle joins Preis as new partner in long-planned River Place project

Richard Preis has a new partner in his long-stalled, downtown real estate project, River Place. Local investor, businessman and community activist Joe Traigle acquired an ownership interest in the 1.6-acre Lafayette Street property earlier this summer. "Joe is a visionary, and he shares the same enthusiasm that I do for downtown," says Preis. Though he declines to discuss specifics of the deal or who initiated the partnership, Traigle says he is a 50-50 partner in the deal and that he and Preis "believe the future of downtown is very bright and want to bring a project to downtown that will be a positive addition to that future." Since acquiring the former Lafayette Hotel and tearing it down nearly eight years ago, Preis has been trying to put an upscale residential development on the site. But Hurricane Katrina drove up construction costs, then the real estate market crashed in 2008, and "credit markets were difficult," he says. Still, Preis is doggedly optimistic about the future of the project, noting that naysayers were skeptical about his odds of developing the Hampton Inn downtown, his latest project, which will open early next year across the street from the River Place property. "That's another deal they said would never get done," Preis says. "All it takes is time and money."

http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120828/BUSINESSREPORT0112/120829766/-1/daily-reportAM

[dan326]

This sounds interesting, maybe we'll see something by the end of the year??

[oneman83]

Any new information available on RiverPlace??

[Antrell Williams]

We're waiting on Buckett's update.

[richyb83]

While we wait....Here is a refresher.....for Baton Rouge's first proposed "Vertical Neighborhood"

River Place original 23-story proposal

2nd proposal...two towers... 27 & 17-stories

The 3rd proposal...& Tallest at 36-floors...a few council-members wanted to know "why so tall"?

Then a 4th proposal...a little downsized; This was the last rendering I have seen...the 30-story Condotel

Had to get this on Top of New page

While we wait....Here is a refresher.....for Baton Rouge's first proposed "Vertical Neighborhood"

River Place original 23-story proposal

2nd proposal...two towers... 27 & 17-stories

The 3rd proposal...& Tallest at 36-floors...a few council-members wanted to know "why so tall"?

Then a 4th proposal...a little downsized; This was the last rendering I have seen...the 30-story Condotel

[richyb83]

*Had to get this on Top of New Page

While we wait....Here is a refresher.....for Baton Rouge's first proposed "Vertical Neighborhood"

River Place original 23-story proposal

2nd proposal...two towers... 27 & 17-stories

The 3rd proposal...& Tallest at 36-floors...a few council-members wanted to know "why so tall"?

Then a 4th proposal...a little downsized; This was the last rendering I have seen...the 30-story Condotel

[Antrell Williams]

The third design is by far my favorite. What about y'all?

[cajun]

They all look nice. I don't expect any of them to be too close to the final design.

I also would not expect anyone professionally involved in the project to post about it and risk their job.

[Antrell Williams]

That's why Buckett hasn't posted about it yet.

[dan326]

Yeah, I like the 3rd one too. The firstabd the last lokvtoo much like beachside condos.

[cajun]

The original rendering seems to be the largest.

[SUSAstudent]

I actually like the final rendering actually. The third one is nice, but the balconies make it look too condo-ish. I mean that's what it is, but I expect a little more than a typical condo tower look when this will in fact be perhaps the city's tallest building.

[richyb83]

What's your opinion on this design?? River Place would be a little sleeker(less boxy); more along the lines of a cell-phone....

While i do not expect whatever becomes of River Place to be 30+...36-floors rivaling the State Capitol in height...i would hope it would be at least 23-stories like the original....close to the height of One American Place. This project on this strip of land doesn't seem feasible if it's not going to be vertical....

This is a rendering of the Skyhouse Apartments going up in Orlando FL...a sleeker version of this would be nice!

[Antrell Williams]

I kind of dig it, although I don't believe it will age very well and I wouldn't want it to be such a tall building in our skyline with that design.

[cajun]

I actually like the final rendering actually. The third one is nice, but the balconies make it look too condo-ish. I mean that's what it is, but I expect a little more than a typical condo tower look when this will in fact be perhaps the city's tallest building.

I'd like it to be a more sleek design as well....but I can't imagine owning a condo on a higher floor and not have a fairly large balcony.