Denham Springs & Livingston Parish

[twstdndmntd]

wow thats a good point! Gladly it seems west baton rouge is finally getting a great deal i would say of growth. Starting with the walmart shopping center, then River place TND (think thats the name) and if the movie studio gets built there as propsed, things will be crackin there.

I think it's wonderful that WBR is finally getting some much needed growth. My concern is traffic for them to have to cross that river. Let's face it the New Bridge is very inadequate!!! I really wish we had some room next to it to add a 2nd bridge, kind like the Cresent City Connection in NOLA. I say one bridge could be used to go east and the other to go west, or one could be used to go to Port Allen, etc... and the other could be used to continue going west to Lafayette, etc......

[BRPJ]

I think it's wonderful that WBR is finally getting some much needed growth. My concern is traffic for them to have to cross that river. Let's face it the New Bridge is very inadequate!!! I really wish we had some room next to it to add a 2nd bridge, kind like the Cresent City Connection in NOLA. I say one bridge could be used to go east and the other to go west, or one could be used to go to Port Allen, etc... and the other could be used to continue going west to Lafayette, etc......

Thats a great idea. The bridge is not enough. And especially what you drive into coming from WBR into EBR. Thats the worst place on the whole 1-10

[twstdndmntd]

Thats a great idea. The bridge is not enough. And especially what you drive into coming from WBR into EBR. Thats the worst place on the whole 1-10

OH it really is, I really think the bridge is much worse than that 10/12 junction at rush hour. I think alot of the problem with the bridge is it's configuration. The way it has that big curve on the EBR side. What exactly were they thinking with that. Not to mention when you are going east bound, you have 2 lanes that have to merge into 1 right in the curve. They should have at least had the 2 lanes continue out a little further. I say that 2nd lane shouldn't end until at least Acadian.

[BRPJ]

OH it really is, I really think the bridge is much worse than that 10/12 junction at rush hour. I think alot of the problem with the bridge is it's configuration. The way it has that big curve on the EBR side. What exactly were they thinking with that. Not to mention when you are going east bound, you have 2 lanes that have to merge into 1 right in the curve. They should have at least had the 2 lanes continue out a little further. I say that 2nd lane shouldn't end until at least Acadian.

The I-10/I-110 split is the worst. I think for a area like that, you have to build some really big in order to alleviate the traffic and allow multiple lanes to flow in all directions. We had a big problem like that in Dallas where 635 and 75 meets. 75 was like 4 lanes, then reduced to 2 lanes just to cross under 635 and they built this

I don't think we need one that mega, but the intersection definitely could use one.

Edited January 28, 2008 by BRPJ

[richyb83]

Ha ha this is a Livingston Parish thread; they can't take credit for something like this

A similar problem for morning rush-hour traffic on I-12 westbound from the 3 lanes down to just one-lane over-around the flyover to I-10 southeast.

What's the best thread to continue this topic??

[dan326]

Road Rants

[cajun]

The I-10/I-110 split is the worst. I think for a area like that, you have to build some really big in order to alleviate the traffic and allow multiple lanes to flow in all directions. We had a big problem like that in Dallas where 635 and 75 meets. 75 was like 4 lanes, then reduced to 2 lanes just to cross under 635 and they built this

I don't think we need one that mega, but the intersection definitely could use one.

The problem: Not only is 10-110 a T intersection, but it's a twisted one at that. The main section (1-10) merges onto the secondary spur road (110).

I've thought about it.....and there is no way to do that intersection the right way without buying out some houses.

[all2neat]

The problem: Not only is 10-110 a T intersection, but it's a twisted one at that. The main section (1-10) merges onto the secondary spur road (110).

I've thought about it.....and there is no way to do that intersection the right way without buying out some houses.

The houses that are down there can't be that valuable. It's not the greatest location to live (next to a freeway). I'm sure someone would be stuburon and not want to move but, I'm guessing a lot wouldn't mind the notion of getting away from the freeway. We could take out the Washington St. Exit. It would do a couple things for us. 1) it would take away those trying to merge across the whole road from 110. It would I think give us the room to extend the freeway and that exit only lane into the Dalrymple exit lane. I think that would do wonders with minimal home buy-outs... Now that I think about this some more.. It would be best to do it right and just buy out the homes and redo the intersection and be done with it.

[BRPJ]

The houses that are down there can't be that valuable. It's not the greatest location to live (next to a freeway). I'm sure someone would be stuburon and not want to move but, I'm guessing a lot wouldn't mind the notion of getting away from the freeway. We could take out the Washington St. Exit. It would do a couple things for us. 1) it would take away those trying to merge across the whole road from 110. It would I think give us the room to extend the freeway and that exit only lane into the Dalrymple exit lane. I think that would do wonders with minimal home buy-outs... Now that I think about this some more.. It would be best to do it right and just buy out the homes and redo the intersection and be done with it.

That section of 1-10 is the biggest embarassment for louisiana highways. When you think of the magnitude of traffic traveling from texas towards new orleans, and they come in our city and barely can merge with one measly lane. I think its worth knocking down a few houses for. sorry to be so off topic. all of my future comments on this topic will be posted in road rants

Edited February 3, 2008 by BRPJ

[richyb83]

BTW Bass Pro had it's grand opening yesterday. That place looks huge from I-12! I like how they extended the exit-lanes off the I-12/ Range Ave. interchange.

Edited February 7, 2008 by richyb83

[dimebag1980]

BTW Bass Pro had it's grand opening yesterday. That place looks huge from I-12! I like how they extended the exit-lanes off the I-12/ Range Ave. interchange.

Congrats! Ours looks huge from Shreveport, and yours is larger so I can only imagine.

Now for me to plan my visit... hopefully soon. Got too many trips coming up and waaay too much work to get done, but I'd like to take a trip down there.

[richyb83]

Thanks Brian Yes indeed Brian! The only Bass Pro I have ever been to was in Bossier City, and it was very impressive. Perfect location off I-20 and the Red River!

What's crazy is Cabela's is nearby in Gonzales(Ascension Parish); so say if you were headed to NOLA to could visit Bass Pro on I-12; and head back to I-10 and hit Cabela's???

My brother works for the State and had to stop in Shreveport. He's says when viewing yall's Downtown; Shreveport has a bigger city feel than BR. And the high-rise hotel casino's only further added to that. He say's BR has too many taller buildings scattered around the city and not condensed like Shreveport. + no taller hotel than 11-stories downtown in BR.

Edited February 7, 2008 by richyb83

[dimebag1980]

Thanks Brian Yes indeed Brian! The only Bass Pro I have ever been to was in Bossier City, and it was very impressive. Perfect location off I-20 and the Red River!

What's crazy is Cabela's is nearby in Gonzales(Ascension Parish); so say if you were headed to NOLA to could visit Bass Pro on I-12; and head back to I-10 and hit Cabela's???

My brother works for the State and had to stop in Shreveport. He's says when viewing yall's Downtown; Shreveport has a bigger city feel than BR. And the high-rise hotel casino's only further added to that. He say's BR has too many taller buildings scattered around the city and not condensed like Shreveport. + no taller hotel than 11-stories downtown in BR.

I'll be honest, as far as the skyline goes ... that's the only area Shreveport has a bigger city feel to me than Baton Rouge. Something about driving around Baton Rouge, it feels much larger than it is. Here, we've barely gotten the state to widen some of our roads to 6 lanes. Granted we do have a lot of freeways and flyovers for a city our size, outside of the big spaghetti junctions Shreveport feels much smaller to me than Baton Rouge (and it is, so maybe that's why lol.)

But yeah Baton Rouge needs their buildings downtown... then they will have that "big city" package complete. Seriously... those suburban office towers make Baton Rouge feel large, but downtown doesn't. Once downtown fills in, that will change.

[twstdndmntd]

That's funny that the comment came up about BR's towers downtown not being condensed closer together. We were in Shreveport last wknd and I made the comment how I like the fact that Shreveport's downtown is clustered together. Even if we could just fill in around One American Plaza and The Chase Towers it would look a little more "clustered".

[dimebag1980]

That's funny that the comment came up about BR's towers downtown not being condensed closer together. We were in Shreveport last wknd and I made the comment how I like the fact that Shreveport's downtown is clustered together. Even if we could just fill in around One American Plaza and The Chase Towers it would look a little more "clustered".

I don't know if they were intentionally building the towers in downtown Baton Rouge more spread out hoping it would fill in and be a wider, taller skyline like that of Little Rock or what, but just a little more infill would be a big improvement. I honestly think Baton Rouge is in the middle of yet another renaissance and can see this happening in the near future.

Not sure why you were up this way, but I hope you had a good time. Anytime someone from this forum comes up this way, if you want someone to show you around, just give me a shout. I'd gladly do it... just as I believe many of you would do the same for me down there.

[brresident]

I passed through Shreveport on my way to Little Rock a couple of months ago. Shreveport looks kind of small until you hit downtown with all the riverboats and hotels.

Little Rock is something else. I love that town...so much more to do than you'd think.

Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Nashville and Baton Rouge might be my favorite cities that I've spent a lot of time in.

I never much liked Houston or Atlanta.

[twstdndmntd]

I don't know if they were intentionally building the towers in downtown Baton Rouge more spread out hoping it would fill in and be a wider, taller skyline like that of Little Rock or what, but just a little more infill would be a big improvement. I honestly think Baton Rouge is in the middle of yet another renaissance and can see this happening in the near future.

Not sure why you were up this way, but I hope you had a good time. Anytime someone from this forum comes up this way, if you want someone to show you around, just give me a shout. I'd gladly do it... just as I believe many of you would do the same for me down there.

We were up there for a concert. I do agree that the downtown area of SBC is the only area that feels like a city. We felt very out of place there. It's a very country city. No offense. I do really wish we had casino hotel towers along with our casino's downtown. I think it would look awesome coming across the bridge and seeing them all lit up like Shreveport's. It would give downtown BR more of a "happening" place to be look. LOL

[brresident]

I heard that the "Disney" interest is for a movie studio and not a theme park.

Anyone have any info on this or know somone in the loop?

2000 acers is one helluva movie studio.

[coolneal]

I heard that the "Disney" interest is for a movie studio and not a theme park.

Anyone have any info on this or know Someone in the loop?

2000 acers is one helluva movie studio.

What I was told was that they are building a Movie studio first and will be moving Pix production here and some sets for ABC. They will also open a smaller park at a later time. They are also trying to purchase some additional land (1000-2000) The park will come later, I assume they will use the tax savings to build the park. This info was given to me from someone on who is helping with Loc. the Additional land.

[byrde]

I've also heard through the grapevine that it will be a movie studio and not a theme park.

[richyb83]

Just how many movie studio's does the BR Metro Region need?? I hope the don't over build?? BR already has the Celtic Media Centre near I-12/Airline; Two more in BR are planned; La Vie and the one just announced in the old building near I-110 and Choctaw Ave. Then WBR could have La.Studio City the largest of them all??

[cajun]

Just how many movie studio's does the BR Metro Region need?? I hope the don't over build?? BR already has the Celtic Media Centre near I-12/Airline; Two more in BR are planned; La Vie and the one just announced in the old building near I-110 and Choctaw Ave. Then WBR could have La.Studio City the largest of them all??

I am not very knoledgeable about this kind of industry, but I didn't think there was regional competition....meaning I didn't think that you could overbuild. They can shoot a movie in Australia and do the final cuts in Baton Rouge or they can write animated movies at Disneyland in California and bring everyone to BR for the sound recordings....so the movies that are filmed here are only half the story of what is going on in a studio, which can be getting business from across the globe. You can shoot some TV shows entirely in-house, like "Friends" or some of those Disney shows but at the same time have movies that need their own infrastructure to be shot both in house or out in the field....or you can shoot a movie in BR (The Reaping, Everybody's All American, Dukes of Hazzard) or overseas (The Matrix) but both could be doing final cuts or editing in Baton Rouge long after the artist have shot their pieces and the actors go home. We have the production business, now let's get the pre and post production.

Anyways, that's my view on the whole thing. All this combined with Disney opening a massive studio here is going to go a long way towards establishing Louisiana as a major player. You never know.....you might run into Andy Garcia or Ashley Judd one day at the Mall of Louisiana.

Given our music background (country, cajun, and hip hop) we should probably go after sound studios, too.....but I think those are already here.

Edited February 18, 2008 by cajun

[coolneal]

This report from Livingston Parish News is about the Loop, but if you look at a commit from Mike Grimmer:

"Grimmer said Monday there is truth to the rumor that Disney is seriously considering a theme park in Livingston Parish, but cautioned that no decisions have been made yet."

www.livingstonparishnews.com/articles/2008/03/20/full_edition/news/01loop.txt

[dan326]

Yay! I hope it true. This could really put us on the map! Those official better not blow it.

Edited March 22, 2008 by dan326

[dan326]

NOOO!!!

"Is Juban Crossing on Hold?The Juban Crossing shopping center/TND project in Livingston Parish might be a casualty because of the weak national economy. An official with Jim Wilson and Associates, the Alabama shopping mall company that was co-developing the center at Interstate 12 and Juban Road, says the company isn't actively working on Juban Crossing. The official doesn't know if the deal is "totally dead" or "just on life support," and the Wilsons were unavailable for comment. Major retailers have been cutting back on the number of store openings because of the slumping economy, and getting money to build multimillion dollar shopping centers has been difficult. Officials with Creekstone Companies, which joined with Wilson for Juban Crossing, have not returned repeated phone calls. Jim Wilson and Associates developed the Mall of Louisiana, and Creekstone developed Towne Center at Cedar Lodge. Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer says Juban Crossing is "still hot and still on track". Grimmer says he and Creekstone officials met with some big box retailers a few days ago to talk about space in the center. But Grimmer says he thinks Wilson has pulled out of the deal. Juban Crossing was announced in December 2006, and officials said construction would begin in summer 2007. The center was to include more than 1.2 million square feet of retail space and more than 1,000 homes. "

Edited March 24, 2008 by dan326