North Boulevard Town Square

[itsjustme3]

Are you comparing the areas of Bluebonnet, Seigen and Jones Creek to the crime ridden areas of north Baton Rouge?

[dan326]

I am aware of the crime stats, but the areas that the people who are so afraid of crime aren't the areas were they would most likely be living in or visiting except to go to the airport, thus my statement is reasonable: if you don't engage in illegal activity or hang around certain hotspots you'll be fine.

Edited February 18, 2011 by dan326

[itsjustme3]

True, but the high crime stats do hurt the reputation of baton rouge, AND those people are correct BECAUSE there is a huge crime problem in the area to the NORTH of BR.

[Antrell Williams]

Are you comparing the areas of Bluebonnet, Seigen and Jones Creek to the crime ridden areas of north Baton Rouge?

No, I think its funny how you "humorously" disagree that BR isn't a war-zone. Only certain areas are infected with crime, if you stay out of those areas, you'll be fine.

[richyb83]

From the DDD...

Pardon our Progress

Alternative pedestrian routes during North Boulevard Town Square construction

As you may have noticed, construction of North Boulevard Town Square is well under way. For your convenience, special signage is posted around the construction site identifying appropriate pedestrian crossings for visitors to the Arts and Entertainment District, 19th JDC, City Hall, the River Center Campus, and other Downtown attractions. Below is a map showing the intended circulation routes in red.

North Boulevard Town Square will be the first project to be implemented from our Riverfront Master Plan.

[richyb83]

[richyb83]

A Greener Downtown

Town Square ahead of schedule...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/A-greener-downtown.html

*Advocate photo

[Antrell Williams]

Looking good, appears larger there than in renderings.

[richyb83]

Yeah..it's coming along good! Glad none of the trees were compromised...

Edited July 31, 2011 by richyb83

[steve3n8]

Council questions delay Galvez Plaza stage covering project

The Metro Council is "extremely skeptical" about awarding a nearly $900,000 contract to provide for a stage covering at the Galvez Plaza project downtown, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker says, and is deferring signing off on it until more questions are answered by the administration. Despite unanimously approving an extra $1 million for the stage covering and other project improvements on May 11, a number of questions remain about the contract that's since been reached between the city-parish and Arrighi Construction, Walker says. "We understand there was a proposal to do a stage covering for $350,000, so it looks like they want a Cadillac now instead of a Chevrolet," Walker says. "We also want to know why this bid came in at $5 below what's budgeted and [why] the next lowest bid is for $3.6 million."

William Daniel, Department of Public Works acting director, says the low bid by Arrighi Construction was initially nearly twice the $900,000 budgeted for the project. After negotiating and coming up with a new method for building the stage covering, he says, the $899,995 contract was reached. "State bid law allows us to negotiate with the low bidder, so that's what we did in conjunction with the engineer and architect. After finding a more efficient method of construction, the contractor agreed to cut their profit to come in below the budgeted amount," Daniel says. "We did everything completely by the book." Read the full story here.

[richyb83]

Downtown park project to affect traffic

The construction of North Boulevard Town Square will begin a new phase, a development with traffic implications beginning Tuesday.

The Downtown Development District said Thursday that beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday:

• North Boulevard westbound will be closed completely to thru traffic between Third Street and Fourth Street/St. Ferdinand Street. This is expected to be closed until 5 p.m. Oct. 30.

• North Boulevard eastbound from St. Louis Street to St. Ferdinand (in front of 19th Judicial District Courthouse) will be re-opened to traffic. St. Louis Street will revert back to one lane between Louisiana Avenue to North Boulevard. Louisiana Street will revert back to two-way traffic between St. Louis Street and St. Ferdinand Street.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes. Telephone inquiries can be directed to Department of Public Works’ Traffic Engineering Division at (225) 389-3246.

The change is due to the fact that crews are going to be working on the north side of North Boulevard after completing much of the work on the south side.

Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, said that the Hebe statue has returned to North Boulevard and that some pedestrian access to the courthouse will be opened Tuesday.

When the $9.6 million project is completed next year, North Boulevard between River Road and Fifth Street will be a public park featuring a large stage and Town Lawn for concerts and events; pedestrian friendly streets and walkways; have high-tech amenities like free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets at benches and tables; seating for at least 250; a digital screen and a sound system so people can watch movies or even LSU football games; LED lighting embedded in the ground and overhead; and a tree-lined promenade that stretches from one end of the park to the other.

http://theadvocate.com/news/business/739874-63/downtown-park-project-to-affect.html

[richyb83]

Metro Council approves Galvez Plaza bid

http://theadvocate.com/home/1002874-125/metro-council-approves-galvez-plaza.html

Edited October 5, 2011 by richyb83

[buckett5425]

The new Town Square is FINALLY open. Its really nice. I believe they are waiting until after the Bowling Congress ends, to begin phase two which will complete a few street and pedestrian improvements. I was surprised to see quite a few groups of people exploring the new space late at night.

[Antrell Williams]

I'll be home for two weeks so I'll get to check it out a few times.

[richyb83]

Thanks for the head's up Looking forward to checking it out! How did the media beacons look??

[hagetaka]

Edited December 23, 2011 by hagetaka

[Antrell Williams]

Thanks hagetaka, really excited to see it in person. It's one thing to imagine it but to actually see it will be really refreshing.

But, I said it first here, those tables and chairs will be stolen if not locked down.

[richyb83]

Had to put this on the next page LT! Well it would not let me...this is why I did not post on BR Photo thread with your all the way live river/bridge in-motion pic; did not want to start new page with my silly comment w/o ur pic.

Thanks so much for the pics...your night-vision camera is insane! Got to drive-by & see it tonight...really impressive so far! Helps take downtown to another level! It would be cool to see a football game on those digital screens...

Edited December 25, 2011 by richyb83

[richyb83]

Phase I now complete...really nice IMO! Was Not on the Christmas wishlist...but glad it was built anyway!

Crews finish downtown project early

Baker resident Ayauna Jones said she rarely makes the drive to downtown Baton Rouge to enjoy the nightlife. But now that construction has finished on the first phase of North Boulevard Town Square, Jones said, she will be making the evening drive to enjoy the free movies on the Town Square lawn.

The reinvented Town Square and Galvez Plaza was completed Dec. 19, short of some finishing touches, said Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District.

The $7.2 million downtown construction broke ground in January and was expected to be completed in February 2012.

Traffic is finally flowing normally in the area, after 12 months of being rerouted to accommodate the construction work

http://theadvocate.c...s-downtown.html

*pics included

Edited December 27, 2011 by richyb83

[Antrell Williams]

I went and looked at the Towne Square yesterday afternoon. Looks really good, will be even more impressive when the bus shelter opens, when The Shaw Center completes the third entrance on North Blvd, and phases 2 and 3 are complete.

[itsjustme3]

I went and looked at the Towne Square yesterday afternoon. Looks really good, will be even more impressive when the bus shelter opens, when The Shaw Center completes the third entrance on North Blvd, and phases 2 and 3 are complete.

A Bus shelter near Towne Square?

Yeah. I think we know how this is going to turn out.

[Antrell Williams]

Yes the bus shelter will instantly bring thugs and people lesser than you.

[itsjustme3]

Yes the bus shelter will instantly bring thugs and people lesser than you.

Mock me all you want but if you want a part of downtown to be used by people for leisure then a bus shelter near it isn't what you want.

[hagetaka]

[Antrell Williams]

The second would be great in an evening long-exposure version with some activity on the street.