North Boulevard Town Square

[richyb83]

Nice LT Nice angle from atop the Shaw Center!

Here is my contribution...already looking forward to Phase II

[Antrell Williams]

Will the show the BCS and Superbowl on the screens? Should be sponsored tailgating too.

[richyb83]

Good question Antrel...they were showing ESPN on the screens Friday afternoon....give the DDD a call to find out...225-389-5520...

In this mornings Sunday Advocate...

Our Views: New downtown meeting place

While our winters tend to be mild, they still are winters, so perhaps it’s not the optimal time to roll out a new outdoor venue in the middle of downtown. But on milder days, the public is getting an early taste of the potential for an aesthetically cool and user-friendly downtown Town Square.

Aside from some finishing touches, the new square and Galvez Plaza on North Boulevard are welcome steps toward improving both festival venues. At least as important, it’s the sort of hanging-out space that has contributed to revitalization of urban downtowns across the country.

The $7.2 million project, which snarled some traffic for almost a year, is the first phase of a larger plan to link the Town Square and the plaza with the riverfront and the park near the River Center arena.

The outdoor tables will be popular, we predict, with those wanting to share their lunch hours with friends on pretty days. And the events held there — Live After Five, the Blues Festival, Sundays in the Park — will be enhanced with the new amenities.

One particularly fun feature: Few of us get to set foot on the sacred sod of Tiger Stadium, but the same durable grass, backed up with a special weave, is used in the green areas of the Town Square and plaza. If it can withstand the giants who compete in Tiger Stadium in the fall, then it ought to be durable enough for dancers on Friday evenings.

Baton Rouge’s newest addition was paid for by cobbling together funding sources, including federal transportation grants, because a new CATS stop is part of the project. The area also is served with LSU Tiger Trails downtown routes, so it’s one of the best public transit areas in the city.

As with any project where you’re digging up old streets, working around stately old oaks and diverting traffic, the costs of downtown “streetscape” improvements are always going to be greater than developing the same mileage in green fields in the suburbs. But not every square inch of city soil is the same. This is the historic heart of Baton Rouge, and one we want to use as our special calling card for visitors.

Museums and theaters cluster there at the Old State Capitol, and a new downtown library can now be designed to allow its patrons to use the new facilities of the Town Square and plaza.

We congratulate the Downtown Development District for its efforts to make our downtown competitive with the cities that have invested more heavily than we have in such amenities open to the public

http://theadvocate.c...wn-meeting.html

Edited January 8, 2012 by richyb83

[cajun]

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.

You were apparently correct in your concerns. DDD feels the need to run the panhandlers out of downtown. They are working on an ordinance now.

Now...back to ESPN.

Edited January 10, 2012 by cajun

[richyb83]

In addition to yesterdays BR Event thread...

http://theadvocate.com/multimedia/photos/1900088-133/photos-food-show-filmed-downtown.html

*nice aerial pic #3 of the Town Square

[richyb83]

North Boulevard Town Square Nears Completion

Take Pride in Your Park

The new North Boulevard Town Square is nearly complete and it is quickly becoming a popular gathering area as visitors flock there on a daily basis.

The DDD has recently installed 3 dog waste bag dispensers and have attached litter grabbers at every trash can in the square. We encourage everyone to please help us keep the new space clean and presentable as it is becoming downtown's premier urban gathering center.

North Boulevard Town Square is going to be planned with much activity in Galvez Plaza and Town Lawn in the coming months. We invite you to visit the square on your lunch break, in the evenings or whenever to enjoy the music as well as the moveable tables and chairs. Check out all the events going on this Spring at our website.

Click on map to download full version of North Boulevard Town Square

[buckett5425]

Ive enjoyed the square on several occasions. Sometimes I'll take my laptop with me and do some work out there on these pretty days we've been having. It really has turned out to be a great urban space. Last week some friends of my from Houston were in town and when we were walking through the square one of them said, "What is this, Discovery Green?" Even they were surprised at how nice the space was and how full it was of people.

[cajun]

Ive enjoyed the square on several occasions. Sometimes I'll take my laptop with me and do some work out there on these pretty days we've been having. It really has turned out to be a great urban space. Last week some friends of my from Houston were in town and when we were walking through the square one of them said, "What is this, Discovery Green?" Even they were surprised at how nice the space was and how full it was of people.

Went to visit family and friends for the holidays. I was very impressed with the design.

I pretty much never noticed the library before. I knew it was there, but it was so separated from the rest of the neighborhood. It is very clear that the square is designed to draw your attention to the areas surrounding it...almost like they always intended for the new library to be built.

I did, however, notice some construction quality issues that I hope are being addressed. The design does work well, though.

I would not be opposed to a similar, but smaller design to be used in downtown Zachary, and some of the other areas around Baton Rouge with pedestrian traffic (around LSU, Perkins overpass, etc).

Edited February 5, 2012 by cajun

[Antrell Williams]

Ive enjoyed the square on several occasions. Sometimes I'll take my laptop with me and do some work out there on these pretty days we've been having. It really has turned out to be a great urban space. Last week some friends of my from Houston were in town and when we were walking through the square one of them said, "What is this, Discovery Green?" Even they were surprised at how nice the space was and how full it was of people.

Even better than Discovery Green, being so close to 3rd St and all the attractions around bring more people than Discovery Green. Would have been cool if they incorperated the Old State Capitol building into some type of modern Jackson Square type of place. With Repetance Park about to begin construction and the riverfront it would go far.

[dan326]

The square is very nice, its not oversized and has a nice intimate/cozy feel.

[richyb83]

This could easily become a BR Favorite part of town!! North Blvd Town Square beat out Perkins Rowe; Renasance Hotel & the Independence Water Park for the award....

North Boulevard Town Squareis nearly complete, and has already won two prestigious awards. At the recent 2012 Baton Rouge Growth Coalition Awards Gala, the Town Square took home a Good Growth Award and the first ever People's Choice Award. Adding over one acre of green space to Downtown, the North Boulevard Town Square is meant to be the social and cultural heart of Baton Rouge. With improved pedestrian traffic flow, the design allows this space to become an identifiable epicenter for the daily visitor as a central arrival node for the city.

Downtown Baton Rouge is now known for new cultural attractions, restaurants and shops. The leadership of Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden with the support of the Metropolitan Council has brought a progressive philosophy toward downtown redevelopment with the use of public investments in sustainable infrastructure to help improve the quality of life for all residents. This progressive philosophy is best reflected in North Boulevard Town Square, and its role as an economic development tool based on theories of Landscape Urbanism.

Here is what Brian Andrews, Baton Rouge Growth Coalition Awards Master of Ceremonies had to say as he presented Davis Rhorer with the award... "A land developer knows how hard it is to develop raw land with surrounding neighbors and pulling off a successful building rehab is no small feat either. So imagine the collaboration, the time, the fortitude and the patience it takes for an entire community to transform a glorified intersection in the middle of downtown into a recreational space for all to enjoy? That is exactly what took place with the redevelopment of North Boulevard Town Square. The tension between meeting the needs for active and passive recreation space in an urban environment while providing access to all modes of transportation including bus, vehicle, bicycle, wheelchair and pedestrians could be an overwhelming task. Layer on top of that years of planning and collaboration with literally dozens of government agencies; and you have what appears to be Mission Impossible. But Kudos to the hard work and advocacy of the Downtown Development District and the local design and construction team for persevering and for making such a stellar contribution to our community."

The DDD would like to extend special thanks to everyone involved in the creation of North Boulevard Town Square. This exciting, and now award-winning, project could not have been possible without the support of Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden, the Metropolitan Council, Brown+Danos Land Design, Joey Furr Design Studio, Arrighi Construction, ABMB Engineers, DPW, Covalent Logic, WHLC Architects and all others involved.

[itsjustme3]

The area is over hyped

[Antrell Williams]

Of course it is...

[richyb83]

itsjustme2...Any suggestions on what could make it live up to the hype??

[itsjustme3]

itsjustme2...Any suggestions on what could make it live up to the hype??

You can't do anything. It's a greenspace within downtown and people act as if its a Mecca for "cool". Any idea what it's going to look like after a few live after fives?

[Antrell Williams]

Once you get more people downtown it will live up to the hype.

[buckett5425]

The area is over hyped

Elaborate.

[richyb83]

As We still wait with great anticipation for it'sjustme2's answer.......

[richyb83]

North Blvd Town Square has a cool new website!

http://www.townsquarebr.org/

[richyb83]

PRESS RELEASE

North Boulevard Town Square wins national 'livability' award

New Downtown Park recognized by U.S. Conference of Mayors

The U.S. Conference of Mayors honored Baton Rouge's new North Boulevard Town Square today with a City Livability Merit Award in its annual City Livability Contest. The national competition recognizes mayors and their city governments for developing programs that enhance the quality of life in urban areas.

Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden accepted the prestigious award today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual meeting in Orlando. Mayor Holden noted that the $7-million North Boulevard Town Square has quickly established itself as the social and cultural heart of Baton Rouge in the two months since it officially opened. "This project has taken our downtown to the next level among American cities," said Mayor Holden, "and that increases our ability to attract visitors and new businesses to keep our local economy strong. The new Town Square also provides a quality of life and space for programs that we hear over and over are important to the people of East Baton Rouge Parish."

The project was funded using a combination of City-Parish funds, state sales tax rebates and money from the Federal Transit Authority.

The North Boulevard Town Square project created an acre of open green space in the heart of downtown by reconfiguring several streets near the historic Old State Capital and the new 19th JDC Courthouse. The Town Square includes two stages for concerts, a fountain, tables and chairs, a covered bus stop and a media tower with a high-definition screen.

The $2-million second phase of the Town Square project is slated to begin later this year to extend the park east along the North Boulevard median from Fourth Street to Fifth Street, and as far west as River Road.

Established in 1979, the City Livability Awards are given annually to 10 cities with populations less than 100,000, and to 10 cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants. Every municipality in the United States was eligible to nominate one or more city government programs in any policy area to be considered for this year's City Livability Awards. Any programs initiated by the city government were eligible, including those developed and implemented in conjunction with private sector or community groups.

Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, said the North Boulevard Town Square has hosted more than 50 free public events in the last eight weeks. "From exercise classes to musical programming events, it has become the premier outdoor urban space for the public to enjoy, Rhorer added. " We are thrilled with the success of this space and are humbled by the many awards the project has received."

The Town Square project has already been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and the International Downtown Association, Rhorer said. Rhorer noted that the Square was originally recommended in the Riverfront Master Plan and has been adopted by Plan Baton Rouge ll and the FutureBR Master Plan for East Baton Rouge Parish

[cajun]

Very cool. I've only been back to town a few times since we moved....but I was impressed with the square.

I'd like to see The Shaw center have an entrance facing square now.

[Antrell Williams]

I'd like to see The Shaw center have an entrance facing square now.

Construction should be beginning on a North Blvd entrance.

[richyb83]

Glad you liked the Square Cajun

Thanks for the head's up Antrell... Been wondering when the next Phase would begin...curious to see how the new entrance at the Shaw Center will turn out!

Here is a nice write up in the Advocate's Opinion section...

Our Views: Check out new square

June 18, 2012

The new North Boulevard Town Square in downtown Baton Rouge is a great addition to the cultural life of the downtown area, and that’s good news for Baton Rouge residents everywhere. The downtown area is our civic center, and downtown improvements are a welcome sign that Baton Rouge is developing its urban core. The square is a public green space developed by taking a disjointed area between North Boulevard and River Road and improving it with tree plantings, café seating, benches and performance space.

We encourage residents to visit the new square, but those who can’t get downtown soon can take a virtual tour of the square at a new website, http://www.townsquarebr.org. The website also contains the latest news about music performances and other events at North Boulevard Town Square.

We hope that relaxed summer schedules allow more residents to stop by and visit the new square. But we’re glad that the new website is available to give residents a sense of what this new public space has to offer.

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/3088380-123/story.html

[richyb83]

[richyb83]

2012 London Olympics

Watch coverage of the Olympics in North Boulevard Town Square!

The Olympics are here and Downtown Baton Rouge is celebrating in North Boulevard Town Square. Starting on Friday, July 27 the Town Square Beacon will be covering the 2012 London Olympics throughout the games.

Bring the family out to enjoy the spectacular opening ceremonies under the stars in Town Square. The ceremonies begin at 6:30PM, and there will be Olympic music playing through the night! For additional coverage information click here.