New Urbanism

[richyb83]

"Prince Murat plans change again

The Prince Murat Inn site is stagnant once again. A plan to build two 11-story apartment towers was in the works, but it ran afoul of zoning regulations that limit the site to four stories.

[richyb83]

thanx richy

You are welcome yis2003yis, no problem

Alot of SE BR development is guilty of the illustration on "TOP" w/ single entrance cookie cutter subdivisions and office parks that help promote sprawl and relentless traffic on the car dependant feeder roads.

The "bottom" of the illustration is exactly what SE BR needs; like more new developments ROUZAN w/ the interconnected grid with a mix of housing. Children can be in walking distance to elementary schools. Residents can walk to the grocery store or post office and not be strangers.

Also a even larger TND Arden is supposed to be built near Bon Carre between Lobdell Ave/Ardenwood Drive and Greenwell Springs Hwy. Any word on when tis project will start??

[twstdndmntd]

You are welcome yis2003yis, no problem

Alot of SE BR development is guilty of the illustration on "TOP" w/ single entrance cookie cutter subdivisions and office parks that help promote sprawl and relentless traffic on the car dependant feeder roads.

The "bottom" of the illustration is exactly what SE BR needs; like more new developments ROUZAN w/ the interconnected grid with a mix of housing. Children can be in walking distance to elementary schools. Residents can walk to the grocery store or post office and not be strangers.

Also a even larger TND Arden is supposed to be built near Bon Carre between Lobdell Ave/Ardenwood Drive and Greenwell Springs Hwy. Any word on when tis project will start??

Yeah people who fight TND's annoy me. The people in Southdowns complain it's going to bring extra traffic in their neighborhood. Has any of them ever thought that it would benefit them for having this kind of development that close. They will have more access to shopping, green space, schools, and a new library. Not to mention it gives them more outlets to Perkins. They complain about traffic but yet they fight connectivity with our roads.... can we say "HYPOCRITE"

[cajun]

Yeah people who fight TND's annoy me. The people in Southdowns complain it's going to bring extra traffic in their neighborhood. Has any of them ever thought that it would benefit them for having this kind of development that close. They will have more access to shopping, green space, schools, and a new library. Not to mention it gives them more outlets to Perkins. They complain about traffic but yet they fight connectivity with our roads.... can we say "HYPOCRITE"

Southdowns complains about everything. Traffic wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't killed the Lee Drive widening. Pedestrian access would be better if they would have let the city install sidewalks on Hyacinth.

My opinion is that those who don't like it can sell their property and move on. It will surely go up in value significantly after this new place goes up. Then again, it seems like all BR needs to kill a project is one or two narrow minded but loud residents.

Edited November 18, 2007 by cajun

[twstdndmntd]

Well I can't agree with the widening project. I am not a fan of widening, especially when they put those god aweful "suicide lanes", ex: Essen Ln, Siegen, Perkins. I am more a proponent of connectivity. If you connect you have more options, if you widen you do nothing more than allow already clogged roads to become even more clogged. I do understand that some roads do need to widened, but not everything has to be 5 laned. And for God's sake if it has to be widened can we at least have a median instead of a "suicide lane".

[richyb83]

Maybe Lee Drive could be 4-laned like Stanford Avenue is on the otherside of Hyacinth?? No suicide 5th lane necessary. As nice as Southdowns is; I could never live in a neighborhood with no sidewalks, that's just ridiculous.

A median for Lee Drive is a good idea but might be too tight a fit for the front-yards.

Edited November 19, 2007 by richyb83

[buckett5425]

Connectivity is the best way to go when people are running errands around the corner, but not when they are trying to cross town. But there are some roads that no matter what are major roads. Although there is no room for it, Lee NEEDS to be widened. Lee, starring(essen), and seigen are the major roads that connect south baton rouge with the rest of the city and I 10. All of those roads are TWO lanes! This is ridiculous. Even the four laned roads, stanford(acadian) and bluebonnet have horrible traffic at peak times. This side of baton rouge has been ignored for far two long. The green light plan needs to be finished sooner, and funding for finishing it faster needs to be done immediatly. All the above mentioned roads are in the green light plan, except for lee and lee needs to be included. I feel sorry for the property owners who will lose their front yards, but couldnt those houses on such a major road be better used as retail such as little boutiques, coffee shoppes, etc., while trying to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood?

And for the record, when i lived closer to southdowns, i would cut through the neighborhood to stay off of perkins, acadian, and specifically lee. Even with rouzan being built. People, still cut through the same roads I did, so i really dont think it will add that much traffic to the residential streets.Plus, there is a middle school right there, which brings tons of traffic at the worst times, wouldnt you think they would be used to the traffic by now? lol

[richyb83]

You are right buckett5425. It's hard to imagine Lee Drive staying 2-lanes. Southdowns residents want to keep this an overgrown country town; instead of the city it has become.

What a "Major" connection from all the way up at Airline Hwy. in NBR 4-laned No. Foster(thru BRCC) becomes So.Foster; then becomes 4 & 5-laned College Drive thru one of BR's largest business/hotel districts; cross Perkins Rd. into little "two-laned" residential Lee Drive past Lee HS thru Louisiana's Largest Retirement community(St.James) to Highland Road;then crossing become major 4-laned West Lee to Nicholson; crossing there and R.R tracks one of the fastest growing streets in the city Brightside Ave. all the way to River Road south of LSU. You are right, it's plain ridiculous.

Like you said, Hyacinth/Glasgow in Southdowns already is used as an alternate route for LSU to the Medical corridor(Pennington Research Center,OLOL, etc) and Mall of La.

While BR seems to have adequate East-West cross town connections; it's the North-South connections that are lacking/lagging.

Edited November 19, 2007 by richyb83

[twstdndmntd]

I agree with what everyone says, especially about Siegen, Staring, and Lee. I'm just saying that if we have to widen major roads I don't feel they all have to have a "suicide" lane. I am much more a proponent of medians. I know Bluebonnet backs up but doesn't everything. I think if you direct people and force them to take certain turns it will actually help with traffic flow. With the "suicide" lane thing you can use it to turn anywheres, it makes it confusing. Case in point Essen Ln. LOL. Ya know I think we should all be on the transportation planning commission or something, together we could get the traffic flowing in this city. LOL

[cajun]

Well I can't agree with the widening project. I am not a fan of widening, especially when they put those god aweful "suicide lanes", ex: Essen Ln, Siegen, Perkins. I am more a proponent of connectivity. If you connect you have more options, if you widen you do nothing more than allow already clogged roads to become even more clogged. I do understand that some roads do need to widened, but not everything has to be 5 laned. And for God's sake if it has to be widened can we at least have a median instead of a "suicide lane".

Buy out the houses that front on Lee Drive and put in 40' of green space on either side of the right of way. Those that refuse to sell can live 20' from a four lane road...I don't care. Lee Drive is a huge choke point, and it will always be a problem area as long as College drive is over developed and the street remains this crummy two lane road.

Lafayette did this with Camellia Ave, and it looks great. People use the trails on either side of the road for recreation.

I think there is room for a four lane road like Stanford. The right of way is only about 35' wide at the narrowest point, so they'd have to buy another 5' from either side if they want to put in sidewalks and a four lane road. This is probably the right thing to do....and buy out the properties that ignore the setbacks and are built too close to the road.

Sometimes progress takes a little sacrifice.

Edited November 21, 2007 by cajun

[richyb83]

Hey cajun, if I decide to go to the City Planning meeting on Dec.13th I might need you as back-up. The Southside Civic Ass-ociation is gonna fight this project tooth-n-nail. One of it's leaders actually resigned under pressure bec. he advocated something special like Rouzan being built; they all expect another boring cookie cutter subdivision with probably only single-entrance. They are also responsible for keeping Lee Drive the crummy 2-lanes.

What I still can't get over that as nice/quaint as they say...Southdowns is; they have no sidewalks. Rouzan will be walkable, imagine that

We now have some visionary developers in BR attempting to transform the status-quo; however most (2/3's??)people in Southdowns (and other subdivisions in BR) choose to look at new development thru a straw.

[cajun]

Hey cajun, if I decide to go to the City Planning meeting on Dec.13th I might need you as back-up. The Southside Civic Ass-ociation is gonna fight this project tooth-n-nail.

Sorry. Can't help you there. I am no longer registered to vote in Baton Rouge and I am living in Austin and will be moving to Houston in about a week.

I am sure you can find more folks around UP that will help you out, though.

Edited November 25, 2007 by cajun

[richyb83]

This is good to see a new "For" Rouzan website! And this includes some Southdowns residents too. It should be very interesting at the Dec. 10th City Planning Meeting vs. the "Stop" Rouzan NIMBY's.

http://for-rouzan.org/

FOR ROUZAN is a group of concerned residents who live in the surrounding neighborhoods directly impacted by the proposed Rouzan Development. We believe that Rouzan will tie our existing neighborhoods together forming a stronger, safer and more livable community for all of our residents.

We are not associated with any Neighborhood Civic Association or JTS Interests.

[twstdndmntd]

This is good to see a new "For" Rouzan website! And this includes some Southdowns residents too. It should be very interesting at the Dec. 10th City Planning Meeting vs. the "Stop" Rouzan NIMBY's.

http://for-rouzan.org/

FOR ROUZAN is a group of concerned residents who live in the surrounding neighborhoods directly impacted by the proposed Rouzan Development. We believe that Rouzan will tie our existing neighborhoods together forming a stronger, safer and more livable community for all of our residents.

We are not associated with any Neighborhood Civic Association or JTS Interests.

I applaud you guys. Fight the NIMBY's all the way to the end. This is the kind of development BR needs and lots more of them. Did you see the editorial from the Business Report's JR Ball? I loved it!!

[Gauge]

Hey cajun, if I decide to go to the City Planning meeting on Dec.13th I might need you as back-up. The Southside Civic Ass-ociation is gonna fight this project tooth-n-nail. One of it's leaders actually resigned under pressure bec. he advocated something special like Rouzan being built; they all expect another boring cookie cutter subdivision with probably only single-entrance. They are also responsible for keeping Lee Drive the crummy 2-lanes.

What I still can't get over that as nice/quaint as they say...Southdowns is; they have no sidewalks. Rouzan will be walkable, imagine that

We now have some visionary developers in BR attempting to transform the status-quo; however most (2/3's??)people in Southdowns (and other subdivisions in BR) choose to look at new development thru a straw.

I will do my best to make it to the meeting. I put it on my calendar.

[richyb83]

Sounds great...I was thinking?? Plenty of people will the there at that meeting "For" & "Against" Rouzan. I'm sure the room will be full. Unless I get there early enough, the line may be too long(if they speak 5 min. each?) + other items on the agenda. This thing could last several hours...which I hope is not the case. I don't want to stay there too late.

[cajun]

I sure hope that Rouzon happens, but at the same time I don't want any more density than what is in River Ranch.

They'd better not build another Perkins Rowe right there.

[yis2003yis]

I sure hope that Rouzon happens, but at the same time I don't want any more density than what is in River Ranch.

They'd better not build another Perkins Rowe right there.

Really i feel like Lets Get construction started on alotta these projects and set up a few detours....id rather have alot to provide to people and more traffic....then have Nothing to show for and less traffic

and thats been our problem the whole time...we've delayed alot of projects due to traffic and have nothing to show for....Houston still has it's traffic problems in certain areas but they have things to show for it..so People living there...might hate it ..but they get use to it ..and move on...Just like New York ,LA, and alotta major cities

like with the casino...yea they promised us alot and then went down on some things....but would u rather something be takin up that extra space...or would u rather nothing be built and we wait anotha 8 or 9 years to do something...the thing about traffic is...you can always adjust...like the Airline exchange @ sheerwood ,jefferson, seigan.....if i spelled somethin wrong im sorry....but no one ever thought they would see anything like it.....IN BR......but they made a bad area into a Nice area...u jus gotta work with what u got and use more options other than the traditional options that u normally use....so hey if it make's the city a lil busy ..kool ...but they can always ADJUST to make it better

Edited December 4, 2007 by yis2003yis

[twstdndmntd]

I sure hope that Rouzon happens, but at the same time I don't want any more density than what is in River Ranch.

They'd better not build another Perkins Rowe right there.

"not another Perkins Rowe". I love Perkins Rowe and I think it's developments like that that should be built more in this city. We need more density projects in this city. I said it before and once again, it's the lack of density that has led to our overzealous sprawl that has in return led to traffic congestion. If we had more density developments closer together we wouldn't have to depend on our car so much. I would love to know that once I got home I wouldn't have to get in my car and yet still be able to do whatever I needed or wanted to do, but by walking.

[richyb83]

Rouzan won't be like Perkins Rowe. But it will have some elements of a village-like atmosphere around the proposed library.

You are right twstd. Rouzan is the anti-sprawl. Some people have got to get rid of the 70's suburban mentality.

Some silly residents want to keep that farmland; from the property's northern edge of Perkins Rd. you can easily see the 22 story Marroitt about a mile away. Some people are a trip.

[yis2003yis]

Ive seen a big lot of land being cleared on perkins between blue bonnet and essen ...does anyone know of anything bein built on that Large lot of land?????

Also Behind Rave by the mall Of Louisiana behind it most of all thoes trees are gone...Isn't that supposed to be The Grove??? well any so...i did not know they had that much land back there b4 u ran into the neighborhood.....that will be a great project and make the city look good comming into baton rouge.....i pass by and just imagine somethin nice over there.....baton rouge is on the come up

and i live in North Br......ive noticed most of these closed gas stations and empty buildings are being gutted out and re-did....the old wherehouse shopping center on plank and airline by metro bowl is comming along great and the project on hopper/harding bld. is comming along great......

The New apts. at the back of SU campus look GREAT!!!!!!!! cant wait to see them open..

can't wait till SU starts construction on the football stadium and facilities

and last...i don't know who say the news....but the old train downtown is going to Hammond to be worked on then sent out to chicago to be placed in a Museum...i Hate to see the train go.....Maybe they giving it away to get it out the way for the river front plan...i don't know but Damn

[richyb83]

Thanks yisyis Thanks for the updates. Always good to see new development in NBR. Those 3-story apts. Palaisades next to "The Yard" at Southern U. sure did look impressive! Also glad to see the restoration with the vacant buildings too.

Yep, that's gonna be The Grove. That large tract was stripped of it's trees. The I-10/Wards Creek Greenbelt is shrinking big-time that way. The Grove combined with Mall of La. expansion(The Boulevard); Perkins Rowe; 12-story 330-room Renissance makes for a super-regional center!

I believe that land between Essen and Bluebonnet will be more townhomes/or condo's.

Baton Rouge is going to the next level!

BR did loose some history moving those train cars and demolishing the Geodesic Dome.

Edited December 5, 2007 by richyb83

[twstdndmntd]

I'll be so happy to see something built on that land between Bluebonnet and Essen. That is some prime real estate right there. To me that would be an excellent area for a TND. Something like Perkins Rowe or Towne Center would be awesome there. Course I still think that the Rural Life Museum needs to "shrink" itself, again that is prime real estate and I feel it is being wasted. But if we are to talk about "wasted" land in the city that convent on Essen in what I call the "Essen Triangle" is on prime land also. Course I'd hate to be the one to evict them. LOL

[twstdndmntd]

And the Planning Commission approves Rouzan Now lets move it to the Metro Council and get the building started. OH!! the news didn't say anything about LaVie, did that get approved also? Just think with Rouzan thats going to be at least 800 more people living in the city, we are growing the population LOL... think we can make it to 300K before 2010?

[cajun]

I think that I've decided that I am against the Casino. What do yall think?