Plan Baton Rouge

[garrett_225]

The Cathedral needn't be the largest, nor the grandest church in a diocese. St. Louis in New Orleans is neither the largest, nor the grandest church in that city. 

 

Believe me, Catholic churches in general are spending all their loose change keeping the lights on and the rain out. The Catholic Church is probably the wealthiest entity on the planet, but most of that wealth is not liquid. 

 

The building may receive some updating in the coming years...cosmetic stuff here and there. Think fresh paint and upholstery. I fear you'll be disappointed if you expect more. 

Edited March 18, 2014 by garrett_225

[richyb83]

DDD Commission Meeting
April 8, 2014, 8:00 a.m.
North Blvd. Town Square, 222 North Blvd.
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Declare Quorum
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve March 11, 2014 Minutes
5. Board Action
6. Update from Previous Board Meeting
a. Governmental Issues
b. Development Initiatives
• CATS Rollout
• Raising Cane's
• Skating/Biking Ordinance
• City Hall Plaza
• 315 North Boulevard
• Underpass Parking
• State Roadway Transfer
• Nu Vieux Hospitality Announcements
• American Heart Association Walking Paths
• Downtown Greenway Update
• River Road/Riverfront Access Improvements
• North Boulevard Town Square Update
• New Business
o Fresh Junkie
o Jeffery Carbo Landscape Architects/Site Planners
• Events
o Zumba in the Lawn Tuesday's / Thursday's
o Gumbo at St. James - April 11
o Live After Five Line Up - April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 22
o Blues Festival - April 12
o Sunday in the Park - April 13, 27, May 4, 11, 18
o Cambodia Craft Sale - April 13
o Color Run / Geaux Health & Fitness - April 19
o Providence Corporate Cup Run - April 26
o Earth Day - April 27
o MPAC - May 1
o Happy's 5000 / Red Stick Scholarship 5K / Seer Sucker & Linen Social - May 3
o Global Community Day - May 4
o Relay for Life / March for Babies - May 10
o Capitol Park Museum - Walking Tour
o Foundation for Historical Louisiana/Old Governor's Mansion
o Manship Theatre Events / LSU MOA
o Old State Capitol
o River Center Events / BRSO
o LASM
o USS Kidd
7. Strategic Plan
a. Plan Baton Rouge II
8. Ongoing Projects
• CPEX
• BREADA
• DBA
9. Correspondence
10. Public Comment

[richyb83]

Road configuration changes in works for downtown BR ....St. Ferdinand, St. Louis streets to be 2-way to improve traffic flow

 

In an effort to improve the flow of traffic between LSU’s campus and downtown Baton Rouge, St. Ferdinand and St. Louis streets will become two-way roads before the end of the year.

 

The project was conceived about six years ago and approved in 2010, but a series of delays have pushed construction into this year.

 

St. Ferdinand Street becomes Highland Road and St. Louis Street becomes Nicholson Drive. However, both streets are one-way, which means drivers are diverted to other streets when heading downtown from LSU.

 

Davis Rhorer, director of the Downtown Development District, said the road system forces drivers coming from LSU into the Beauregard Town neighborhood, a situation that has long been a source of irritation for those residents.

 

“We’ll now have the infrastructure for continuous flow, which takes the burden off the neighborhood and gives drivers great views of downtown,” he said.

The change will provide a smoother and more fluid connection from LSU all the way to the State Capitol.

 

The Nicholson Corridor has recently become a high-priority area for the city-parish with the announcement of the Water Campus and plans to operate a streetcar down the thoroughfare.

 

Rhorer said providing the back-and-forth connectivity is an important first step. “It links in better and ties LSU, Old South Baton Rouge and downtown as one,” he said.

 

http://theadvocate.com/home/8880642-125/road-configuration-changes-in-works

 

 

[richyb83]

Maritime One building downtown under contract; residential redevelopment likely
 

A prime piece of downtown real estate—the Maritime One building at the corner of River Road and France Street, adjacent to the Belle of Baton Rouge casino—is under contract for an undisclosed price, and could be redeveloped for residential use. Doug Ferris with RE/MAX First, who represents the New Orleans owners of the property, says he cannot disclose the buyer or discuss any potential plans for the 35,000-square foot, three-story building. But given its location on the riverfront and proximity to the IBM tower under construction nearby, he says the possibilities are exciting. "The potential for residential is very strong," he says. "But it could be many things. It is going to be really neat." The brick building, which was listed for $1.3 million, was originally a warehouse and, in the 1980s, was part of the Catfish Town mixed-use development. In the 1990s, it was used for office space and for a time housed the offices of LED. It has been vacant for several years. Ferris says parking has always been a problem with the property, but he suggests the buyers have a solution in the works. The deal is expected to close in the next 60 days. —Stephanie Riegel

 

http://www.businessreport.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=daily-reportPM&date=20140422

[timelordnerd]

Maritime One building downtown under contract; residential redevelopment likely

 

A prime piece of downtown real estate—the Maritime One building at the corner of River Road and France Street, adjacent to the Belle of Baton Rouge casino—is under contract for an undisclosed price, and could be redeveloped for residential use. Doug Ferris with RE/MAX First, who represents the New Orleans owners of the property, says he cannot disclose the buyer or discuss any potential plans for the 35,000-square foot, three-story building. But given its location on the riverfront and proximity to the IBM tower under construction nearby, he says the possibilities are exciting. "The potential for residential is very strong," he says. "But it could be many things. It is going to be really neat." The brick building, which was listed for $1.3 million, was originally a warehouse and, in the 1980s, was part of the Catfish Town mixed-use development. In the 1990s, it was used for office space and for a time housed the offices of LED. It has been vacant for several years. Ferris says parking has always been a problem with the property, but he suggests the buyers have a solution in the works. The deal is expected to close in the next 60 days. —Stephanie Riegel

 

http://www.businessreport.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=daily-reportPM&date=20140422

I was about to ask if people thought the Catfish Town development would have survived today, anyways this is exciting! Hoping for a high-rise!

[Antrell Williams]

They are going to redevelop the building itself, not the lot. We won't have a high-rise in Baton Rouge for a while, I'm guessing 10 years.

This great news, with all this residential coming on line I hope they aren't overbuilding.

[timelordnerd]

They are going to redevelop the building itself, not the lot. We won't have a high-rise in Baton Rouge for a while, I'm guessing 10 years.

This great news, with all this residential coming on line I hope they aren't overbuilding.

That's what I'm scared about. I'm scared that the IBM news is being taken too far and Downtown is going to suffer. 

[Antrell Williams]

That's what I'm scared about. I'm scared that the IBM news is being taken too far and Downtown is going to suffer. 

Not sure what you mean...

[timelordnerd]

What I meant is I am scared that we over-build with the expectation that IBM will create massive interest in living downtown, then this expectation is not fulfilled and Downtown has a bunch of empty apartments that eventually shutter and bring us back to square one. We need to start getting more companies downtown, not hotels and apartments.  

[Antrell Williams]

What I meant is I am scared that we over-build with the expectation that IBM will create massive interest in living downtown, then this expectation is not fulfilled and Downtown has a bunch of empty apartments that eventually shutter and bring us back to square one. We need to start getting more companies downtown, not hotels and apartments.  

I don't think this is a reaction to IBM. Most proposals are pretty modest in their unit numbers, so we won't have any massive building soaking up the market. But I agree wholeheartedly, we need many more good paying jobs downtown. The IBM building could be a small catalyst to attract some other companies. It shows them that if they can trust the location, other companies can too.

[timelordnerd]

I don't think this is a reaction to IBM. Most proposals are pretty modest in their unit numbers, so we won't have any massive building soaking up the market. But I agree wholeheartedly, we need many more good paying jobs downtown. The IBM building could be a small catalyst to attract some other companies. It shows them that if they can trust the location, other companies can too.

Well we also have to remember that the state has shelled out millions to get them here, so for tax payers sake I hope that IBM is the catalyst they hopped for.

[itsjustme3]

What I meant is I am scared that we over-build with the expectation that IBM will create massive interest in living downtown, then this expectation is not fulfilled and Downtown has a bunch of empty apartments that eventually shutter and bring us back to square one. We need to start getting more companies downtown, not hotels and apartments.

You act as if Baton Rouge can wave a magic wand and create companies downtown

[timelordnerd]

You act as if Baton Rouge can wave a magic wand and create companies downtown

I know that we can't I'm just saying we need to create some type of tax cut that tempts companies or 'anchors' to come downtown. From something to small to something larger, we need 'anchors' that create a reason to be there, if we don't have more 'anchors' downtown then it will be filled with empty apartments. 

 

Anchors to me are companies, shops, groups, theaters, or the likes that generate strong interest in a specific region. 

[ehyfield]

Anchors to me are companies, shops, groups, theaters, or the likes that generate strong interest in a specific region.

Like IBM. I'm used to hearing the term anchor used for a shopping center, but I get what you're saying.

[garrett_225]

I know that we can't I'm just saying we need to create some type of tax cut that tempts companies or 'anchors' to come downtown. From something to small to something larger, we need 'anchors' that create a reason to be there, if we don't have more 'anchors' downtown then it will be filled with empty apartments. 

 

 

You mean like TIFs? We've been doing that already, and we can't afford to keep it up. If we keep going down that road, our government won't be able to afford to provide basic services to the taxpayers. 

Edited April 23, 2014 by garrett_225

[itsjustme3]

You mean like TIFs? We've been doing that already,

I kept waiting for someone else to catch that

[Antrell Williams]

You mean like TIFs? We've been doing that already, and we can't afford to keep it up. If we keep going down that road, our government won't be able to afford to provide basic services to the taxpayers. 

This exactly. If you look at Juban Crossing, Jindal denied them a TIF district and they are still moving forward.

[timelordnerd]

Oh thanks I forgot about those...I think a few more top notch anchors are all Downtown needs. After that just let it go and grow into something of it's own. 

Sorry, I just could not help myself.

You mean like TIFs? We've been doing that already, and we can't afford to keep it up. If we keep going down that road, our government won't be able to afford to provide basic services to the taxpayers. 

Something like that, maybe selling blocks downtown for cut prices to make it very affordable to build there. 

[itsjustme3]

Something like that, maybe selling blocks downtown for cut prices to make it very affordable to build there.

You could benefit from some economic classes.

[timelordnerd]

You could benefit from some economic classes.

I guess so, right now I'm just bogged down by my other classes and extracurricular activities. 

[Antrell Williams]

Something like that, maybe selling blocks downtown for cut prices to make it very affordable to build there. 

I'd rather not the government get into the business of development. If a company can't make a profit, they don't need to build anyway.

[garrett_225]

 

Something like that, maybe selling blocks downtown for cut prices to make it very affordable to build there. 

 

Would you sell your property for cut prices to make it more affordable for some big business to build and make an easy profit?

[timelordnerd]

Would you sell your property for cut prices to make it more affordable for some big business to build and make an easy profit?

should we let blocks sit in the heart of downtown undeveloped and rotting away?

[itsjustme3]

should we let blocks sit in the heart of downtown undeveloped and rotting away?

The city just can't confiscate someone's property because they haven't given it away to a company. That's asinine.

[ehyfield]

And not every block has to be developed right this second. It will come soon enough.

Edited April 25, 2014 by ehyfield