Plan Baton Rouge

[richyb83]

Work ongoing at the South Chase Tower (right) retrofitting residential units on the upper floors of BR's 3rd Tallest building.

Still need to check out the Roof top swimming pool on top of the Commerce Building (shorter gray  bldg./Left)

 

[richyb83]

[dan326]

DDD gets grant for decorative crosswalks downtown

The Downtown Development District this week announced it has received a Community Challenge Grant from AARP to implement decorative crosswalks at five intersections along Third Street from Convention Street to North Street. 

The crosswalk project aims to improve downtown safety and aesthetics while highlighting the city’s main arts and entertainment district, DDD says. 

The grant is not for a set amount yet, according to Ryan Benton, DDD development project director. These crosswalks will be designed to complement the one installed at Third and Florida streets in 2019, which incorporates motifs from the downtown wayfinding signage that are inspired by historic buildings and other elements of downtown Baton Rouge. 

Edited August 3, 2021 by dan326

[dan326]

Moving from water to land: See what the new Hollywood Casino will look like in downtown Baton Rouge

Hollywood Casino broke ground on its landside expansion Tuesday, putting it on track to be the first Baton Rouge casino to come off of the water. 

Hollywood announced plans in August 2020 to move off of its downtown riverboat and into an expanded land-based facility. The casino will spend $21 million to $25 million expanding its current dockside facility and turning the valet parking area into indoor space. The riverboat's 859 slot machines and 12 table games will be moved into what is now Hollywood’s atrium.

 

Plans are to add a sports bar/entertainment venue with seating for 250, a sports viewing area and a Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken Restaurant, named after the former LSU basketball great. The sports bar or the viewing area could become a sports book, now that the state has approved sports betting.

Casino Queen, based in East St. Louis, Illinois, is in the process of buying Hollywood. The deal is set to close in the second half of the year, pending regulatory approval.

 

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_c84b90b0-f9e6-11eb-82ec-2f7d0032d606.html

[richyb83]

New security cameras, pedal carriages coming to downtown

https://www.businessreport.com/business/new-security-cameras-pedal-carriages-coming-to-downtown

Other items discussed at the DDD meeting include:

• The commission voted to hire a consulting firm to assist in its ongoing executive director search. 
• Chelsea’s Live, the live music venue returning to Baton Rouge in 1010 Nic, plans to open in December.
• Touchdown Express is returning after two years, and CATS buses will be available at two downtown locations to bring fans to and from Tiger Stadium on home game days. 
• Funds from BREADA’s Farm Fete raffle will go to the Louisiana Small Farmers Disaster Fund, which will help Ida-affected area farmers. Farm Fete will be Sept. 19.
• The River Center Theatre’s completion date is Oct. 24, and the grand opening of the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center was pushed to Jan. 20, 2022.
• 

[richyb83]

First units at I Rivermark Centre scheduled for completion in mid-2022

https://www.businessreport.com/realestate/first-units-at-i-rivermark-centre-scheduled-for-completion-in-mid-2022

[dan326]

Three-story office building to be developed on Main Street

Louisiana REALTORS commissioned and is planning to develop an office building at 861 Main Street, on the corner next to the association’s current office.

business report

[richyb83]

THANKS for posting that Dan326

Is this the rendering?  That looks like the same location....posted this back in July of 2020

Too bad the could not have merged into a 7-story mid rise office tower with Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors on North Street  + Louisiana Associated General Contractors that opted out of the 4th floor

Edited November 3, 2021 by richyb83

[richyb83]

IT firm to lease space in the Fuqua Hardware Building downtown, hire 100 ‘as quickly as possible’

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_471a3234-6350-11ec-a9b0-234fa9475ce1.html

[richyb83]

Baton Rouge's newest art center is 'a dream come true.' Take a look inside.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_23b5f0e4-796c-11ec-a603-97f0884ab5ad.html

 

[cajun]

On 1/20/2022 at 9:43 PM, richyb83 said:

Baton Rouge's newest art center is 'a dream come true.' Take a look inside.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_23b5f0e4-796c-11ec-a603-97f0884ab5ad.html

 

Oh that's cool!

[richyb83]

Took this pic way back in late February; just never posted for some reason

Nice looking new building on North Street & Sixth Street that was once an  empty surface parking lot .

Louisiana State Licensing Board Bldg is only 3 stories;  because Louisiana Associated General Contractors  decided not to be part of the project ;  otherwise it would have been 4 floors

This is what it originally was supposed to look like.

Edited June 13, 2022 by richyb83

[cajun]

I'd have preferred a larger structure, but that one came out pretty well.  I like the huge windows and the awning on the first level that sort of draws your eyes along the buildings width.    It feels like a mid century modern throwback, but a very good one.

It looks like a high quality smaller "owner occupied" building that you'd see on the periphery of a downtown area on the west coast, or possibly in an outlying area in San Mateo county along El Camino or Rollins/Old Bayshore in the Burlingame area .     Those are more suburban in format than downtown Baton Rouge. 

I could argue for or against considering North@6th being within the downtown core.    But either way, I like the building even if it's smaller than I'd have preferred.   

Edited June 13, 2022 by cajun

[dan326]

Yeah, I noticed the building did have a small setback with a flowerbed, like a hybrid downtown,/suburban lot. It is nice though.

[richyb83]

Looks like a roof top pool on top of the old Chase South Tower nearly 300' feet high

Photos: Crews Assemble Massive Crane Downtown

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/multimedia/photos/collection_6b4db596-fefe-11ec-a3a5-4fce026908ab.html#1

A massive, 800 ton crane, has been set-up blocking N. Fourth Street between Florida Street and Laurel Street in preparation for crews to use the heavy equipment to erect structural steel & a pool for rooftop work associated with 451 Florida Street in Baton Rouge, La.

[richyb83]

Here's how one business owner wants to improve downtown Baton Rouge's retail environment

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_5b70ba56-257d-11ed-bcfb-1f5b5060f269.html

 

[cajun]

On 8/27/2022 at 1:35 PM, richyb83 said:

Here's how one business owner wants to improve downtown Baton Rouge's retail environment

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_5b70ba56-257d-11ed-bcfb-1f5b5060f269.html

 

We need to recruit more conventions to boost tourism and help bring more hotels.   That just doesn't seem to be a focus anymore.    Baton Rouge used to host the special olympics, bowling congress, and regional conventions.    We did not come out of Covid with a focus on bringing that back to the city.   Frankly I don't think it has been on the radar for the Broom administration at all.  

Baton Rouge made a lot of great strides downtown about 15 years ago.    None of these people are perfect in any way - but the combo of David Rhorer at DDD, Kip Holden in city hall,  Steve Moret at LED, and Bobby Jindal in the Governor's Mansion was HUGE for Baton Rouge's growth.    Everyone was pulling in the same direction for a few years there, and it was a really nice thing to see from a downtown revitalization and regional economic development perspective.     The public schools were still horrific and LSU had terrible leadership - but the region was doing well almost everywhere else.    We saw IBM open a huge service center downtown, the film industry was booming, and we saw Baton Rouge be considered for a lot of major private investments - even those outside of the energy and chemical industry. Downtown started improving, we saw more hotels and restaurants open, and the city was aggressive in recruiting conventions, concerts, and sporting events to boost tourism.     The Green Light plan was starting to really make a dent too.    There was a sense of optimism about the region even if the northern part of the state was struggling.   

We might not ever see that kind of synergy in Baton Rouge's favor again.     

On the bright side, LSU finally has what I think is an excellent leader with William Tate.    I was very skeptical at first, but he's done nothing but impress me since his first day.     Woodward is also way better than Alleva too.     LSU realizing its potential over the next decade would be a huge boost for the region and the state.  

[dan326]

Yeah, I do miss those days. I think another part of the equation was that it was part of the boom days before the bubble burst/recession. So that's just to say maybe during the next time if prosperity we'll build up momentum again.

[cajun]

On 9/6/2022 at 10:42 PM, dan326 said:

Yeah, I do miss those days. I think another part of the equation was that it was part of the boom days before the bubble burst/recession. So that's just to say maybe during the next time if prosperity we'll build up momentum again.

Yeah.   We've had years where things seem to be starting to gain momentum.... but then had other issues (wrong people/wrong time in office, catastrophic floods/natural disasters, lost opportunities caused by missteps LSU or Southern, etc.)  

A lot of things need to fall into place for a city like this to flourish, and those stars weren't really aligned for most of Baton Rouge's recent history.    Regardless of what's happening with the weather, the economy, or social issues at the time - it really helps to have pro-growth people pushing you forward. 

Edited September 9, 2022 by cajun

[richyb83]

Solid post Cajun!

FINALLY ...This embarrassment of a way too long vacant building across from the Hilton Capital Center on Lafayette Street (between Florida & Convention St) will have 10 new  apartments. Not sure if they would have to add another floor or two to the 2 story structure?

Long-vacant downtown Baton Rouge building under contract for apartments

https://www.businessreport.com/business/long-vacant-downtown-baton-rouge-building-under-contract-for-apartments

[richyb83]

If they are going to demolish buildings; hopefully they will actually build something NEW in it's place. A 9 story building would look nice at that location

The project on the post above is all in the same block

Two downtown BR buildings slated for demolition for potential nine-story project

https://www.businessreport.com/realestate/two-downtown-br-buildings-slated-for-demolition-for-potential-nine-story-project

 

[cajun]

On 10/15/2022 at 1:21 AM, richyb83 said:

If they are going to demolish buildings; hopefully they will actually build something NEW in it's place. A 9 story building would look nice at that location

The project on the post above is all in the same block

Two downtown BR buildings slated for demolition for potential nine-story project

https://www.businessreport.com/realestate/two-downtown-br-buildings-slated-for-demolition-for-potential-nine-story-project

 

9 stories will be almost as tall as the "newer" part of the Hilton hotel.   That's a big building, although I imagine that the first few floors would be retail/parking deck.

I'm skeptical that this happens anytime soon.   It's more difficult to finance projects like this (like everything else now), the economy seems to be slowing nationwide.     I am not sure this would get off the ground unless they value-engineer the heck out of the design and got a huge amount of HUD financing -  which will dictate below-market rents for most units.    

If things were going a little better and rates weren't skyrocketing, I'd be way more confident that this one gets built.   It's in a good location and they'll definitely find renters in a decent economy - and Louisiana's reliance on oil/gas might actually help the region weather the incoming storm better than most.    I think demand is there, but the financing probably isn't.   And construction materials are sometimes sketchy right now, and can result in longer than expected lead times - which exposes the developer to higher future rates.

Edited October 17, 2022 by cajun

[richyb83]

Yeah i'm skeptical too Cajun. Instead of watching other capital cities like Austin ; Nashville & Raleigh continue to transform their skylines over the years ;I have learned to temper my expectations for Baton Rouge ; more in-line with Little Rock or Jackson.

Atrium was a cool venue for Rumble on the River Boxing matches ; but that was years ago. Like the location too between the Bridge & River Center

Historic Catfish Town buildings up for sale, $5 million asking price

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_0af2db26-4c07-11ed-867e-83569f5056a9.html

Two Catfish Town buildings that are part of the Belle of Baton Rouge casino complex are for sale with an asking price of $5 million. The Beauregard Building, left, and the Shucks on the Levee building, right, are being marketed as investment properties because they have been under long-term lease and the Belle is set to start this spring on a $35 million renovation project.

[richyb83]

Downtown Baton Rouge businesses hurting from state’s work-from-home policies

With State workers only going to work 2-3 days per week businesses are not doing as well.

https://www.businessreport.com/business/state-work-from-home-policies-hurting-baton-rouge-downtown-businesses

Louisiana government under former Gov. Mike Foster consolidated most state offices downtown, which helped spur the city core’s revitalization. 

But now that many state workers are not required to come into the office every day, downtown businesses aren’t getting the same boost. 

[dan326]

On 2/1/2023 at 5:30 PM, richyb83 said:

Downtown Baton Rouge businesses hurting from state’s work-from-home policies

With State workers only going to work 2-3 days per week businesses are not doing as well.

https://www.businessreport.com/business/state-work-from-home-policies-hurting-baton-rouge-downtown-businesses

Louisiana government under former Gov. Mike Foster consolidated most state offices downtown, which helped spur the city core’s revitalization. 

But now that many state workers are not required to come into the office every day, downtown businesses aren’t getting the same boost. 

Yeah, I miss Cane's being downtown. I guess we'll have to wait until the next boom cycle for downtown to get another revitalization campaign.