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Plan Baton Rouge


richyb83

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  • 1 month later...

What does downtown Baton Rouge need? The DDD wants your input

https://www.businessreport.com/business/what-does-downtown-baton-rouge-need-the-ddd-wants-your-input

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ebrddd

Baton Rouge’s Downtown Development District has launched a public survey to inform the strategic planning process that will guide the DDD over the next five years. 

Downtown residents, visitors, business and property owners, and workers are encouraged to complete the survey to help identify ways the DDD can best serve its stakeholders and the entire community. 

“Developing a strategic plan for the next five years is a critical step in how we direct our office’s efforts,” says Whitney Hoffman Sayal, the DDD’s executive director. “It is important that the public is included in this process, as downtown is the heart of our community and impacts our collective success.” 

Residents who don’t spend much time downtown still have a stake in the area’s success, she says. For example, a vibrant downtown is thought to be important for attracting and retaining young professionals, and downtown often is the “face of the community” for visitors, including those considering a permanent move. 

The DDD has budgeted about $50,000 for the strategic plan, which includes about $42,000 for consultant LaFargue LLC while leaving room for additional spending on marketing. Sayal expects to present a plan to the DDD board later this year, possibly in August. 

You can take the survey here. The DDD plans to leave the survey open until mid-April. 

2022 Real Estate Report

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  • 3 weeks later...

Glad you took the survey Dan326!

Sounds pretty cool renovating this historic old building; having an event space on the roof of the 7th floor!

Historical type renovation and rooftop views: What an investor plans for downtown Baton Rouge

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/historical-type-renovation-and-rooftop-views-what-an-investor-plans-for-downtown-baton-rouge/article_47b7c4b2-d89e-11ed-9e30-07339fc87b64.html

6033d94330c9b.image.jpg?resize=900,1200

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On 4/12/2023 at 3:02 PM, richyb83 said:

Glad you took the survey Dan326!

Sounds pretty cool renovating this historic old building; having an event space on the roof of the 7th floor!

Historical type renovation and rooftop views: What an investor plans for downtown Baton Rouge

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/historical-type-renovation-and-rooftop-views-what-an-investor-plans-for-downtown-baton-rouge/article_47b7c4b2-d89e-11ed-9e30-07339fc87b64.html

6033d94330c9b.image.jpg?resize=900,1200

Hope they can preserve the old building.   But I wouldn't bank on companies going beyond kicking the tires on office space.   It's just not a good time right now for that.  

If they can convert this into a hotel or apartment building, that's what they should do.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Already mentioned by Cajun & Dan a lil while back..

If the 142 unit Heron goes 6 floors; then this new  200 unit project could go 8 floors?

More luxury apartments coming to downtown

https://www.businessreport.com/newsletters/more-luxury-apartments-coming-to-downtown

The developers of The Heron multifamily development on Convention Street are planning to build a new apartment building across the street. 

New Orleans-based developer Key Real Estate bought the former Baton Rouge Bank building facing North Street earlier this year and has been granted approval to demolish the building, which has been vacant for years, according to Casey Tate, assistant executive director of the Downtown Development District.

There’s currently no timeline set for the project, which is still being designed. The developers plan to build at least 200 residential units and the apartment building will face North Boulevard, Tate says 

“This project will bring more infill residential to downtown,” Tate says. “The downtown market is so high right now. Most complexes are at capacity or are nearly fully leased.” 

Downtown has seen a wealth of residential development in the area in the past decade. Nearly 1,000 apartment units were added to the market from 2010 to 2019, according to DDD’s developer tool kit. DDD is working to update the tool kit this summer with updated apartment figures for downtown. 

The-Heron-1068x712.jpg.webp

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 6/19/2023 at 11:12 PM, richyb83 said:

Already mentioned by Cajun & Dan a lil while back..

If the 142 unit Heron goes 6 floors; then this new  200 unit project could go 8 floors?

Yeah figuring 2 levels for parking and 5-6 for housing..  Maybe a little more for parking as I imagine they will want to put in retail space on North Blvd.   The footprint should be about the same as the Heron.   

With the thick and tall tree canopy in Baton Rouge, you'd need to be at or above 7 floors to see above the treeline.

Edited by cajun
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  • 3 months later...

Yes indeed Cajun!!

DDD doesn't send me their monthly agendas like in years past.   And Parking is an issue.

Executive Director of Downtown Development District talks parking, crime at Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting

BATON ROUGE - From the River Center to the State Capitol, the downtown area is an economic staple for the city of Baton Rouge. 

Members of the Downtown Development District are hoping to keep that momentum going by implementing a five year plan.

Whitney Hoffman-Sayal, Executive Director of the DDD, says they are working to add more residential space to downtown and converting office space into apartments. One example of that is the Chase Tower that was just recently renovated into the Rivermark Centre.

"We have a leg up on other downtowns because our conversions started happening before the financial market that we're in right now," Hoffman-Sayal said.

In her presentation, Hoffman-Sayal used statistics gathered from a survey put out by the DDD months ago. Out of 1400 responses, 40% of downtown workers said they wanted to live downtown.

However, the DDD's efforts to make downtown seem more appealing to residents and visitors are squandered by concerns of crime and parking. In that same survey, 92% of residents said they did feel safe during the day, but that number drops to 48% in the evenings. 

With the recent addition of BRPD fifth district officers doing 24-hour patrols around downtown, Hoffman-Sayal hopes the sense of security will be improved.

Another key element the DDD addressed is parking, and how to effectively communicate the proper locations to drivers. 

"I know not everyone wants to hear it but we do have enough parking we just need to do a better job of showing people where they can park," Hoffman-Sayal said. 

With downtown traffic back to pre-pandemic levels, this multi-faceted plan has the goal of making the downtown experience better than ever before. 

Another key element the DDD addressed is parking, and how to effectively communicate the proper locations to drivers. 

"I know not everyone wants to hear it but we do have enough parking we just need to do a better job of showing people where they can park," Hoffman-Sayal said. 

With downtown traffic back to pre-pandemic levels, this multi-faceted plan has the goal of making the downtown experience better than ever before. 

https://www.wbrz.com/news/executive-director-of-downtown-development-district-talks-parking-crime-at-wednesday-s-rotary-club-meeting

UCS2w_SxQibL8rL3yqO_9wPS4Y5R7KOeH6Ru0ZMC

 
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DDD COMMISSION MEETING, AGENDA
THE QUEEN CASINO, 1717 RIVER ROAD
1. Call to Order
2. Declare Quorum
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve September 12, 2023 Minutes
5. Board Action
  • DDD Officers

6. Governmental Issues

  • New DDD Commissioners
  • 2024 City-Parish Budget
  • BRPD 5th District - 24 Hour
7. Update from the Previous Board Meeting
  • Downtown Charles W. Lamar Jr. YMCA 24/7
8. Initiatives
  • 2023 International Downtown Association Conference
  • Downtown Greenway Louisiana Connector Ribbon Cutting
  • Riverfront Wayfinding
  • Louisiana State Capitol Grounds Landscaping
  • Main Street Market Renovations
  • Rivermark Centre Grand Opening
  • Origin Hotel
  • Lincoln Theatre
  • Baton Rouge Rotary Speaker
  • Downtown Retail Survey
  • BREC Imagine Your Parks 3
9. Events
  • Turkey Trot 5K
  • Festival of Lights
  • FUMC Christmas Lights
  • Christmas Parade
  • Manship Theatre
  • LSU MOA
  • Capitol Park Museum
  • Old State Capitol
  • River Center
  • LASM
  • USS KIDD
  • Baton Rouge Arts Market
  • Red Stick Farmers Market
10. Commission Announcements and Updates
11. Public Comment
12. Adjournment


 
 
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Rivermark Centre

GRAND OPENING!

Downtown Baton Rouge's newest mixed-use luxury development with retail, residential & Class-A office space celebrated the much anticipated grand opening recently.

Congratulations to Wampold Properties for the vision and many years of hard work it takes to deliver this phenomenal project to the city. This property adds a new meaning to "Live, Work, and Play!"

https://downtownbatonrouge.org/discover-downtown/places/rivermark-centre

/imager/images/71710/375219387_277091588401089_3256060505542643525_n_21785fe914baaf3e4d2e91bc4e0841d6.jpghttps://downtownbatonrouge.org/imager/images/71710/375219387_277091588401089_3256060505542643525_n_300931a60234ab7f3d55305c9ffbe4fa.jpg

 
 
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What retail does downtown Baton Rouge lack?

https://www.businessreport.com/business/what-sorts-of-retail-does-downtown-baton-rouge-need-the-ddd-wants-your-input

The Downtown Development District has launched a survey to find out what sorts of additional dining and retail options people would like to see in downtown Baton Rouge. 

Visitors and residents often say downtown could use more retail, and the demand is likely to increase along with the area’s residential growth. The DDD has partnered with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to recruit new businesses to fill downtown storefronts. 

Also discussed at this morning’s DDD Commission meeting: 

The next phase of the “resurrection” of the Lincoln Theater is set to begin, and the work could be finished by November or December of next year. 
  • About 100 units have been leased so far at the Rivermark Centre, which held its grand opening last month. A restaurant to fill a 2,400-square-foot first-floor space has not yet been selected, says Gary Black with Wampold Companies.
  • The state Capitol landscaping project is expected to be completed by the inauguration in January. 
  • The Main Street Market renovations have begun and are expected to take about six months. While the market itself will be closed, the farmer’s market will continue on Saturdays. 
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On 11/15/2023 at 8:39 PM, richyb83 said:

What retail does downtown Baton Rouge lack?

https://www.businessreport.com/business/what-sorts-of-retail-does-downtown-baton-rouge-need-the-ddd-wants-your-input

The Downtown Development District has launched a survey to find out what sorts of additional dining and retail options people would like to see in downtown Baton Rouge. 

Visitors and residents often say downtown could use more retail, and the demand is likely to increase along with the area’s residential growth. The DDD has partnered with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to recruit new businesses to fill downtown storefronts. 

Also discussed at this morning’s DDD Commission meeting: 

The next phase of the “resurrection” of the Lincoln Theater is set to begin, and the work could be finished by November or December of next year. 
  • About 100 units have been leased so far at the Rivermark Centre, which held its grand opening last month. A restaurant to fill a 2,400-square-foot first-floor space has not yet been selected, says Gary Black with Wampold Companies.
  • The state Capitol landscaping project is expected to be completed by the inauguration in January. 
  • The Main Street Market renovations have begun and are expected to take about six months. While the market itself will be closed, the farmer’s market will continue on Saturdays. 

My feelings were hurt when Canes closed. Downtown could def use atleast like 5 more eating options.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Agreed Dan326!

DDD COMMISSION MEETING, AGENDA
Our December DDD Commission Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. We will meet at The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center - Heidelberg Room, 201 Lafayette Street.
 
1. Call to Order
2. Declare Quorum
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve November 14, 2023 Minutes
5. Board Action
  • DDD Officers
  • DDD Commission Meeting Cadence

6. Governmental Issues

  • Metro Council Budget Approval
  • My BR app
7. Update from the Previous Board Meeting
  • Festival of Lights & Christmas Parade
  • Downtown Retail Study
8. Initiatives
  • LSU Landscape Architecture Riverfront Study
  • Placer.ai
  • IDA Value Report
  • BRAAM Mural
  • Manship Theatre Executive Director
9. Events
  • Red Stick Revelry
  • Manship Theatre
  • LSU MOA
  • Capitol Park Museum
  • Old State Capitol
  • River Center
  • LASM
  • USS KIDD
  • Baton Rouge Arts Market
  • Red Stick Farmers Market
10. Commission Announcements and Updates
11. Public Comment
12. Adjournment
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North Boulevard Promenade deserves something like this!  Cajun & Dan326 have each mentioned this too...

See what's happening to a former downtown Baton Rouge bank building

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/see-whats-happening-to-a-former-downtown-bank-building/article_b8ce0608-99fe-11ee-9b4f-5b04f6524fa5.html

Demolition work is set to begin soon on a former bank building at 617 North Blvd., the first step in a plan to turn the property into a six-story apartment building. 

Key Real Estate is partnering with John O. Hearin, who built The Heron apartments next door for the “cousin building,” dubbed The Heron II. The development is still in the design phase, but Michael Lang, managing principal of development for Key, said it will have 200 to 240 units. The apartment development may include some sort of retail component, such as a row of townhomes that serve as a live-work space.

Lang and Hearin have said they are targeting the complex for young professionals who work downtown, along with older LSU and Southern University students.

The building had been a branch of Baton Rouge Bank and Whitney National Bank. 

BR.comingupbiz.121723 HS 003.jpg

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

https://downtownbatonrouge.org/uploads/docs/2023DevelopmentYearbook_Web.pdf

2023 Development Yearbook

The Downtown Development District works to initiate, incubate, and support partnerships that develop and enhance the district, using community-driven master plans and economic incentives to aid private-sector and nonprofit philanthropic organizations in their development and entrepreneurship efforts. These partnerships are key to continuing the momentum and excitement we have for the future of Downtown.

In 2023, we completed a 5-year strategic plan under the leadership of the new Executive Director, Whitney Hoffman Sayal, AICP. It will guide the priorities of the office and the formation of new and continued partnerships with a shared interest in downtown. We also released our 2023 Downtown Development Toolkit, highlighting downtown’s positive trends and data including the rise in residential, as well as high occupancy rates in both offices and hotels.

The 2023 Yearbook features developments over the past year, provides a snapshot of data and statistics, highlights projects in the pipeline, and features a list of acknowledgments and recognition. In addition, this document showcases the Downtown Development District’s projects, events, and initiatives driving the next phase of development.

https://downtownbatonrouge.org/about-ddd/projects-news-room/2024/2023-development-yearbook

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CHECK OUT THE RIVERMARK CENTRE!
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RIVERMARK CENTRE UPDATES AND ULI TOUR
rivermarkcentre_small.jpg
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Ever wondered what it's like to live at Rivermark Centre? Well, wonder no more! Immerse yourself in a first-person tour of the Residences at Rivermark and get a glimpse of the extraordinary everyday life awaiting you. For more details on all amenities or to schedule a personalized tour, simply visit Rivermark Centre's website through the link below!

2024 is also being kicked off with an exciting event at the Rivermark Centre! The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is hosting an event this afternoon featuring a special building tour of Mike Wampold's Rivermark Centre, where success converges as both a thriving office space and residential haven. Office staff will be attending this event and are looking foward to the tour!
 
 
 
  RIVERMARK TOUR VIDEO  
  LEARN MORE  
 
 
 
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  • 4 weeks later...
DDD COMMISSION MEETING, AGENDA

Our February DDD Commission Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. We will meet at The Residences at Rivermark, 451 Florida Street. Visitor parking will be available at the I Rivermark Centre Garage.

DDD COMMISSION MEETING, AGENDA
THE RESIDENCES @ RIVERMARK
1. Call to Order
2. Declare Quorum
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve January 9th, 2024 Minutes
5. Board Action
  • Officer Election
  • 2025 Carryforward Funds
    • Entertainment Study

6. Governmental Issues

  • DDD Project Development Director
7. Update from the Previous Board Meeting
  • Downtown Greenway/Louisiana Ave. & 14th St.
  • Florida Corridor Plan
  • Event Data
8. Initiatives
  • IDA Top Issues Council
  • IDA Value Report
  • LACDB/ DDD Website
  • Downtown Lighting

9. Events

  • 225 Fest
  • HOLI Fest
  • City Year Event
  • Corporate Cup
  • Red Beans and Rice Festival
  • American Heart Walk
  • Manship Theatre
  • LSU MOA
  • Capitol Park Museum
  • Old State Capitol
  • River Center
  • LASM
  • USS KIDD
  • Baton Rouge Arts Market
  • Red Stick Farmers Market
10. Commission Announcements and Updates
11. Public Comment
12. Adjournment

 
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  • 2 weeks later...

How does downtown Baton Rouge stack up against other emerging downtowns?

At the Downtown Development District’s meeting today, Executive Director Whitney Hoffman Sayal shared the findings of an International Downtown Association study comparing downtown Baton Rouge with other comparable U.S. downtown areas.

The IDA classifies downtowns into three tiers defined by stage of development: established, growing and emerging. Baton Rouge falls into the “emerging” tier, alongside cities like Birmingham, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Tampa, Florida. Emerging downtowns do not yet have the high citywide significance in terms of jobs and residents that more established downtowns do, but they do have “substantial potential” for growth, according to the IDA.

Here are the key findings of the study:

  • Between 2015 and 2020, downtown Baton Rouge employment grew by 7%. Other emerging downtowns saw their employment fall by 1% over the same period.
  • Despite occupying less than 5% of the city’s land area, downtown Baton Rouge is home to 20% of the city’s jobs, compared with 17% in other emerging downtowns.
  • Downtown Baton Rouge’s retail sales account for 4.6% of citywide retail sales, compared with 6% in other emerging downtowns. Downtown Baton Rouge’s retail sales totaled $50.4 million per square mile in 2023, compared with $302.6 million per square mile in other emerging downtowns.
  • Downtown Baton Rouge has seven hotels with 1,175 hotel rooms. Other emerging downtowns, on average, have 15 hotels with 3,638 hotel rooms.
  • Downtown Baton Rouge’s residential population grew by about 16% from 2012 to 2021, significantly outpacing East Baton Rouge Parish’s growth rate of 4% over the same period. Other emerging downtowns also grew by 16% over the same period.
  • Downtown Baton Rouge is notable for its diverse population in terms of both age and race. Downtown is home to a balanced distribution of ages, and 70% of its residents identify as Black or African American. “Disparities are evident,” however, primarily due to the dividing presence of Interstates 10 and 110.
  • Downtown Baton Rouge’s bike score and walk score—66 and 79, respectively—significantly exceed city averages. Other emerging downtowns have an average bike score and walk score of 70 and 80, respectively.

https://www.businessreport.com/business/how-does-downtown-baton-rouge-stack-up-against-other-emerging-downtowns

https://downtownbatonrouge.org/uploads/docs/IDAVODT23_Baton-Rouge_Web.pdf

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