Gonzales & Ascension Parish

[dan326]

They're building a hotel in Dutchtown according to Business Report.

[itsjustme3]

Aww jeez. Why?!

[dan326]

Very good question.

[dan326]

Xxx

Edited November 7, 2014 by dan326

[itsjustme3]

I imagine someone is running around Gonzales and Dutchtown selling hotels to the locals like the sleazy monorail salesman in the Simpsons.

[richyb83]

It was said that only 30% would show up to vote and that the majority of the people wanted more recreation.  Of the 50% who turned out to vote, 62% said NO!   The parish purchased Lamar Dixon against the will of the people in a failed vote years ago.  The parish wants to tax the people for something the people of the parish voted against purchasing in the first place.  Record tax collections and they still want want more!

 

http://theadvocate.com/news/ascension/10778143-123/ascension-voters-maintain-20-year-record

 

Ascension Parish was the state’s fastest-growing parish between 2000 and 2010 and third-fastest over the last three years, but starkly different visions have emerged over how to deal with the impacts of population growth.

 

Critics of taxes say residents don’t trust parish government to spend the money as promised or that the parish doesn’t even need the money in the first place. They want a more limited government that works within its means and moves more slowly to address those problems.

 

Riding record sales tax collections the last year and a half due to historic industrial expansion in Ascension, the Parish Council agreed Thursday to spend nearly $7 million on the annual road overlay program, one of the largest expenditures in that program in recent years.

 

Sixty-two percent of voters rejected the recreation tax versus 38 percent who voted for it. Voter turnout was nearly 50 percent in Ascension Parish.

 

Councilman Daniel “Doc” Satterlee, who opposed the fire tax renewals and the new recreation tax, said parish leaders can’t afford to appear out of touch with residents, who he had believed would reject the recreation tax handily. “Show the people that we can be good stewards and shepherds of their money. Produce results that they can see, you know, taste and feel, and then, yeah, we can go forward and ask maybe for a tax for a vital infrastructure need,” Satterlee said.

[Antrell Williams]

Do most suburban parishes have this problem? If the corporate tax base increased even half as much as the population, this wouldn't be an issue.

[all2neat]

Plant expansions fueling hotel building boom in Ascension

 

Prospects for such hotel businesses continue to look good for the coming years.

Stephen Moret, secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, has said that the state is looking at more than $60 billion in new industrial projects, along with tens of thousands of new construction jobs in the next few years.

In Ascension and St. James parishes, projects include more than $350 million in expansions at BASF and a $1.1 billion construction project at Methanex, both in Geismar in Ascension Parish; a $2.1 billion expansion at CF Industries in Donaldsonville, in Ascension Parish; and a $1.85 billion Yuhuang Chemical methanol complex in St. James Parish.

 

 

[dan326]

I guess that article thoroughly answers our questions. Once plant construction cools down, they could also market to hunters.

[richyb83]

Wow! Soon to be 8..... That's an impressive cluster of hotels btwn Tanger Mall & Cabela's...Already have 6 Hotels with 2 more under construction. Hope they have not over built.

 

This article is over one month old...meant to post sooner

 

Gonzales: It’s got everything … except a downtown ....Residents share thoughts at forum

 

Gonzales has a number of parks and a museum. It has a boulevard lined with governmental buildings. It boasts a major shopping center, the Tanger Outlet mall, off Interstate 10.  But what this city of about 9,800 residents on the east bank of Ascension Parish doesn’t have is a clearly defined downtown.

 

http://theadvocate.com/news/11003195-123/gonzales-its-got-everything-

[Antrell Williams]

It does, obviously along Hwy 44/Burnside. I think there could easily be a active little downtown area there. There's already neighborhoods connected, a small grocery store, EA High's football field, and a school.

[dan326]

It is kinda funny that Plaquemine, Donaldsonville, and Denham Springs are the only BR suburbs with sizeable historic downtowns to say the metro covers such a large area. This is a really cool idea though, I always wondered why Gonzales old main street was so skimpy. Hopefully Zachary had a similar plan, I feel it's old center has a lot of potential.

[richyb83]

Think there in Gonzales they are looking for a more discernible downtown area...like Denham Springs where the row of buildings are on each side of Range Ave(near RR Tracks) is dubbed the historical Antique District

 

The strip mentioned along Hwy 44/Burnside sure has potential....with more infill opportunities...with fewer historical buildings..they can add a more modern twist

Edited January 20, 2015 by richyb83

[dan326]

I'm posting this here and in the New Urbanism thread.

 

"Largest undeveloped land in Gonzales will be site

 

Gonzales — A developer plans to build an upscale mixed-use community of retail stores, apartments and homes on a former cattle ranch, which is the largest piece of undeveloped property in Gonzales.

 

 

Lafayette-based Southern Lifestyle Development has a contract to purchase the property, situated on La. 44 just south of I-10, for $8 million and plans to close on the transaction in the spring, said Prescott Bailey, who works for the development company."

 

From the Advocate

http://theadvocate.com/news/weeklies/11626472-123/plans-underway-to-make-the

 

"Upscale development of MP Evans Property presented to Gonzales Zoning Commission

 

Gonzales annexed nearly 400 acres, comprised mostly of property belonging to the Estate of MP and Ruth Evans, into its city limits in 2012. The acreage is the largest swath of undeveloped land in the city and, combined with its proximity to major travel arteries, is as prime a piece of real estate as there is in the Jambalaya Capital of the World. Maps indicating an upscale mixed use development, including over 200 acres of R-6 residential zoning, were submitted to the city’s zoning commission at Monday’s meeting."

 

http://www.thecreole.com/?p=35900

Edited May 6, 2015 by dan326

[dan326]

Didn't know whether to put this here or New Urbanism... This a site plan of Edenborne. It says it was last updated in April 2013, so it may have changed.

 

 

http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/portals/56/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/JPNdwgs10-542-3-4-13.pdf

[oneman83]

Two New Restaurants To Open In Greater Baton Rouge This Summer

By Adrian Maties, Associate Editor

In recent months, several restaurants and bars have opened in the Baton Rouge metro area. And more are on their way.

Last week, The Times Picayune reported that Quaker Steak & Lube, a Pennsylvania-based casual dining restaurant, plans to open its first Baton Rouge location this June. The restaurant will lease space in a new, 15,000-square-foot mall, located at 2706 S. Cabelas Parkway, in Gonzales.

Quaker Steak & Lube has about 60 locations in the United States and Canada. It first announced its intention to expand its presence along the Interstate 10 corridor in late 2013. Plans call for the opening of seven new restaurants, in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Lafayette.

[dan326]

 

Austin Fire Systems in Prairieville to build new 10,000-square foot fabrication shop

 

Annie Ourso

June 9, 2015

 

Austin Fire Systems plans to build a new, 10,000-square-foot fabrication shop on its Prairieville site in order to keep up with its growth in the last several years, the company’s owner says.

 

The new building, expected to open by October, will add on to the fire protection company’s already existing facility located on 10 acres off Eads Roads in Prairieville, says Austin Fire Systems owner Russell Ritchie. The new shop will be used to fabricate pipe for welding operations.

 

The company has expanded over the past several years, Ritchie says, and a bigger facility eventually became a necessity.

 

“We’re definitely growing by about 20% [in revenue] and doubling the size of our fabrication area,” Ritchie says. “We are also adding approximately 20 new employees.”

 

With the new shop, 2015 revenue is expected to exceed $11 million, the owner says. Austin Fire Systems also built a new 7,000-square-foot warehouse last year. The company’s existing Prairieville facility includes the warehouse, an administration building and another fabrication shop.

 

Austin Fire Systems is a fire protection company that uses security and communication systems to detect and suppress fires at commercial or industrial facilities. The company has operated for 16 years.

From businessreport.com

[dan326]

Here's an update fro mthe Sotuhern Lifestyle Development website on Conway :

Conway Plantation - Now Under Construction in Gonzales, LA

Posted 7/17/2015

Conway Plantation is sent on a beautiful 350 acre piece of land in Gonzales, Louisiana. One thousand families will make Conway Plantation their home at completion and will include homes, apartments, office and retail space. Neighborhood amenities will include 46 acres of lakes and jogging paths along with a neighborhood pool and park

[cajun]

It's strange how lopsided development occurs in Baton Rouge.  There's so much development and migration pressure to the east and south-east into Ascension.   

If there were a better road network north or west of the city, this would all have been spread out in a more Baton Rouge-centric development pattern.

[greg225]

Upscale apartment complex in Ascension Parish set to get underway after years-long delay       

Construction is set to begin Monday on the Manchac Lakes Apartments complex, a 272-unit upscale development that will be located on a 23.3-acre site on the north side of Airline Highway in Ascension Parish, just across the parish line.

The development will consist of 132 one-bedroom, 128-two bedrooms and 12 three-bedroom units, with a mix of direct access, garages and standalone garages. It will also have a clubhouse and pool.

“There’s a lot of growth in that area on both sides of the parish line,” says Matt McKay, who acquired the property for the project nearly seven years ago and is developing the complex. “We think it’s going to be a good spot.”

Though East Baton Rouge Parish has dozens of multifamily developments totaling more than 1,600 units either under construction or on the drawing board, Ascension Parish has relatively few. That’s likely to change, given the growth in commercial and single-family development that continues to creep from the east.

“There aren’t a lot of upscale apartment complexes in Ascension, so we think this will fill a niche,” McKay says.

McKay began planning for Manchac Lakes in 2009, but the project was twice delayed, first because of the collapse of the national real estate market and then because of environmental and regulatory hurdles.

Securing financing for the project also took time. The development will be financed with federal HUD loans. Closing on the financing is scheduled for Friday.

Amesbury Companies is managing the project. Womack Construction is the general contractor. Construction is expected to take 18 months, though McKay says the clubhouse and first building should be completed by the end of the year.    https://www.businessreport.com/article/james-carville-says-bad-political-leadership-threatening-south-louisianas-existence

[all2neat]

The latest I've heard is the LA42 widening project is a bit of a mess. Does anyone have any perspective on this? I used to use that road daily hence the interest.

[dan326]

^Sorry, I couldn't tell ya.

From businessreport

Level Homes acquires Ascension Parish property for new residential development

 

  

Level Homes has acquired a 112-acre site in Ascension Parish and plans to develop a 285-lot community of single-family homes on the property called Bell Savagne. 

Homes in Belle Savagne will range from 50 to 80 feet in width and will include some of the largest residential lots in the area. Prices will range from $250,000 to $340,000.

The development will be located just off Interstate 10 and La. 73 in Prairieville near Dutchtown High School, in what Waguespack describes as one of the strongest housing markets in the Capital Region.

Waguespack hopes to begin construction within 90 days.

Edited February 8, 2016 by dan326

[Antrell Williams]

On 12/5/2015 at 7:06 AM, all2neat said:

The latest I've heard is the LA42 widening project is a bit of a mess. Does anyone have any perspective on this? I used to use that road daily hence the interest.

They've just started working on it again after a few months.. It'll be done around 2020. Shame too.

[all2neat]

AW,

That's a lot like O'niel. That project took 5 years.

[cajun]

On 11/7/2014 at 7:50 PM, itsjustme3 said:

Aww jeez. Why?!

I know this is an older post....but is there still a hotel min-boom out in AP?    I figured the contractors and consultants in those plants would drive some of this.  As far as I can tell, demand is still strong but I'm not sure if supply has kept up or not. 

On 12/5/2015 at 7:06 AM, all2neat said:

The latest I've heard is the LA42 widening project is a bit of a mess. Does anyone have any perspective on this? I used to use that road daily hence the interest.

They've been talking about widening 42 for at least 10 years.  If it's still going on at this point, it's a damn shame and a huge mess.

Edited February 9, 2016 by cajun