Downtown Historical Sites

[Antrell Williams]

I was just looking at that building a couple weeks ago, that's good news. Yup, the Riverplace site is just south of that on the next block.

[richyb83]

Cool story on old Roumain Bldg on Third Street..my Dad still talks about going to the doctor at that old building as a kid...

http://theadvocate.com/features/people/2554875-123/br-landmarks

[cajun]

According to the daily report, 16 more condos are being built behind the Tessier building on Lafayette (near Poor Boy Lloyds). This is in addition to the handful of units already in the building.

It is one of the oldest commercial buildings in the city. Doesn't sound like they are altering the appearance of it...just building a new structure behind it that I am guessing will be accessed through the old building on Lafayette.

I am glad the smaller in fill developments are happening before the large scale construction waters down the market.

Edited May 8, 2012 by cajun

[richyb83]

Thanks for posting Cajun I'm diggin these infil developments! Pic of old Tessier Bldg in above Post #25

New condos planned for Tessier Building site

A set of 16 condos is planned for the space just behind the historic Tessier Building on Lafayette Street, architect Dyke Nelson announced this morning at the Downtown Development District's regular monthly meeting. Buquet and LeBlanc will be the general contractor on the project, which is slated for a groundbreaking in June or July. Three apartments in the recently renovated building, said to be the oldest commercial building in Baton Rouge, already have secured tenants, Nelson says

http://www.businessreport.com/section/daily-reportAM

[Antrell Williams]

The current units look great if they are the ones I'm talking about.

[cajun]

The preliminary photo in the advocate today looked nice. Almost $200K for 600 sq ft is a tad optimistic but doable if that is the list price.

If they can sell profitably for $160K, consider it a win....assuming they are high quality.

Thinking $700 mortgage with these rates, $200 property tax, and $200 HOA....not a bad monthly cost for an average state worker salary.

Edited May 9, 2012 by cajun

[richyb83]

Here's some renderings(unable to post) in this mornings Advocate ...looks nice! The Lafayette House? To fit even just 16-units in a small space would require them to go up...4-stories will look cool in that location!

http://theadvocate.com/home/2782954-125/condos-planned-for-downtown

Condos planned for downtown

The team behind the renovation of the Tessier building on Lafayette Street downtown is planning a four-story, 16-unit condominium development on the lot behind the building.

Developers Dyke Nelson and David Weinstein told the Downtown Development District on Tuesday that the roughly $2 million Lafayette House will feature four single-bedroom units per floor at just over 600 square feet per unit.

Nelson, who is also the architect on the project, said they are holding off on the design of the top floor in case a buyer wants a larger floor plan.

The property will feature a courtyard surrounding the building and balconies that take advantage of the view.

Nelson noted that the design will use transparent materials to allow for more light and prevent visual obstruction.

The units, which will be $185,000 on the first two floors and $195,000 on the third, will have prearranged financing.

Buyers will be required to put down 5 percent, Nelson said.

Construction is projected to begin this summer with the first residents moving in by the fall of 2013.

Nelson said the three residential units he and Weinstein put in the Tessier building, which also includes office space, were snapped up so quickly that they decided to build the Lafayette House.

While some condominium sales have lagged in some parts of the parish, Nelson said, the market is strong downtown because there is unmet demand for residential development.

The 9,850-square-foot Tessier building, the oldest building in the parish, also has four commercial spaces, three of which are leased.

The DDD also heard that the 22-unit affordable housing development called 438 Main Street will be completed in September and already has 40 people on the list to rent units there. DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer said residential development is a key part of moving downtown forward because it puts people downtown around the clock to feed restaurants and other businesses.“It makes the ultimate difference in how downtown continues to grow,” he said.“It’s really going to be key for restaurant owners and business owners to be successful throughout the year,” agreed Eric Macicek, who owns a nearby bar called The Office, with Brandt Broussard.

Macicek told the DDD about plans to open Restaurant IPO in The Office building, serving Southern-inspired tapas items such as redfish tacos and duck crepes.

The restaurant should be completed in June, he said

[cajun]

Pretty sure it is immediately behind the older building on Lafayette.

Either way...that makes about 40 units total between this, the rennovation of the old structure, and the new place over on Main.

I'd like to see some of the class B or C offices above the spaces on third street converted to housing as well.

Edited May 9, 2012 by cajun

[itsjustme3]

The preliminary photo in the advocate today looked nice. Almost $200K for 600 sq ft is a tad optimistic but doable if that is the list price.

200k for basically a studio apartment? in Baton Rouge?

oookkkkkk

[Antrell Williams]

Soon downtown will be like New York CIty!!!!

[buckett5425]

200k for basically a studio apartment? in Baton Rouge?

oookkkkkk

Location Location Location.

[cajun]

200k for basically a studio apartment? in Baton Rouge?

oookkkkkk

They are not studios. In fact, the plans indicate that they are larger than the two bedroom place I lived in near NYU 5 years ago.

Since when do you pay asking price for a home? Have you see mortgage rates lately? This is the correct price point for the time, and there are few alternatives in that location. The renters are the ones getting screwed today, not the buyers.

Your opinion on downtown is pretty negative. Why is that? All evidence points to a slow but steady recovery.

I think they'll sell around $175K if they don't suck.

Edited May 10, 2012 by cajun

[itsjustme3]

Like I said. $200k for 600 sq ft in Baton Rouge is laughable.

[buckett5425]

Like I said. $200k for 600 sq ft in Baton Rouge is laughable.

You act as though ALL properties in Downtown will be $333 bucks per sqft. They wont, they developer/architect has found a niche that a FEW people are willing to pay for. The majority of people will not pay that price for a small unit. But they are clearly designed for middle class, single or young couple, professionals that are looking for something a little different than a single family spec home in South Baton Rouge. The market downtown will respond to all demand, including highend efficiency or something more comparable to suburban apartments like the new apartments going up on main.

Im working on some houses in Spanish Town that are just shy of 800 sqft and will prob sell for almost the same amount as the new development you question. So its not unreasonable. People that want to live in creative and diverse neighborhoods pay a premium, I know I sure do, but its worth it. I love walking to the grocery on a pretty day and to live after 5 on Fridays. I can't think of many neighborhoods you can do that in here in br....

[richyb83]

Some nice pics of old Post WWII Buildings downtown in this mornings Advocate...

 

Cant find the post w the pic from a while back...but Buckett & I discussed this sleek building downtown we both liked that was built in 1955(Fifth/Laurel)...the old Union Federal Savings & Loan Association Bldg..a mid-century modern building....pic is 1st shown in article link....other pic include: the old BR Savings & Loan; most recently EBRATS bldg....the old Drug Store w Coca Cola Sign on top(Third/Florida) etc...

 

Walking through history...Downtown BR holds sleek gems of post-war optimism

 

Downtown Baton Rouge has a handful of interesting historic buildings and many modern ones, but only recently have preservationists turned their attention to its mid-century modern buildings.

In the past few years, post-World War II buildings have become an important area of study among preservationists and historians. With their simplicity, sleekness and strong lines, the buildings conveyed a feeling of American optimism following the war.

 

On Tuesday, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana will pay tribute to downtown Baton Rouge’s most distinctive post-World War II buildings

 

“During World War II, Baton Rouge benefited greatly from increased wartime production,” Sykes said. “Standard Oil was a major supplier of jet fuel and a new synthetic rubber. The growth of these industries created a thriving growing economy that continued to expand during the post-war 1950s.”

 

The new petrochemical industry also brought money and a tremendous influx of people to the area. “The city’s population of 153,100 in 1956 had increased a whopping 340 percent from the 34,719 residents recorded in 1940,” Sykes said “Amazing changes were happening for us in the ’50s.” Downtown was the business center for the expanding economy. In less than a decade, many of the old downtown homes were torn down to make way for modern commercial buildings.

 

“At the time, the buildings being built downtown were the center of everything for Baton Rouge,” Sykes said. “Hometown talent created them — Ralph Bodman, Dick Murrell, Hays Town, John Wilson, Robert Coleman and John Desmond — but they were influenced by major trends going on.”

 

Sykes has selected a number of the surviving mid-century modern buildings for the tour, which will begin at the Old Governor’s Mansion

 

*Rest of article*

http://theadvocate.com/features/people/5842322-123/walking-through-history

[richyb83]

Not all of these potential historic landmarks mentioned in this article are downtown(but a lot are in downtown)...maybe we can change the name of this thread & delete downtown(even though many are)??

 

http://theadvocate.com/home/8004965-125/labeling-landmarks

 

Waaay too many to mention....The Pentagon Barracks are cool...Commerce Bldg...Fluer de Lis pizza down Government St.....even the Perkins Road Overpass is mentioned

Edited January 31, 2014 by richyb83

[timelordnerd]

Is this what BR used to be or look like?

 

If so, how did we go from that to what we have now?

[steve3n8]

LOL! No

 

BR didn't have that many buildings back then........but maybe one day!!! Hopefully

[richyb83]

Wish those old pics in above post still showed up....

The Watermark  great addition to the downtown skyline when all lit-up at night   Easily visible from I-110...Some nice pics in article...also talks about Magpie Cafe at Commerce Bldg (looks great at night on Third Street too) & BR HS Renovation in Mid-city

The Watermark Hotel brings Baton Rouge’s past to life

https://www.225batonrouge.com/community/watermark-hotel-brings-baton-rouges-past-life

 

[richyb83]

Could Beauregard Town become Baton Rouge's third local historic district?

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_7eb80e42-db87-11eb-a9e7-63085e419940.html

The old downtown neighborhood with  4 diagonal streets in the grid.....

[cajun]

13 hours ago, richyb83 said:

Could Beauregard Town become Baton Rouge's third local historic district?

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_7eb80e42-db87-11eb-a9e7-63085e419940.html

The old downtown neighborhood with  4 diagonal streets in the grid.....

Anyone else surprised that it's not already a historic district?

[dan326]

10 hours ago, cajun said:

Anyone else surprised that it's not already a historic district?

Right?