The IBM Block

[cajun]

Seemed to go up quick! Don't we wish all the projects began like this!

It helps to have a big name like IBM attached.  

Maybe we'll see another one like it soon in another industry sector. 

[greg225]

Downtown apartment building now open              

The 525 Lafayette apartment building, which is next to the IBM building downtown, opened over the weekend.

 

Tina Rance, a spokeswoman for Commercial Properties Realty Trust, which developed 525 Lafayette and the IBM offices, told Downtown Development District commissioners Tuesday that people started moving into the luxury apartment building over the Labor Day weekend.

525 Lafayette has 85 apartments. Rance said the building is currently about 50 percent occupied.

In other business, Commissioner Gordon LeBlanc Jr. discussed his plans to redevelop 640 Main St., the old Butler Furniture building, into office space. LeBlanc bought the building last year for $530,000.

Plans are to have the work completed by the end of the year. Chenevert Architects will move from its current location at 315 Third Street and take up about 5,000 square feet. There will be two 1,200-square-foot offices available for lease. LeBlanc also owns the Liberto Building at 626 Main St. He told commissioners he plans to redevelop that space in three or four years once some leases on the property run out.     

Gabe Vicknair, assistant executive director for the DDD, discussed an enterprise zone swap that allowed Matherne’s Market to get some tax incentives for its downtown grocery store.

Vicknair said downtown has been designated as an economic development zone since 1995. But a portion of the neighborhood that includes Matherne’s wasn’t designated as an enterprise zone, meaning that a grocery store with more than 100 employees couldn’t claim tax credits. The tax credits allow Matherne’s to get $2,500 per employee and a 4 percent rebate on building materials it purchased.

Because state law limits the number of enterprise zones in a parish, the DDD worked with Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker to move a zone south of LSU into downtown. Vicknair said the zone was underutilized, because it was along a section of Burbank Drive that is primarily zoned residential.   http://theadvocate.com/news/13391417-123/downtown-apartment-building-now-open

[greg225]

http://www.nola.com/business/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/09/downtown_baton_rouges_ibm_blends_100_ye.html                         

Edited September 16, 2015 by greg225

[cajun]

http://www.nola.com/business/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/09/downtown_baton_rouges_ibm_blends_100_ye.html                         

Looks great.  I don't think they'll have problems finding people willing to work in that office....hopefully LSU and other schools in the region can provide good, qualified applicants.

A lot of IBM facilities are nice, but most are in suburban areas flanked by parking lots.   What Baton Rouge has going against it for an IBM office location (poor airport service, traffic, etc.), the facility looks top notch and IMO is an advantage.  It's very different from the usual tech centers, which seem to try to mimic the campus-like environments established by the big players like Google or Apple.   I think their employee's will like this downtown setting, and their contractors will enjoy being able to stay in business-centric hotels within walking distance in downtown area like Hampton or the new Courtyard (if it happens).   They won't need to expense car rentals since most off those hotels have airport shuttles.  

Edited October 1, 2015 by cajun

[richyb83]

Pardon the pic from the car; did that quick! lol...taken from Laurel Street @ Lafayette Street

The bland wall on the bottom ....not the most attractive looking /parking gargage

Edited December 6, 2015 by richyb83

[greg225]

I wonder when they suppose to develop the townhouse condo's near the IBM building?                                     

Edited December 6, 2015 by greg225

[Antrell Williams]

I think construction on the townhomes are scheduled to begin soon, after the IBM building itself.

[richyb83]

I think Antrell is right...would hope at least by the Spring time

Greg225...Like the different  angle...looking down at the townhomes...never saw that one before...good news the townhomes will cover the blank wall in that pic

[Mr. Burnham]

Downtown in good shape, and just getting better. Spent a few hours there last weekend, but some really sketchy people surrounding Town Square, so I stayed away (though typically I enjoy sitting and reading there). They need to move the bus station because not only is it a cluster F**k, but as much as I hate to say it, it's starting to make that area look bad and feel unsafe. 

[greg225]

7 hours ago, mr. bernham said:

Downtown in good shape, and just getting better. Spent a few hours there last weekend, but some really sketchy people surrounding Town Square, so I stayed away (though typically I enjoy sitting and reading there). They need to move the bus station because not only is it a cluster F**k, but as much as I hate to say it, it's starting to make that area look bad and feel unsafe. 

Town Square was build because of a transit grant that CATS received. DDD need to buy Town Square from CATS and maybe a better location can be founded.

Edited December 8, 2015 by greg225

[Antrell Williams]

They need to build a brand new bus station, the current one is an embarrassment. 

[dan326]

Is Town Square supposed to be a bus station or bus stop?

[Mr. Burnham]

8 hours ago, dan326 said:

Is Town Square supposed to be a bus station or bus stop?

Bus stop, but it's turned into a defacto station. 

[greg225]

A look at 525 Lafayette and its many views over the Mississippi River

 

 

(Photography by Tim Mueller)

525 LAFAYETTE

525 Lafayette St.

Owner/developer: Commercial Properties Realty Trust
Architect: Antunovich Associates
Contractor: The Lemoine Co.
Cost: $30 million
Year completed: October 2015

Use: Risen from the ashes of The Advocate’s old downtown headquarters, 525 Lafayette is the residential component that was built in conjunction with IBM’s swanky new riverfront office tower in Baton Rouge. The 11-story complex features 85 units equipped with smart home technology that allows residents to control their apartment’s electronics from their phones. Other amenities include LED lighting, quartz countertops, hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. The top floor houses a handful of penthouse suites, two of which cover more than 2,000 square feet each. The rooftop pool overlooks the Mississippi River—in fact, few spaces in this tower lack a riverfront view.

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION: 

“Efficiency was definitely one of the major things we were going after, not only in the technology aspect, but also in the overall design of the building. We really wanted to maximize the views. There really isn’t a product like that on the river, and we were trying to orient the building so that as many units as possible could either take advantage of the river or look back downtown as well.”       https://www.businessreport.com/realestate/look-525-lafayette-many-views-mississippi-river

[richyb83]

Sweet!  What a nice view!   Would be curious to go inside one of the units; esp. the penthouses

 

Now if they will just get started with that Signature-Landmark high-rise condo tower  over on the next block  to the south

[dan326]

To use the infamous phrase, it doesn't even look like Baton Rouge, lol.

[cajun]

The IBM building is gorgeous, and that company will have a huge impact on the local job market.    I hope Baton Rouge lands a few more developments like that over the next decade as companies take advantage of the relatively low salaries in the region.   

Hopefully we see another "win" soon so the region can ride the economic development momentum.

Edited January 5, 2016 by cajun

[Antrell Williams]

Hopefully IBM and the Water Campus will attract companies like GE, Boeing, Cardinal Health, or Aetna to the region. A regional Aetna office in a 10 story building in the Health District and GE in the 3rd through 8 floors of a 17 story skyscraper on the NW corner of 5th and Laurel. One or two floors dedicated to LSU and SU tech students and an adjacent parking garage with a crosswalk over Laurel St. 

[richyb83]

Another Broken Egg to open third location in downtown Baton Rouge,

Another Broken Egg Café is coming to downtown Baton Rouge.

The restaurant, which has locations on CitiPlace Court and Bluebonnet Boulevard, will move into the new IBM building downtown. A tentative opening date has been set for this fall. It will be located on the first floor of the building at the corner of Lafayette and North streets.

Mary Deas Dunn, Another Broken Egg’s regional manager in Baton Rouge, said at this morning’s Downtown Development District meeting that the restaurant’s soon-to-be third location downtown will be open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., seven days a week.

https://www.businessreport.com/business/another-broken-egg-open-third-location-downtown-baton-rouge-plans-fourth-airline-2

[cajun]

On 12/6/2015 at 11:23 AM, greg225 said:

I wonder when they suppose to develop the townhouse condo's near the IBM building?                                     

Harder to get financing for condos after the latest real estate market crash.   Much easier for rental properties. 

It's a shame, but I think condos would be more stable in the Baton Rouge market especially heading into this recession, and I don't think they'd have a problem selling them assuming the pricing is reasonable and there is available parking....but I'd be skeptical on the market right now if I were developing them. 

On 1/6/2016 at 10:33 PM, Antrell Williams said:

Hopefully IBM and the Water Campus will attract companies like GE, Boeing, Cardinal Health, or Aetna to the region. A regional Aetna office in a 10 story building in the Health District and GE in the 3rd through 8 floors of a 17 story skyscraper on the NW corner of 5th and Laurel. One or two floors dedicated to LSU and SU tech students and an adjacent parking garage with a crosswalk over Laurel St. 

Louisiana needs to continue its aggressive corporate recruitment.   IMO, it's only started to take this seriously in the past 8-10 years.  It could take 10 more to really see major results in sectors other than oil and gas.  The IBM project was a huge win for the state and the city.   I'd like to see more big blue chip companies like FedEx, GE, Boeing, General Motors, or one of the health care giants gain a presence locally.....but I also want to see more manufacturing jobs along the river and to the north of the parish (ideally projects similar to the Hawker Beechcraft prospect Louisiana came close to getting 5-6 years ago - in sectors that don't already exist in Louisiana).

Hopefully Baton Rouge gets some of this focus as well instead of just the scraps from other, more politically connected cities.

Edited February 16, 2016 by cajun

[richyb83]

^ They are going to start on the Luxury Townhomes soon...supposed to be early May...the project has been delayed twice by high water levels in the river...funny...because it didn't stop the IBM Complex from being built & it's taller....

Level Construction to break ground on downtown luxury apartments by early May

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not allow pile driving in close proximity to the river when water levels exceed a certain point.

But groundbreaking on the Belvedere has also been delayed because of modifications to the original plans for the units, which range in size from 4,500 to 5,000 square feet. All four units are pre-sold, and Waguespack says the buyers wanted changes.

“When the buyers came in, we had to go back and redesign some things,” he says. “That slowed us up quite a bit.”

Everyone has since signed off on the plans, and the river is expected to recede to construction-safe levels by the end of the month. Waguespack plans to start construction by the first week of May. The project is expected to take about 12 months to complete.

https://www.businessreport.com/article/level-construction-break-ground-downtown-luxury-apartments-early-may

[dan326]

I was wonder what was holding those up, definitely interesting to know that they've all been sold.

[richyb83]

Pretty cool the see a restaurant at street level in the IBM building

"Another Broken Egg Cafe"

[cajun]

On 7/4/2016 at 0:05 AM, richyb83 said:

Pretty cool the see a restaurant at street level in the IBM building

"Another Broken Egg Cafe"

Great photo. 

On 4/19/2016 at 9:20 PM, dan326 said:

I was wonder what was holding those up, definitely interesting to know that they've all been sold.

There's only 4 units in there?  Looks bigger than that.   Good news that they were sold.

Maybe other developers will be less bashful about owner occupied residential buildings in downtown BR.

[richyb83]

True Cajun...4,500-5,000 sq ft of living space is HUGE

The Belvedere is starting to go up...my pic didn't come out ok...maybe next time when they are further along

 

IBM mixed-use complex receives People’s Choice Award at 2016 Good Growth Awards

IBM’s mixed-use complex in downtown Baton Rouge is this year’s recipient of the People’s Choice Award given by the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition during the 2016 Good Growth Awards on Thursday night.

The award is given to a development or project completed in 2015 or 2016 that has the greatest impact on the quality of life in the Baton Rouge community. Other nominees include 440 on Third, also located downtown, and the new Woman’s Hospital on Airline Highway.

The Good Growth Awards, which were presented at the Renaissance Hotel, are now in their 20th year. They honor projects and developers that have “raised the bar of development” in Baton Rouge.

The $55 million IBM complex—which includes an eight-story office tower, 11-story apartment building and parking garage overlooking the Mississippi River—has long been considered a milestone project with far-reaching implications for Baton Rouge.

Tom Cook, a Baton Rouge Growth Coalition board member, says the project is notable for IBM’s presence in the community and the jobs it has spurred.

Commercial Properties Realty Trust developed the project. Andrews said the IBM building is the first riverfront office and/or residential tower in downtown Baton Rouge in more than 80 years. The tower and the partnership that brought the project to life is frequently used as a recruiting tool by the Louisiana Economic Development, he said.

Other projects that were honored with 2016 Good Growth Awards on Thursday evening include: Dupree Apartments, 440 on Third, Creative Bloc, 450 Main Street, Women’s Hospital, the Cajun Industries office expansion, The Advocate headquarters, 1010 Nic, The Long Farm, The Taylor Port rooftop garden, Model Block and the River Road transformation project.

Outgoing Mayor Kip Holden thanked developers for the work they’ve done to transform Baton Rouge.

“Twelve years ago this was a sleepy city, but look at all the professionals that have gathered here today and what they’ve done to turn it around,” he said, adding that they’ve made a difference on the quality of life in the Capital City.

https://www.businessreport.com/article/ibm-mixed-use-complex-receives-peoples-choice-award-2016-good-growth-awards