River Park

[richyb83]

Drew mentioned this the other day; along with my reply on BR Growth & Development thread. This will be a fantastic development if it goes thru for the north-side of the CBD. My guess/hopes of a 15-story condo could be true

I'll post location soon; when it's not so late

Riverfront developer seeks railroad underpass

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/13784857.html

Developer Pete Clements said Monday that after completing his purchase of 36 acres on the downtown riverfront, his top priority is building an underpass under the railroad tracks. Clements, who unveiled the project almost a year ago, said he still plans to build a mix of about 800 to 1,200 residential units, along with commercial space in what is tentatively being called

[richyb83]

"Circled in Red" is the 36 acre site location near Hollywood Casino on the north side of downtown.

*compliments of Dan

[byrde]

It is important for that area to have this underpass built. That area will look so much better if Hollywood is able to grow and a residental tower is built. A Rock yard is not the kind of neighbor you want for a Casino or Capitol Park.

[KathrynM]

This will be a great addition to downtown. Thanks for the info!

[cajun]

Yall sure it's a good idea to build an underpass on the other side of the levee (actually through the levee)? Maybe an overpass would be better....

Anyways, this combined with Hollywood's new riverfront hotel would spruce up the riverfront up there....maybe block the view of the refinery back there. That particular neighborhood could use something decent to look at.

Hopefull the casino hotel will include a nice restarant and bar....and sidewalks to connect the levee top with the rest of downtown and the casino and condos.

And as for the riverfront park......is that still happening or what?

Edited January 16, 2008 by cajun

[byrde]

There is no levee along that part of the river on the BR side.

[twstdndmntd]

With something in the range of 10-15 stories that is really going to elongate our skyline. I think it's a great idea for that area tho. But I question people actually buying in there. I mean if you buy on the north side of the building your view is going to be of ExxonMobile, not exactly the greatest view to have. Someone mentioned not having a levee there. Is that true? and why is there no levee? I've been to Hollywood Casino but never really noticed that before. I hope that with the aspect of this kind of development they would continue the levee top brick path to connect all of this. I have long said that the brick path should at least go all the way to the Capital. I think it would be nice if the tourist could walk from one end of downtown to the other on the levee.

[dan326]

This is so exciting! I hope it happens.

[buckett5425]

The reason there is no levee right there, is because that is where the Istrouma Bluff Meets the river. It meets the River right by the Casino and then almost diagonaly heads straight to LSU. This of course being the reason why Downtown sits above the river, but a small levee is needed directly infront of downtown, because the Bluff has already begun to slope back from the river.

[twstdndmntd]

The reason there is no levee right there, is because that is where the Istrouma Bluff Meets the river. It meets the River right by the Casino and then almost diagonaly heads straight to LSU. This of course being the reason why Downtown sits above the river, but a small levee is needed directly infront of downtown, because the Bluff has already begun to slope back from the river.

Thanks for that buckett, I had never noticed before. I never noticed driving up River Rd that the road goes up tho. Maybe I need to go ride downtown this weekend and be a lil more observant LOL.

[buckett5425]

Thanks for that buckett, I had never noticed before. I never noticed driving up River Rd that the road goes up tho. Maybe I need to go ride downtown this weekend and be a lil more observant LOL.

Your welcome twstdndmntd lol

The Bluff is a cool topographical feature of Baton Rouge, especially around LSU and Highland Road(which gets its name from following the high land along the bluff). The Historic Part of the LSU campus sits on top of the bluff, the greek theater is built into the side of it, and one place most people would recognize the elevation change is at "Victory Hill" by the staduim and journalism building. Also, Southern is located on the bluff, giving it a awesome view of the river.

Edited January 17, 2008 by buckett5425

[richyb83]

Hey yall great topic! Very interesting! The bluff is so gradual north of the Capitol it's hard to catch. I like the slopes going down Government Street next to the RiverCenter and North Blvd. next to the Old State Capitol.

I did not realize the Ampitheatre at LSU was part of the bluff?? That's really cool. Is the bluff broke-up between LSU and Downtown?? I notice those slopes around Tiger Stadium & the street to the north going back to the Tennis courts. OSBR has some nice slopes too.

[buckett5425]

Here is a map I made trying to depicting the western edge of the bluff, everything to the east of the red line, of course, being high land. Things get tricky around LSU, because a creek does run from down town to the edge of the lakes, and then down to bayou duplantier. But, what I drew was my most educated guess. But I can tell you the lines around encomposing LSU and running south from there down Highland Road are correct. For that one gap I left in between LSU and Downtown, im not really sure about there placement without further study.......FYI: the only reason I know some of this is because we had to do a project on it in studio a year ago. It was interesting. LSU really does sit on a little plateau(surrounded by three sides) above the flood plains, this is why all the original buildings were built there, simply to be on the high ground.

[byrde]

Highland Road is a good marker to use for determining where the "natural" levee or the bluff is located. Even when you are along Highland as far south as Bluebonnet and Siegen. When you are on one of those two streets heading to highland, the streets both take you down a slight hill before you get to Highland.

The land Southern sits on is even higher than the location of River Park.

[richyb83]

Thanks for the interesting info and nice map I see the red line also goes to the East of the University Lake?? Cool that LSU would sit on a mini plateau; makes good sense.

I imagine Southern U. would probably be the highest elevation in the city. Beautiful location. Historic Highland Road is BR's most unique road IMO. I am glad they have kept/preserved it with 2 lanes(exeption of badly needed turn lanes). The Burbank Expressway that closely parallel's Highland was built for that exact purpose.

[cajun]

With something in the range of 10-15 stories that is really going to elongate our skyline. I think it's a great idea for that area tho. But I question people actually buying in there. I mean if you buy on the north side of the building your view is going to be of ExxonMobile, not exactly the greatest view to have.

A partial view of exxon would be neat in a really weird sort of way.

Maybe it's my inner engineer, but I wouldn't mind a view of the capitol lake and a partial view of Exxon....so long as it wasn't the only thing that I could see.

I'd pay more for a loft space on the southern end where I could see downtown and LSU....or maybe even something in Port Allen if we are talking about views.

Edited January 20, 2008 by cajun

[twstdndmntd]

thanks for the map buckett. But I thought the reason we had that "high land" was because way back in the day that was the natural levee for the river. Is that true?

[buckett5425]

thanks for the map buckett. But I thought the reason we had that "high land" was because way back in the day that was the natural levee for the river. Is that true?

You are right, there is a natural levee along the river, but the Istroma Bluff is independant of it and is a seperate land form.

[richyb83]

Some more info(alot of it the same)This really sounds HUGE!!! Can't wait to see some renderings! Maybe we will see something in a month or two at the Planning Commission meeting??

Riverfront development in the works

http://www.businessreport.com/archives/rea...-weekly/latest/

A proposal to rezone 32 acres next to Hollywood Casino and build a mixed-use development with apartments/condominiums, hotels and restaurants should go before the Planning Commission in the next month or two. Pete Clements, who bought the site last month, says he wants to build a development with 950 residential units, featuring a mix of apartments and condos, a hotel and 375,000 square feet of retail space. Clements says a major hotel operator and "one or two national restaurant chains" are interested in the development. "They want to be on the (Mississippi) river," he says. "That's the focus." Construction of a railroad underpass to improve access to Hollywood and Clements' development is scheduled to begin in June or July. Both parties are splitting the $7 million price tag. The project should be completed by summer 2009. Hollywood wants to bring in a larger gambling boat and make improvements to its property once the access is improved. Clements says he and the casino are working on their development plans separately, but will combine their interests later. --Timothy Boone

[buckett5425]

This is exactly what the casino needed. The casino is getting what pinnacle only promises, their proposed "town center", and they arnt having to pay for a dime for a hotel resturants and condos, minus the over pass. This could save our downtown casinos! This sounds like a great development. I only wish it was a little closer to the business district, so the skyline wouldnt be so spread out. But who cares, I just hope things dont fall through! lol

[twstdndmntd]

This is exactly what the casino needed. The casino is getting what pinnacle only promises, their proposed "town center", and they arnt having to pay for a dime for a hotel resturants and condos, minus the over pass. This could save our downtown casinos! This sounds like a great development. I only wish it was a little closer to the business district, so the skyline wouldnt be so spread out. But who cares, I just hope things dont fall through! lol

I think this could actually be a done deal, especially with the recent Pinnacle win. I see Hollywood really pushing hard to get this done and done quickly.

[richyb83]

Good to see these projects come back in the news...1st the Renaissance Hotel on Bluebonnet, now River Park!! Can't wait to see some renderings! This project should form a nice little skyline north of the State Capitol!

Master plan complete for riverfront project

Developer Pete Clements says the master plan is complete for River Park, his mixed-use development on 36.3 acres next to Hollywood Casino. Mayor Kip Holden and Clements will announce the details at Tuesday

[Nick83]

2 The Advocate

I found an article on 2 the Advocate this morning about the River Park development. It has a few renderings and has some information about the development, pretty cool stuff.

Edited May 13, 2008 by Nick83

[buckett5425]

that rendering is more then i could have ever imagined. assuming everything were built tomorrow, it would triple the amount of preexisting high rises downtown. Now, lets just cross our fingers!

[byrde]

Man that looks like something in Florida. I hope it get's done.