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Old EBRATS Site


richyb83

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I can't really picture a hotel there.

The Holiday Inn Express is a pretty crappy brand. Not sure I support tax breaks for this even if it does utilize an old structure. I think downtown is past the point where it's inappropriate to be picky.

Budget hotels in downtown settings are always miserable regardless of how new they are.

I'd be fine if it weren't next to the courthouse, or anywhere on North Blvd. I don't support any of it, that location deserves a much better tenant. Another example of Baton Rouge's "better than what we had" mindset.

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I'd be fine if it weren't next to the courthouse, or anywhere on North Blvd. I don't support any of it, that location deserves a much better tenant. Another example of Baton Rouge's "better than what we had" mindset.

 

I'm with you.   This should NOT happen.  

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  • 1 year later...

Thanks for the head's up...I started the EBRATS thread on UP way back & has not been a post since 13'...will have to check it out!

Glad to see that building finally be put to use again! Just thought it could have been better used for office space or location for new downtown library branch. Just doesn't scream hotel at that site on North Blvd..esp with new Courtyard by Marriott set to begin a few blocks away. & Hilton & Indigo nearby.

I realize they wanted to reach the 1,000 room bench mark for the River Center...just thought they'd go about it a different way with a legit high-rise convention-style hotel with a striking view from the bridge.

^Richy's post from the Coffee House thread.

Yes, it was an interesting location for sure. But yeah, it looks really good, like a new building, the blue exterior walls actually don't look too bad. Hopefully with all these visitors they can find a way to keep the Old State Capitol open 5 days a week.

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Thanks for moving this Dan :thumbsup: ...glad this thread came back...even if it's for a little hotel

 

With talk of imploding the ugly ole' Municipal Bldg; that was said to have needed a couple of additional floors of office space(across the street from the Governmental Bldg./behind new courthouse)...thought the EBRATS building would have been ideal for a 5 or 6 story parking garage....with maybe 6 to 8 floors of office space on top.  But looks like that will not be happening.

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No they are different ...The Governmental Bldg is the big boxy 10-story building(the pic Mr Bernham just posted on Library thread)...the old Municipal Bldg is across the street to the east...only 4 floors

 

Ha ha..Dan...looking back we almost had this same conversation back in 10' :lol: ....Post #7 & 8....however the pic of the Municipal bldg. does not show up anymore..just a lil' black box w "X" on it :dontknow:

 

Here's an old pic of the old Municipal bldg...what was it's parking lot is now the new Courthouse

 

http://cdm16340.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15196coll5/id/15/rec/1

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm pretty sure I had mentioned it before, probably the only one in town, but I actually like the Governmental building, it's really impressive looking when looking up at it from the ground from the River Road side and I think with some pressure washing it will look like a new building like the EBRATS.

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Yeah there is a lot of people that "Hate" the look of the Governmental building... can't blame em'...however i'm "on the fence" with it. It's an impressive sized structure...& it is impressive looking when coming up River Road south of the I-10 Bridge.  Is this BR's version of "Brutalist Architecture"? If they ever do demolish it..they would need to make something hopefully as tall & massive

 

Now the 1950's 4-story Municipal bldg. may he been ok in it's time...but agree it's HIDEOUS and should be demolished to make way for a much nicer 7 or 8-story building...at one time there was talk of adding a couple of floors to the top; though not exactly sure how they would pull that off??

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Yeah there is a lot of people that "Hate" the look of the Governmental building... can't blame em'...however i'm "on the fence" with it. It's an impressive sized structure...& it is impressive looking when coming up River Road south of the I-10 Bridge.  Is this BR's version of "Brutalist Architecture"? If they ever do demolish it..they would need to make something hopefully as tall & massive

 

Now the 1950's 4-story Municipal bldg. may he been ok in it's time...but agree it's HIDEOUS and should be demolished to make way for a much nicer 7 or 8-story building...at one time there was talk of adding a couple of floors to the top; though not exactly sure how they would pull that off??

No, it is BR's vesion of 1960's-1950's concrete architecture. Most Brutalist architecture holds many classical elements like Nazi architecture. 

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In pretty sure it was built along with the River Center which according to Wikipedia, was built in 1977.

That would explain why it matches the style of concrete as the River Center arena. Which by the way I think should get a design overhaul/expanded. 

 

I did a study a while ago and the River Center are could easily be the nations largest convention center with some major expansion.

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That would explain why it matches the style of concrete as the River Center arena. Which by the way I think should get a design overhaul/expanded. 

 

I did a study a while ago and the River Center are could easily be the nations largest convention center with some major expansion.

 

Elaborate?  :)

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Elaborate?  :)

Sure!  :thumbsup:

 

Currently the nations largest convention center is McCormick Place in Chicago. It's massive and sits near the lake front. 

 

For Baton Rouge to have a similarly sized or larger complex, the blocks that take up the casino and old Catsfish town plus the deserted blocks next to it would need to be demolished. I would recommend the city simply buy the areas from the owners. In hindsight, this would have been better to do when Catfish Town was first built, and it probably would have has a better pay off than Catfish town did. 

 

Anyways, you take those now vacant blocks and essentially build a convention center over them and add maybe a River Front arena (you would need some water supports for it though). Next you expand the existing convention center to include the old parking garage and the theater. Renovate the arena to a full circle and take the old parking garage and turn it into a high-rise hotel/convention center place. Here is a map on what it could look like: 

 

dym9u8.png

 

I swear I had a different map that was a tad more accurate to my plans as described by my post, but you guys have imaginations.

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I like the Governmental Building. If it is demolished we will have less samples of various architectural styles in Baton Rouge, something we don't really want. All it needs is a little TLC.

I suppose, but when the building is not fully occupied it becomes a question of space management. It would be cool to see a smaller, more elegant city hall be constructed but the Governmental Building become some of that class A office space Downtown so greatly needs and lacks.

Hmm, very interesting. Sometimes I do wonder what else could go there besides the casino.

You could fit a lot of nice stuff there, there is about six blocks to work with there. 

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Hey Mr Bernham...Thanks for sharing those ideas! Got some creativity & imagination there :thumbsup:

 

Could you somehow incorporate the large glass atrium at the Belle?(former in old Catfish Town)...that's a great venue for Boxing matches/MMA Fighting & other events...a high-rise convention style hotel is a great idea(I've mentioned plenty)...and necessary if BR want to take it to the next level.(better than the old EBRATS bldg. being renovated into a Holiday Inn Express.

 

A riverfront arena built on water supports? Is that possible on the Mighty Mississip?? Has any other city been that bold to duplicate along a major river like that?

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Hey Mr Bernham...Thanks for sharing those ideas! Got some creativity & imagination there :thumbsup:

 

Could you somehow incorporate the large glass atrium at the Belle?(former in old Catfish Town)...that's a great venue for Boxing matches/MMA Fighting & other events...a high-rise convention style hotel is a great idea(I've mentioned plenty)...and necessary if BR want to take it to the next level.(better than the old EBRATS bldg. being renovated into a Holiday Inn Express.

 

A riverfront arena built on water supports? Is that possible on the Mighty Mississip?? Has any other city been that bold to duplicate along a major river like that?

Well the problem with the Atrium is that it's so narrow in regards to arenas and its location would be very awkward, but that doesn't mean glass couldn't be incorporated. However, since you asked I'll look more into it. 

 

I think it could be done. The Mighty Mississippi is mighty, but I think that if most was actually on land it could be done.  

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