FuturEBR

[Antrell Williams]

Love the infill. Hopefully they like what they hear.

[itsjustme3]

Planning Commission to look at FuturEBR, River Park

The city-parish Planning & Zoning Commission is set to consider approvals for two downtown projects at its meeting today, along with the possibility of adopting a new comprehensive land use plan for East Baton Rouge Parish. At its 4 p.m. meeting today at the Governmental Building on St. Louis Street, commissioners will review a rezoning request for a 22-unit apartment building on Main Street. Architect Norman Chenevert wants to build a four-story, environmentally friendly development at the space across from the Main Street Market. A final development plan for the River Park mixed-use project will also be considered. Developer Pete Clements wants to divide the 36-acre property next to Hollywood Casino and put a seven-acre park on the Mississippi River. Clements has discussed building hotels, retail and a boardwalk on the property. The first step toward approving the FuturEBR development plan will go before the Planning Commission today. Commissioners will also consider two subdivision plans: the 73-lot Lake at Anselmo development between Anselmo Lane and Perkins Road; and Cheval Point, a 125-lot development off River Road, south of BREC Drive. While Planning Commission staffers have recommended approving the Anselmo project, they have recommended against Cheval Point.

 

Businessreport.com

A final development plan for the River Park mixed-use project will also be considered. Developer Pete Clements wants to divide the 36-acre property next to Hollywood Casino and put a seven-acre park on the Mississippi River. Clements has discussed building hotels, retail and a boardwalk on the property.

A park? This is the area where they spent the money building a railroad underpass? Who is going to take their kid to a park on River Rd next to a casino? 

and Cheval Point, a 125-lot development off River Road, south of BREC Drive.

Where is this? Any info on housing price range? Any info at all?

[Antrell Williams]

Do you have any idea what River Park is?

[dan326]

That's what I'm wondering JustMe, that area will be infested with hobos and thugs.

From businessreport, Jul 18, 2011

"In June 2010, David and Terry Hebert purchased a 50-acre tract on River Road from Seaside Capital. The property is situated south of Farr Park, the BREC Equestrian Facility. The property was purchased for about $41,000 per acre. The Heberts had preliminary drawings completed and have applied for Planning Commission approval. The subject property will be developed as Cheval Point subdivision. GWS Engineering completed the preliminary plat. The lots are proposed to be 70 feet to 80 feet wide and about 150 feet in depth. There will be a total of 122 lots on the land. Streets will be asphalt paved with curbs, gutters and sidewalks. "The location, south of LSU, is easily accessible, and with improvements being made to Brightside Lane, traffic flow should be enhanced," says Terry Hebert."

[Antrell Williams]

Dan and itsjustme2, are we talking about the same River Park?

[richyb83]

This is the most recent River Park rendering..downsized vesion

BTW...Congrats on the BR Forum 12,000 post from a few days ago!!

[Antrell Williams]

I still don't see where thugs would be hanging out.

[itsjustme3]

I still don't see where thugs would be hanging out.

1. There's nothing there on this new land and new railroad underpass.

2. This area was created for a huge vision of apartments and shops and now they want to turn some of it into a park. Really? I remember Kip at that ribbon cutting babbling about those huge plans. And now they want to turn some of it into a park.

3. Who brings their kids to that part of River Rd to go to a park that's next to a casino?

Sorry, but this looks like a huge failure in the making.

[itsjustme3]

That's what I'm wondering JustMe, that area will be infested with hobos and thugs.

From businessreport, Jul 18, 2011

"In June 2010, David and Terry Hebert purchased a 50-acre tract on River Road from Seaside Capital. The property is situated south of Farr Park, the BREC Equestrian Facility. The property was purchased for about $41,000 per acre. The Heberts had preliminary drawings completed and have applied for Planning Commission approval. The subject property will be developed as Cheval Point subdivision. GWS Engineering completed the preliminary plat. The lots are proposed to be 70 feet to 80 feet wide and about 150 feet in depth. There will be a total of 122 lots on the land. Streets will be asphalt paved with curbs, gutters and sidewalks. "The location, south of LSU, is easily accessible, and with improvements being made to Brightside Lane, traffic flow should be enhanced," says Terry Hebert."

And the trend of building south of campus continues. You'd think they'd start 2 laning River Rd now in preparation. Why can't Kip push something like that.

[Antrell Williams]

1. There's nothing there on this new land and new railroad underpass.

2. This area was created for a huge vision of apartments and shops and now they want to turn some of it into a park. Really? I remember Kip at that ribbon cutting babbling about those huge plans. And now they want to turn some of it into a park.

3. Who brings their kids to that part of River Rd to go to a park that's next to a casino?

Sorry, but this looks like a huge failure in the making.

Those plans haven't been abandoned. Do you have the ability to selective read? It clearly states they want a hotel, retail, etc in the section YOU quoted. Good lord.

[itsjustme3]

Those plans haven't been abandoned. Do you have the ability to selective read? It clearly states they want a hotel, retail, etc in the section YOU quoted. Good lord.

Yes, I can read. Thanks

I didn't see anything in the article that hinted or suggested that anything was being built or had plans to be built. Other than a brand new park next to a casino.

[Antrell Williams]

A final development plan for the River Park mixed-use project will also be considered. Developer Pete Clements wants to divide the 36-acre property next to Hollywood Casino and put a seven-acre park on the Mississippi River. Clements has discussed building hotels, retail and a boardwalk on the property.

Where in that does it say they scrapped the original plans for River Park? It obviously states that the park isn't the only thing they want to build. The park has been park of the plans since its proposal.

[steve3n8]

FuturEBR action might first include residential marketing study, Mid City area plan

Implementation of the proposed FuturEBR master plan may include an aggressive marketing plan to promote population growth in the city, planning consultant John Fregonese says. The Planning Commission endorsed the revamp of the parish’s comprehensive plan last night; the Metro Council will take up the plan Sept. 21. If the plan is approved, early-action items would include updating the zoning code, creating a small area plan for Mid City, and creating a marketing plan to attract more residents. Current land uses would be maintained, although new uses would be added in certain areas where appropriate, officials say. The plan seeks to create a streamlined process to promote infill development, and Mid City is seen as particularly ripe for redevelopment with infrastructure improvements and help from the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority. "I think when people see how effective small area planning is, what happens to Mid City, two, three, five years after that plan is adopted, people are going to want them all over," Fregonese says. The housing marketing effort would gather information about the types of housing and communities potential residents want that they can’t find in neighboring parishes, so the officials and developers can work to create those options. "Baton Rouge is aggressive on economic development, but passive on housing development," Fregonese says. "I think it’s really key, both to your financial future and your transportation future, to not be passive but to be entrepreneurial."

Businessreport.com

[itsjustme3]

Where in that does it say they scrapped the original plans for River Park? It obviously states that the park isn't the only thing they want to build. The park has been park of the plans since its proposal.

Get back at me when they break ground on something other than a casino park.

Btw, when the new casino opens, THIS casino will fold. Bank on it. That won't make developers rush in and want to build next to a abandoned casino. This entire project was a mistake IMO

[Antrell Williams]

Get back at me when they break ground on something other than a casino park.

Btw, when the new casino opens, THIS casino will fold. Bank on it. That won't make developers rush in and want to build next to a abandoned casino. This entire project was a mistake IMO

They won't build a park if they don't break ground on the other developments like the hotel or entertainment center. The people in charge aren't idiots.

I love how you can predict the future, that always amazes me.

I don't think the city would have made such a quick rush to build that underpass if it was such a bad idea in the first place.

What else is in your glass ball?

Edited August 23, 2011 by Antrell Williams

[itsjustme3]

They won't build a park if they don't break ground on the other developments like the hotel or entertainment center. The people in charge aren't idiots.

So developers never make mistakes?

Funny

[Antrell Williams]

Tell me why they would build a park if nothing is there.

[itsjustme3]

Tell me why they would build a park if nothing is there.

They need to do SOMETHING or some people will need to do some serious explaining as to why there was a need for a millions dollar rail road overpass.

[Antrell Williams]

So you got worked up over the fact that you think they should build SOMETHING there, and you just randomly picked the riverfront park as the first thing to break-ground. That's what it looks like on my screen.

[itsjustme3]

So you got worked up over the fact that you think they should build SOMETHING there, and you just randomly picked the riverfront park as the first thing to break-ground. That's what it looks like on my screen.

No, you asked why are they doing it.

[Antrell Williams]

Because you somehow came to the conclusion that they wanted to build only a park there.

[itsjustme3]

Because you somehow came to the conclusion that they wanted to build only a park there.

No, I'm saying there has been zero news of restaurants, stores or residential units being built. When the only thing getting built is a park then the project is in trouble.

[Antrell Williams]

"A river park development planned near Hollywood Casino downtown would include an outdoor concert venue, two hotels, restaurants, shops and apartments, as well as a public boardwalk on the Mississippi River."

http://www.downtownbatonrouge.org/aboutNewsRPupdate.asp

[itsjustme3]

"A river park development planned near Hollywood Casino downtown would include an outdoor concert venue, two hotels, restaurants, shops and apartments, as well as a public boardwalk on the Mississippi River."

http://www.downtownbatonrouge.org/aboutNewsRPupdate.asp

Yes, I remember reading that, back in April 2010. It's good to know that 16 months later they are thinking about building a park there. No word of anything else. Just a park. And when/if the casino folds after the 3rd casino opens next year then that entire area, next to the new park, will become a huge eyesore. But atleast we'll have that new expensive railroad overpass out of all of this.

Is that 100% guaranteed to happen? No. But the clock is ticking fast.

btw, increasing your font size doesn't make a 2010 statement correct. Just means you're linking to a 16 month old article about "plans" for the site.

Edited August 24, 2011 by itsjustme2

[Antrell Williams]

A final development plan for the River Park mixed-use project will also be considered. Developer Pete Clements wants to divide the 36-acre property next to Hollywood Casino and put a seven-acre park on the Mississippi River. Clements has discussed building hotels, retail and a boardwalk on the property.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Antrell Williams