Another one moving to Baton Rouge! (college, live, shop)

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by darylwi

You are right. Unchecked growth, with poor planning (including traffic) doesn't help our current problems at all. Most of the major streets in the city, let along south BR are actually designed to handle the capacity. The most problems come from poorly designed intersections and poor traffic light synchronization. There is an update coming to the intersection of Acadian & Perkins. Hopefully that helps a little more.
I will say that I have never met a group of people as Southdowners who are so quick to complain about every little thing that goes on anywhere near their neighborhood but never appear to offer any kind of solutions to anything. With them, it literally is, "Not In My Back Yard, Not on My Watch, I Don't Want Anything to Change, Ever". I could understand if Pinnacle was trying to build a land casino there, but we're talking about a replacement WalMart when the old one previously existed just down the road, road construction to adjust intersections, raising the interstate over Perkins to widen it but it would open up room and brighten the area near the Overpass, and of course TNDs. It just appears that with Southdowns, you can't win. And by all means, they aren't the only ones, but they sure do appear to be the best (or "worst" depending on your POV).

I think POV has a lot to do with it. Also depends on where you live and how it affects your daily life. Pinnacle? I couldn't care less. Walmart ... nasty, nasty no matter where you slap one down. The one on Perkins was definitely ghetto! Ever notice the difference between WM and Target? Like night and day. I don't know where you're getting your information, but ... Southdowns, University Gardens, and surrounding neighborhoods are all about living a diverse lifestyle. Funny how people who don't live in the area think they have a right to dictate how far that should go.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by CindyM

It's like Wampold's Crescent at University Lake. He totally screwed up Stanford for his own selfish interest. Have you driven by there lately? Talk about a mess and it's only going to get worse when people begin moving in. And look out next football season! It would appear if you're a wealthy developer (is that an oxymoron?) in BR you can do whatever the hell you please.

I drive by there a fair amount. I thought it was interesting that they've made Stanford a divided highway for that section of the street. Honestly don't know if it's created gridlock, though.

Yes, developers have a lot of power. Which is the case in just about everywhere except for "no growth" towns like Boulder, CO. But you also have a very powerful NIMBY contingent in BR. Case in point: I read one of the anti Rouzan items you provided us. Their big beef was the fact that in about 10 places, Rouzan will connect to Southdowns. Isn't that (distributed traffic pattern) what we want ? I'm just trying to be consistent here, as you will always have a tension between neighborhood parochialism, rampant development, and doing what's best infrastructure wise for all of BR.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by CindyM

I think POV has a lot to do with it. Also depends on where you live and how it affects your daily life. Pinnacle? I couldn't care less. Walmart ... nasty, nasty no matter where you slap one down. The one on Perkins was definitely ghetto! Ever notice the difference between WM and Target? Like night and day. I don't know where you're getting your information, but ... Southdowns, University Gardens, and surrounding neighborhoods are all about living a diverse lifestyle. Funny how people who don't live in the area think they have a right to dictate how far that should go.

I'd like to throw in a bit about Wal-Mart. The one on College is nasty (yes, the old Perkins one was WORSE), but that area (the former Village Square as we old timers remember) of College was decaying and wouldn't work as a residential neighborhood or anything else but a place to put a "big box" retailer.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by BRMan

... I read one of the anti Rouzan items you provided us. Their big beef was the fact that in about 10 places, Rouzan will connect to Southdowns. Isn't that (distributed traffic pattern) what we want ? I'm just trying to be consistent here, as you will always have a tension between neighborhood parochialism, rampant development, and doing what's best infrastructure wise for all of BR.

Yes, distributed traffic is the ideal. The concern for many is the amount of traffic Rouzan would generate in an already heavily trafficked area.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by BRMan

I'd like to throw in a bit about Wal-Mart. The one on College is nasty (yes, the old Perkins one was WORSE), but that area (the former Village Square as we old timers remember) of College was decaying and wouldn't work as a residential neighborhood or anything else but a place to put a "big box" retailer.

Totally agree. It's just unfortunate it had to be another WM. Would have loved to see a Trader Joe's go in there along with a few other retailers like Homegoods or TJ Maxx. Even Target would have been a blessing.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by CindyM

Totally agree. It's just unfortunate it had to be another WM. Would have loved to see a Trader Joe's go in there along with a few other retailers like Homegoods or TJ Maxx. Even Target would have been a blessing.

Aren't they supposed to build a Target at W.Lee/Burbank ? I like Target as well (prices on basic groceries are WAY less than Albertsons), but the one on Siegen has an unbelievable amount of litter in the parking lot/in the carts. The one on Millerville seems to be a lot cleaner.

You know, I used to like Wal-Mart back in the late 80s/early 90s. Now, it seems that since K-Mart went bust, Wal-Mart has replaced K-Mart as the crappy store offering substandard items.

[CindyM]

Originally Posted by BRMan

Aren't they supposed to build a Target at W.Lee/Burbank ? I like Target as well (prices on basic groceries are WAY less than Albertsons), but the one on Siegen has an unbelievable amount of litter in the parking lot/in the carts. The one on Millerville seems to be a lot cleaner.

You know, I used to like Wal-Mart back in the late 80s/early 90s. Now, it seems that since K-Mart went bust, Wal-Mart has replaced K-Mart as the crappy store offering substandard items.

Are they? OMG, that would be great!

I went to both yesterday and the one on Millerville definitely seemed cleaner. Maybe that's because it's newer?

I remember the first WM I shopped was in Abbeville in the early 80s when dh was working land rigs in that area. I had a similar opinion of the store back then. Times change.

I just found this in the BR ... :: Baton Rouge Business Report :: Target, Lowe's coming to Burbank/West Lee

Do you know if it was approved?

[darylwi]

I don't have a problem with the Walmart Market Centers or whatever they're called, although the one on Highland (old Delchamps) wasn't half as nice as the new one on Old Hammond/Airline. I shopped at College Drive Walmart for a few times after it opened but quickly learned to hate it. I'd rather drive to Siegen Lane now. Service is a lot better there I find.
There are way too many WalMarts. I agree. Never tried Target. Always heard they were higher.
Anybody remember TS Allison in 2001 and there was plenty of water all around Burbank/Highland that area. I'm interested to see what happens to that area the next time there's a 100-year rainstorm. There's been a lot of development there, but not sure if drainage has been improved. All that water will have to go somewhere.

[holloway1010]

Originally Posted by darylwi

I don't have a problem with the Walmart Market Centers or whatever they're called, although the one on Highland (old Delchamps) wasn't half as nice as the new one on Old Hammond/Airline. I shopped at College Drive Walmart for a few times after it opened but quickly learned to hate it. I'd rather drive to Siegen Lane now. Service is a lot better there I find.
There are way too many WalMarts. I agree. Never tried Target. Always heard they were higher.
Anybody remember TS Allison in 2001 and there was plenty of water all around Burbank/Highland that area. I'm interested to see what happens to that area the next time there's a 100-year rainstorm. There's been a lot of development there, but not sure if drainage has been improved. All that water will have to go somewhere.

I don't mind the Walmart on College, it's not my favorite but it'll do me just fine when I need something quick. At least it's a "green" walmart and it's somewhat cheerful looking, as opposed to the old gray ones with the blue/red stripe around it.

[darylwi]

Originally Posted by holloway1010

I don't mind the Walmart on College, it's not my favorite but it'll do me just fine when I need something quick. At least it's a "green" walmart and it's somewhat cheerful looking, as opposed to the old gray ones with the blue/red stripe around it.

I found that they didn't staff the checkouts very well before 10am on Saturday, which is my big time to shop. They didn't even open the self checkout lanes before a certain time. I got tired of standing in line for 30 minutes after shoping for 20.
Of course, most WalMarts are guilty of this.