New Stuff (Baton Rouge, Gardere: 2009, condos, construction)

[dodger15]

I was in Baton Rouge for the holidays and was pleasantly surprised by all the new stuff that has gone up. It had been three years since I'd been there last, from Oct '05 - Dec '08, and I was only on the extreme east side of town.

I'm talking about Millerville Rd. It's not like you're in the country anymore, an actual, bonified street now. Also Bass Pro in Denham, which is just plain awesome. How did it take so long? And Juban Rd. in Denham and Shawdowbrook at the intersection of S. Harrell's Ferry and Jones Creek. Plus a new middle school where the old Woodlawn H.S. used to be.

I didn't make it to Bluebonnet where I hear the Mall of La. exploded.

Talk about moderization. Seems like BR is getting geared up for bigger and better things.

Any "new" development that I'm not aware of? Has the area around LSU changed at all or College Dr. or Perkins Rd? Coursey/Sherwood? BRCC?

I'm anxious to hear about it.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by dodger15

I was in Baton Rouge for the holidays and was pleasantly surprised by all the new stuff that has gone up. It had been three years since I'd been there last, from Oct '05 - Dec '08, and I was only on the extreme east side of town.

I'm talking about Millerville Rd. It's not like you're in the country anymore, an actual, bonified street now. Also Bass Pro in Denham, which is just plain awesome. How did it take so long? And Juban Rd. in Denham and Shawdowbrook at the intersection of S. Harrell's Ferry and Jones Creek. Plus a new middle school where the old Woodlawn H.S. used to be.

I didn't make it to Bluebonnet where I hear the Mall of La. exploded.

Talk about moderization. Seems like BR is getting geared up for bigger and better things.

Any "new" development that I'm not aware of? Has the area around LSU changed at all or College Dr. or Perkins Rd? Coursey/Sherwood? BRCC?

I'm anxious to hear about it.

You DEFINITELY want to go to Bluebonnet and see the Mall of La and Perkins Rowe.

Area around the north gates of LSU has changed a lot in the past few years, as has the area to the south.

College Drive is the same traffic clogged street.

Perkins Road widening between Bluebonnet and Siegen is done, and the Essen to Bluebonnet section is in progress. They also finished widening Burbank between Siegen almost all the way to Gardere.

They're about to redo the Coursey/Sherwood interchange and are blocking traffic, so I would not want to go around there.

[dodger15]

What exactly is Perkins Rowe? Is it an entertainment area that's more or less an extension of the mall? And what's up with Jimmy Swaggart's old stomping grounds? I know they have Family Christian Academy but it seems as if that place has just sat empty save for some offices there now. Most of it seems outdated.

They've needed to widen Perkins for years. It's good to hear they've widened it between Bluebonnet and Siegen but between Essen and Bluebonnet must be a traffic nightmare...still.

And what's this about Coursey and Sherwood? They're widening the intersection? Seems that Coursey between Sherwood and Airline has really taken off with Walk-On's and Chimes East adding to the area. What they should do next is widen Jones Creek between Coursey and Tiger Bend but that's probably not even a discussion.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by dodger15

What exactly is Perkins Rowe? Is it an entertainment area that's more or less an extension of the mall? And what's up with Jimmy Swaggart's old stomping grounds? I know they have Family Christian Academy but it seems as if that place has just sat empty save for some offices there now. Most of it seems outdated.

Perkins Rowe is a "lifestyle center" meaning that it's retail mixed with residential in a "Main Street USA" type of setup. Jimmy Swaggart's compound continues to look more dated, and the eyesore nicknamed "Debra Murphree" hall continues to sit over 20 years after it was first built.

Originally Posted by dodger15

They've needed to widen Perkins for years. It's good to hear they've widened it between Bluebonnet and Siegen but between Essen and Bluebonnet must be a traffic nightmare...still.

Yes, Perkins between Essen and Bluebonnet is bad, but there are ways around it. Between 4:30 and 6 I don't even attempt to use that stretch of road.

Originally Posted by dodger15

And what's this about Coursey and Sherwood? They're widening the intersection? Seems that Coursey between Sherwood and Airline has really taken off with Walk-On's and Chimes East adding to the area. What they should do next is widen Jones Creek between Coursey and Tiger Bend but that's probably not even a discussion.

I think they're trying to add turn lanes or something like that (the video is here. And, in fact, the Jones Creek widening is slated to help - this site gives awesome information about future "Green Light" projects.

[MetroBTR]

Don't forget Towne Center. That place is nice...but I still hate Whole Foods.

[darylwi]

Yeah, you'd be surprised with the area around Towne Center now. There are even more high priced condos going up now.
Downtown has also changed in the last few years. The Kress Building is reopening. And there's a new sports bar being built downtown now, Punchers.

[Caa]

I love all the changes in Baton Rouge-especially downtown. I am not a big partier, but some of the students I work around want new stuff downtown.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Caa

I love all the changes in Baton Rouge-especially downtown. I am not a big partier, but some of the students I work around want new stuff downtown.

Baton Rouge has come a long ways from when I grew up

[Caa]

I was looking today about information regarding ther Pecue exchange-sounds great. Anyone know of any plans around that area around the new Woman's Hospital?? New stuff etc?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Caa

I was looking today about information regarding ther Pecue exchange-sounds great. Anyone know of any plans around that area around the new Woman's Hospital?? New stuff etc?

Well, right now, they're temporarily halting construction of the new Womans. But I still see Pecue as the "new frontier" just like Siegen and Bluebonnet have been over the last decade. What will really seal the deal, besides the realignment of Pecue, is if/when they build the Pecue interchange to I-10.