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Downtown Development District
Downtown Baton Rouge 2009/2010

2009 was a great time to be in Downtown Baton Rouge, as we marked over 20 years of service to the community. Many new developments have come to fruition this past year. Thirty new, stylish residential units in the central business district helped bring new families and residents to downtown. A number of new restaurants opened along Third Street providing workers, residents and visitors a wider variety of choices for lunch and dinner.

Businesses continued to relocate downtown. Regions Bank Southern Headquarters and the law offices of Phelps & Dunbar now call the newly constructed, 12-story II City Plaza home. Renovations to the historic Hotel King (Hotel Indigo) began, transforming the 48,000 square foot property into a 93-room boutique hotel inclusive of a 60-seat bar and restaurant.



The Arts & Entertainment District was designated a Cultural Products District by the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, exempting state sales tax on the purchase of one-of-a-kind, original works of art.

The Third Street Historic District, comprised of 43 buildings, was placed on the National Register for Historical Places enabling developers to potentially get tax credits of up to 45 percent for rehabilitative expenses.

Twenty-seven intersections have been upgraded and renovated as part of the traffic signalization and synchronization program of the Greenlight Program. Renovations include new lamp posts, new LED back-lit street name signs and ADA intersection improvements.

New street name signs were implemented in the historic residential neighborhoods of Spanish Town and half of Beauregard Town complementing the entry way signs that were installed earlier. The comprehensive signage program will be complete in 2010, finishing up the south side of Beauregard Town. This is part of the comprehensive wayfinding program of which the DDD has received national recognition.

We broke ground on a remarkable four-lane underpass that will provide access to River Park, a $600 million mixed-use development on the riverfront.

2009 also saw the completion of Plan Baton Rouge II, the economically-based urban design vision and implementation plan for the next phase of development in Downtown Baton Rouge. We will soon embark on a strategic self assessment that will prepare the office for the next 20 years to effectively implement the plan.

Over 60 public events - live music concerts, parades, fairs, festivals and runs- are held each year attracting tens of thousands of visitors to stay downtown to shop and dine. In addition to these events, downtown is also home to the weekly famer's market and the monthly art's market.

Fulfilling its important role as the heart and soul of a city and the 'living room of the community', downtown will continue to host public events filled with excitement and pulsating with activity.

With $916 million in planning and development underway and a total of $1.81 billion of investment over the last 20 years, downtown is well on it's way for a very bright future.

Also in 2009, the Downtown Development District received the prestigious Downtown Management and Leadership Award from the International Downtown Association. This comes on the heels of receiving the 2008 Downtown Outstanding Achievement award from the International Downtown Association. The Downtown Development District is the only organization that has ever received an International Downtown Association award in consecutive years.

Looking forward, 2010 is shaping up to be more promising than 2009. We will receive $1.9 million dollars in state transportation enhancement funds that will supplement the City's $4.1 million dollar construction budget of the North Boulevard Town Square. Construction on the Town Square - a critical crossroads between culture, entertainment, history and government - is anticipated to begin during the second quarter.

We will also see the opening of the new $100 million, 13-story 19th Judicial District Courthouse. The state parking garage on the corner of Third Street and Convention Street, in the Arts & Entertainment District, is slated to become the new home of police sub-station and a new art gallery.

Downtown will be the new classroom for 250 students this fall as two new technology-focused charter high schools open their doors. Enrollment in the two charter schools will grow to 1,000 students by 2013.

We will gain access to nearly $1 million dollars in federal funds that will be used to improve pedestrian access points along River Road. Improvements along the Interstate 110 will continue to be made as we initiate a project to embrace our intercity neighbors to the North, East, and South.

Charged with setting the overall policy for the development, promotion and enhancement of Downtown Baton Rouge so as to benefit the entire community, the Downtown Development District will continue making downtown Baton Rouge a better place to live, work and play.

Your commitment and support has been invaluable in this journey and we are greatly appreciative. We look forward to seeing you downtown in the New Year.


- Downtown Development District Commission and Staff



For a full listing of upcoming events, visit our website.


227 Florida St.  |  Baton Rouge, LA 70801  |  (225) 389-5520 Office (225) 389-5523 Fax  |  8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F


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