Spanish Town development pits history against progress

The proposed 115-unit Capitol Lofts development between Sixth and Seventh streets overlooking Arsenal Park puts downtown officials in a tough position. Downtown supporters agree that luring more residents is one of the keys to making the area work. But on the other hand, the charm of Spanish Town, now an official historic district, is one of downtown’s best assets. According to a report commissioned by the Historic Spanish Town Civic Association, the proposed Capitol Lofts site is part of a subsection of Spanish Town once known as Aubert Town, bordered by Sixth and Seventh streets, Lakeland Drive and State Capitol Drive, which contains 24 residential structures built before 1943. Developer David Slaughter says several “dilapidated” houses would have to come down for the project, but says the project will bring 160 new residents and sport a design compatible with the neighborhood’s character. The civic association says the development violates historic district standards for height and does not match the aesthetics of the neighborhood. Downtown Development District director Davis Rhorer says the DDD supports residential development. “Obviously, we want to make sure the neighborhood is not impacted adversely,” he says. The DDD has not taken a position on the development. Councilwoman Tara Wicker expressed hope that the developer and neighborhood association will be able to come up with some kind of compromise. “We want progress, but at the same time you have to be able to understand the necessity of maintaining that delicate balance.” To see a rendering of Capitol Lofts, click here.—David Jacobs

Shaw closing Oklahoma pipe plant

For the third time in just over a month, the Shaw Group is laying off workers at a pipe fabrication plant. The company is shutting down Shaw Tulsa Fabricators in Oklahoma, laying off 168 workers, according to the Tulsa World. The Tulsa plant makes pipe for the construction industry. Last month, the Baton Rouge-based engineering and construction firm announced it was shutting down a pipe plant in West Monroe, a move that will put more than 200 employees out of work. Then it was announced late last week about 40 workers at its Sunland fabrication plant in Walker would be laid off. Shaw officials have blamed the layoffs on the "ebb and flow" of demand in the construction industry.

Bayou Country Superfest would bring in $22 million

A proposed country music festival in Baton Rouge would bring in an “excellent return” of more than $22 million to the city its first year, according to estimates from Chief Administrative Officer Mike Futrell. Organizers of the Bayou Country Superfest hope to bring in big stars such as Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and George Strait. The event would cost $6 million to put on. JazzFest producer Quint Davis, who is planning the event, had no comment this early in the process. But Davis has met with LSU officials about using Tiger Stadium May 29-30, and he is looking for $300,000 sponsorships from the both the city-parish and the Baton Rouge Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Quint is the central figure in this and wants to create annual multi-day music festival in Baton Rouge that would over time be as large and successful as JazzFest,” Futrell says. “It seems like a reasonable investment.” In response to this morning’s Daily Report item about concert promoter Johnnie Palazzotto suggesting the organizers use the River Center, Futrell says, “The River Center is far too small for an event like this.”—Rebecca Breeden

Fed survey sees signs recession is easing

The economy's sharp downhill slide eased in the late spring, and hopes for future business activity improved, suggesting that the worst of the recession has passed. A Federal Reserve snapshot of economic conditions issued today found that five of the Fed's 12 regions said that the "downward trend is showing signs of moderating." In addition, "several" regions said their expectations of future business activity have improved, although they don't see a "substantial increase" through the end of the year, according to the Fed report. In the last survey, several regions simply noted signs of some stability at low levels. Altogether the assessments of businesses on the front lines of the economy appeared to be slightly better than those they provided in the previous report issued in mid-April. The Fed survey is consistent with observations made by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and other central bank officials that the recession, which started in December 2007 and is now the longest since World War II, is loosening its strong hold on the economy. The survey's findings will figure into discussions when Bernanke and his colleagues meet June 23-24. Some believe the Fed will move to increase its purchases of government bonds in a bid to drive down rates on mortgages and other consumer debt. The goal is to spur Americans to buy more, which would aid the economy.

Named storm deductible bill passes

A bill restricting insurers' "named storm" deductibles, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's legislative package, heads to the governor's desk for his signature. The proposal from Rep. Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, which also has support from Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, would prevent property insurance companies from imposing more than one of the deductibles per year. Currently, the firms face no restrictions and some homeowners were hit twice last year with hundreds of dollars in repair costs when those deductibles kicked in after hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Senate voted 35-0 to give the bill final legislative approval. Donelon has said the change in law would likely mean an average statewide policy rate increase of 1.5% to 2%, though increases would most likely come for homeowners who live close to the Gulf. Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield, who handled the bill on the Senate floor, says the bill will save policyholders money because they will not have to pay deductibles for two or more severe storms in the same year.

Bill clears the way for medical professionals to practice during disasters

Just in time for hurricane season, the Legislature is poised to approve legislation allowing volunteer physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other emergency medical personnel not licensed in Louisiana to offer assistance during an emergency, 10/12 Weekly reports. The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the measure Tuesday as a way to address why hordes of volunteers were turned away from the Katrina’s and Rita’s impact zones in 2005. Sen. Sherri Smith Cheek, R-Keithville, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 107, also known as the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act. More than a dozen other states have already beat Louisiana to the punch in enacting such laws over the past two years, including those with high elevations such as Colorado, Kentucky and Tennessee. The program relies on a series of national databases such as ESAR-VHP, MRC and other similar systems. If a medical professional trying to enter the impact zone isn’t registered in one of these databases, the legislation also calls for a recognition system for health-related licenses. To read the rest of 10/12 Weekly, click here.—Jeremy Alford

Debate over school dental clinics shifts to Senate

A battle over who tends to the teeth of Louisiana's poor children has moved to the state Senate. The bill would direct the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry to come up with new, tighter regulations on mobile dental clinics at public schools. That was the compromise proposal worked out in the House after lawmakers there rejected an outright ban on the clinics. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee was set to debate the measure today but postponed discussion until next week, after the committee ran out of time amid a lengthy agenda. The bill has become one of the more heavily lobbied issues of the legislative session. Critics of the clinics say it is unsafe to drill on children's teeth in school libraries and cafeterias. Others say the service brings care to poor children who otherwise would never see a dentist.

La. Senate panel rejects cycle helmet repeal

A bid to repeal Louisiana's motorcycle helmet law for adults has failed, rejected for a second year by the Senate's health committee. The proposal's failure came despite active support from Gov. Bobby Jindal for the repeal. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee shelved the bill by Rep. Jim Morris, R-Oil City, without objection, siding with opponents who said the health concerns trump arguments of personal liberty. Morris' bill had easily passed in the House. The legislation would allow riders 21 and older to drive without a helmet as long as they have health insurance and a certain amount of liability insurance.

Top 100 nominees sought

Business Report is asking privately-owned companies in the Capital Region to submit information to qualify for its annual Top 100 Private Companies list to be published July 28. Business Report ranks companies by gross revenue. Based on past numbers, companies with less than $15 million in revenue are unlikely to make the Top 100 list. For more information, e-mail jgennaro@businessreport.com. The deadline to submit information is 5 p.m. on June 30.

News roundup: DOTD to hold open house on La. 1 toll bridge ... Scalise, Cao ask for assessment of FEMA backlog

Get the facts: The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will hold a public meeting to discuss the new La. 1 toll bridge over Bayou Lafourche at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Denham Springs Bass Pro shops. DOTD officials will be on hand to talk about the bridge and the GeauxPass statewide toll collection system. The bridge near Port Fourchon and Grand Isle is set to open this summer and will replace the Leeville lift bridge. This is only public meeting about the bridge the DOTD plans to hold in the Capital Region.

Looking for answers: Two Louisiana congressmen have joined with the Republican Party's ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., in seeking a government review of the number of FEMA Public Assistance projects still awaiting federal funds almost four years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Anh "Joseph" Cao and Steve Scalise, two New Orleans-area Republicans, joined with Mica in asking that the Inspector General conduct a review of the number, scope and value of pending projects related to the storms. Scalise says by getting the inspector general involved there can finally be a clear picture of how many projects are "stuck in the red tape of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's bureaucracy."