BusinessReport.com

A bad idea, city

To the editor:

I am appalled at the story in today’s Daily Report (Nov. 14) concerning the hiring of GSD&M’s Idea City by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to promote the I-10/I-12 corridor.

Why is it that when there is a large piece of advertising/public relations business in our state, we always look out of state for the solution? Are you telling me that the Baton Rouge Area Foundation could not find an advertising agency in the entire state of Louisiana that was worthy of the task? If not in Baton Rouge (where the money comes from to pay for the endeavor), then New Orleans, Lafayette or Shreveport? Maybe even Alexandria?

Have we no respect for our own? Is this that old, tired “expert-from-out-of-town” theory? I’d love to hear an explanation.

Toni Shinabery, Baton Rouge

Rouzan heaven and hell

To the editor:

Bravo to JR Ball’s opinion on Rouzan hell (“Random Thoughts,” Nov. 20). He’s accurate in his assessment about the NIMBYs at Southdowns. They are rabid, single-minded and ignorant. They do not represent Southdowns residents! They refuse to consider anything other than A-1 zoning/subdivisions. In fact, they don’t want any change at all. One resident said he wants Ford Farm to stay just like it is. I didn’t hear anyone going around our neighborhood expressing interest in buying out Ford Farm to maintain it as a park. NIMBYs, you think this is an entitlement? These kinds of people are the ones who continually impede Baton Rouge from growing into the top 10 of great American towns. I support TNDs and Rouzan. Thanks for your article.

Lucila Cobb, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I am a NIMBY, according to JR Ball. No Rouzan for me. I would like the Ford Property remain an “ordinary” A-1 subdivision. I urge the Planning Commission and Metro Council to “have the guts” to listen to thousands of us to “embrace quality development” as we have long enjoyed and keep this beautiful property zoned A-1 single family. No TND for me —NIMBY!

Sure, we have the usual arguments—sewage, traffic, and storm drainage—all valid concerns for this part of established Baton Rouge. Anyone in this area has experienced bottleneck traffic on Perkins Road and Lee Drive or College Drive and has seen flooded streets, bayous, and creeks during heavy rainfalls. A dense development will only exacerbate these problems.

Why do you think a TND in this part of Baton Rouge is “smart growth”? Besides the problems mentioned, why is it appealing to cram 800 residential units, a library, church, school, plus 100,000 square feet of offices, retail, and restaurants and several “parks” in an area zoned for a mere 400 single-family houses—an area completely surrounded by A-1 neighborhoods? This is “smart growth”? Maybe next to your house, but NIMBY!

Rouzan sounds better suited for an undeveloped, not already established and populated, area. Keep the Ford Property beautiful—do not pollute it with crammed apartments and multi-story buildings. NIMBY! By the way, I live in an old-fashioned “sprawling, lifeless neighborhood” (Pollard Estates) and I know my neighbors.

Ron Lewis, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

The opposition to Rouzan is typical, yet frustrating. As a local real estate agent, I stay well informed of the upcoming developments in and around the area. Each time a new development is proposed, whether commercial, residential or a combination of the two, they always face opposition from neighboring residents.

This frustrates me, because those individuals never seem to see the big picture. Based on what I have seen, these new developments bring value of all sorts to an area: economic, visual and, in many cases, market value for neighboring property. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a development that has been done which has caused a decrease in value of neighboring property.

If those who constantly oppose change would get their way and Baton Rouge have no new development, it seems to me that our city would lose a lot of the character that is added each time a new development and new architectural designs, etc., are created. I would hate for our city to become stale, which would be the case in due time if there were no new development.

I find it exciting when new buildings are built, which bring new attractions or options for housing in to our city. As an agent, I feel that new homes and commercial construction are needed to maintain local real estate market values and an attractive city, which keep citizens here and bring in new citizens and commerce.

Matt Noel, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I found your comments extremely distasteful. Is “jihad” your idea of being cute? Name-calling and belittling us as “NIMBYs” is just unfair and a cheap shot, which seems to be your style. We are really plain old citizens who have less and less of a real voice in determining any out come that government and the big developers have in store for us. Miraculously and against all odds, our beloved Southdowns has managed to hold on to our tiny piece of tranquility that the rest of Baton Rouge is losing rapidly. Rouzan, with its high-density 800 units, will end this.

I used to have a high opinion of the Business Report, and I am shocked that they would allow such a rude and obnoxious writer to express his one-sided and biased opinions in such an insulting way. Your insults to us are heard loud and clear. You should be ashamed of yourself.

William Gladney, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

Not all of us in the area have the NIMBY attitude. I live on Glasgow Avenue, and the traffic increase will certainly impact me more than most. However, I think you are right. I can’t wait to be able to ride bikes with my son to the library, doctor’s office or coffee shop. The reason we love Southdowns to begin with is that all the streets connect and you can ride or walk to so many places without endangering yourself in traffic.

I think some of my older neighbors are just afraid of change. I do know lots of younger people in the area that are excited just like me. The problem is my pro-Rouzan neighbors and I all have small children, and we don’t have the time to attend all the public meetings so our voice isn’t heard. The retirees of the neighborhood seem to be having the loudest voice because they have all the time in the world.

We have e-mailed the planning commission and our councilman. Hopefully someone will hear us and stand up for progress.

Danielle Satawa, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I believe that most of the Southdowns people you categorize as “NIMBY’s” do not object to the concept of the proposed project. They object to the density. You do not serve the community very well by publishing such a sarcastically written editorial.

Karen Stephens, Baton Rouge

To the editor:

I am in favor or TNDs in Baton Rouge. I moved to Dallas after graduating from LSU in 1999 and saw these types of developments everywhere. Having lived at Mockingbird Station and visited friends in many others in the Metroplex, I never saw where the development had a negative impact on the surrounding area. Note that most of these developments were not brand new but inhabited for at least 5 years and up to 15 years. We are way behind in this innovative idea for mixing residential and commercial space. Please support TNDs and MUDs as they are tried and true in many cities.

Mike Linton, Baton Rouge