Longtime Baton Rouge residents may remember the conversion of a group of historic buildings along the river in downtown Baton Rouge, known as “Catfish Town.” The redevelopment project had undergone several phases until it became associated with the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino. Part of the original development included an office building known as Maritime One. The building, addressed 101 France St., sold on Thursday for $1,100,000, or about $31.50 per square foot, to Maritime I LLC, represented by Darryl Smith, an investor based in Hammond. The seller was Marianne W. Cohn. Doug and Julie Ferris with Re/Max First Commercial brokered the transaction. The three-story structure was originally used for warehouse space in the early 1900s and was converted to office space when the original Catfish Town was developed. It has been vacant for the past few years and was originally offered for sale at $1.3 million. The new owner intends to convert the historic building into a luxury apartment complex. The first floor will be used for parking, and the top floor will be redeveloped into penthouse apartments. The conversion should begin this summer.
(Appraiser Tom Cook owns Cook Moore and Associates. Reach him at 293-7006 or TCook@cookmoore.com.)
