Property off Burbank purchased for new charter school

Charter Schools USA is one step closer to opening its second Baton Rouge charter school with the purchase of a 6.5-acre site at 9211 Parkway Drive off of Burbank and near Bluebonnet. Ryan Companies US Inc.—a Minnesota-based developer that developed the charter operator’s first Baton Rouge school, Baton Rouge Charter Academy at Mid City—purchased the property on December 23 for $1.1 million. Acting as joint sellers are real estate companies Garry Lewis Properties, represented by Garry and Brenda Lewis, and Lewis Companies, represented by Lanny and Valerie Lewis. According to the land record, the K-8 two-story charter school will include brick formliner to match CSUSA’s Magnolia School of Excellence in Shreveport. Plans attached to the property transfer also show a five-foot sidewalk and ornamental fencing with brick columns surrounding the property. Charter Schools USA spokeswoman Colleen Reynolds confirmed that the Parkway Drive property was purchased for CSUSA’s second Baton Rouge charter school, but could not provide further details in time for publication. —Rachel Alexander