River Park Development and Hollywood Casino will break ground June 9 on an underpass that will connect downtown Baton Rouge to a 36-acre tract of land to be used in a mixed-use development. Pete Clements, manager of River Park Development LLC, says several national businesses have been interested in starting projects in the area but most will hold off until the underpass construction has been completed. “It makes no sense to really start development before the access is complete,” Clements says.
The four-lane underpass will run beneath a Canadian National Railroad track. The River Park development adjoins the Hollywood Casino site to the north side of downtown. Clements says the permit process took three years to complete.
Davis Rhorer of the Downtown Development District says the project will open the door to a potential $600 million in economic development for the area, including parks, hotels and entertainment along the riverfront. “There are a myriad of things that can be done. It’s 36 acres,” Rhorer says. “It dovetails so well with our riverfront development and there are any number of possibilities.”
Rhorer says the site is unique because while the majority of the property is on the river, there is no levee to limit development. “I can’t think of another site in the nation like this,” he says. “It’s very exciting for us.”—Emma James
