The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given the all-clear for construction to resume on several downtown projects that were delayed earlier this summer when the Mississippi River was high.
Piledrivers will begin work later this week on the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s planned office building at the Water Campus, which is being developed just south of downtown between River Road and Nicholson Drive. Work will also resume on the 28-unit Onyx Residences apartment building at the intersection of Third and Convention streets.
Commercial Properties Realty Trust is developing both projects. Company spokesperson Tina Rance updated the Downtown Development District board of commissioners on the status of construction at a meeting this morning.
Rance also briefed the DDD on the status of 525 Lafayette, CPRT’s mixed-use development at the corner of Lafayette and Main streets, adjacent to the IBM office tower. Residents will begin moving into the one- and two-bedroom units next month. All two-bedroom units are leased, though some one-bedroom units are still available.
Meanwhile, a third downtown project that was also delayed by the river, Belvedere Townhomes, has been given the green light to move forward. Developer Todd Waguespack says construction on his four, luxury-unit complex at Main Street and River Road should begin within 35 days. Belvedere Townhomes is located next to 525 Lafayette.
—Stephanie Riegel
