The city-parish Planning Commission this week deferred taking action on a planned 18-story high-rise near LSU.
R.W. Day submitted his final development plan for The Summit at Southgate, but the commission’s staff recommended the project be denied because of inconsistencies with the it’s concept plan.
Day’s plan included only 609 parking spaces instead of the required 1,341 for the development, which would be located off Burbank behind the Southgate Tower.
Day’s concept plan also was approved for six stories of retail space, but the final plan has nine stories.
The planning commission gave the developer 90 days to update the development’s 2013 traffic study and to clear up the consistencies with the concept plan and architectural design.
Forte & Tablada announced this week that it is planning to move to 1029 North Blvd. near Interstate 110 in downtown Baton Rouge.
“We felt that this site would serve as a strategic location for our company’s continued growth, for our evolving culture and for our continued 55-year commitment to Baton Rouge,” Forte & Tablada CEO Ann Trappey told Daily Report.
Also, the East Baton Rouge School Board says it has yet to take action or make a decision about a federal directive telling public schools they must permit transgender students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and engage in activities that correspond to their gender identity.
Here’s a rundown of other top stories making headlines in Daily Report this week:
- After months of speculation, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden finally announced Wednesday that he’s running for the 2nd Congressional House District seat. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans.
- Louisiana Sen. Bodi White and former NFL player Greg LaFleur are the latest candidates to jump into the Baton Rouge mayor’s race. Both announced their candidacy Wednesday.
- Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel says she wants a moratorium on Habitat for Humanity homes in her district, which surprised Lynn Clark, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge.
- Given the overwhelming popularity of the soft-sorbet dessert Philly Ice, Everything Philly owner Ameen Walker is planning to open several freestanding Everything Philly: Philly Ice Express outlets around the metro area.
- Parkview Baptist music teacher Marla Carruth and her long-time boyfriend are opening Baton Rouge’s first Mosquito Joe franchise. The couple will initially run the business out of their home.
- Bullfish Bar + Kitchen is opening in the former location of Mary J’s Seafood, Burgers and Poboys at 4001 Nicholson Drive, Suite D.
- Paul and Ann Connelly have sold the final lot in their 2.8-acre Studio Park development.
- Baton Rouge food blogger Jay Ducote has inked a deal with Rouses Supermarket to carry his line of barbecue products in stores throughout the Gulf Coast.
- The High Grove is offering six months of free rent to lure retail tenants to the mixed-use development.
—Alexandria Burris
