The new year will bring an uptick in activity in Downtown East, the area between Mid City and downtown that officially became part of the Downtown Development District in 2017.
Though efforts to revitalize Downtown East have been underway for several years, DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer says residents of the area will begin to notice several changes in 2018, some within the next few weeks.
Among those changes: the city is installing new lighting on North Boulevard in the coming weeks, BREC will be making renovations to its South 14th Street Park in February, and construction will begin in mid-January on the Electric Depot mixed-use development at 1409 Government Street.
Another potential catalyst for the area—the renovation of the historic Lincoln Hotel—is also expected to begin sometime in 2018. Developer Solomon Carter plans to convert the long-vacant building into market rate apartments.
“Some of these things have been in the works for a while,” Rhorer says. “But in 2018 you’re going to start seeing some movement on things.”
Downtown East, which links downtown to Mid City, is roughly bordered to the north and west by Interstate 110, to the east by 22nd Street, and to the south by Government Street.
The new year also promises to bring some significant changes to the heart of downtown. Some of the major projects scheduled for completion in 2018 include the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Third and Florida streets, the Lofts at 6C apartment complex on Florida and Sixth streets, and the new downtown library.
Also, scheduled for completion in 2018 are City Hall Plaza, the greenway on River Road, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge’s centennial sculpture, and the planned Desoto Park, which will be located on 20 acres across River Road from the Pentagon Barracks.
—Stephanie Riegel
