As unprecedented amounts of construction continue to envelop downtown Baton Rouge, a new era for the once forsaken central business district is rising from the dust. With 2,000 new residential units already in the development pipeline, on top of many others already available, people have more options than ever before when it comes to living downtown.
From houses and apartments to studios, lofts and condos, there is something for every lifestyle and to accommodate anyone’s stage of life. While some Baton Rouge residents have called downtown home for decades, others are reacting to the revival, moving in and embracing the new truly urban lifestyle that is emerging.
For a feature from the current issue of Business Report, the magazine got an inside look at four downtown dwellings of several Baton Rougeans—including Laura Rome, Christy Chachere and Cathy Juarez, Kellen and Mikki Mathews, and Jack Warner—and talked to them about their experiences.
With the arrival of Matherne’s downtown grocery, many residents say they can’t ask for much more. Others struggle with inconveniences like a lack of affordable parking. And although downtown rental rates are nearly 75% to 100% higher than properties in other areas of Baton Rouge, residents find the savings, convenience and atmosphere of downtown living offsets the higher rent.
Business Report spoke with downtown residents both new and old, asking them to share their urban living experiences and how the evolution of downtown has changed their outlook on the area and their daily lives.
Read the full feature. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
