Funding flowing to Town Square, greenway and Repentance Park projects

The DOTD has approved spending $1.9 million in state and federal Transportation Enhancement Funds to improve and expand the North Boulevard Town Square. The north side of North Boulevard, between Third and Fourth streets, will be improved with the funds, which will also be used to upgrade the boulevard east one block to Fifth Street and west one block to River Road from the existing Town Square work. The St. Phillip Street Promenade will also be built, with the pavement to be similar to the Shaw Plaza brickwork, DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer says. The Metro Council has approved $325,000 in state sales tax rebates for improvements to nearby Repentance Park; and later this month the council will consider approving further rebate spending, including $200,000 for Lafayette Street improvements, $100,000 for riverfront gateway improvements, $50,000 to light the Town Square canopy structure, and $30,000 for Town Square signage. By law, those funds are dedicated to riverfront development. The DDD also is working with the East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority to secure about $250,000 for the city’s greenway project so that it can be made “shovel-ready” if and when grant funds materialize. Implementation of the first phase of the greenway is already funded. In other downtown news, a Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches is planned for the retail space in the state-owned garage on Third Street, with a possible opening date in October. —David Jacobs