Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Robert Whittington is merely a contact for the proposed Captain D’s project. He is incorrectly identified as the property owner on an application submitted to the city-parish’s Planning Commission.
Some Mid City residents are expressing concern about the proposed construction of a Captain D’s Seafood restaurant near the already crowded Government Street and South Foster Drive intersection.
The fast food restaurant, which would have a drive thru, is planned to be constructed on a 1.4-acre vacant tract of land on the north side of Government Street and to the east of South Foster Drive. Robert Whittington, who’s listed as the project’s contact, could not be reached before this afternoon’s publication.
However, the city-parish Planning Commission is set to consider approval of a small planned unit development application for the restaurant at the commission’s upcoming Nov. 14 meeting.
In the meantime, Lauren Lambert-Tompkins, William Doran and Lynley Farris are trying to galvanize Mid City residents to attend that meeting to express their opinions about the proposed restaurant. The trio started a Facebook event page inviting residents to attend the meeting.
“Mid City is quickly becoming a really arts-centered environment that really finds a lot of value in community and creativity, and probably most of all value in its own city and people who live in Mid City,” says Lambert-Tompkins, president of the Ogden Park Neighborhood Association.
Lamber-Tompkins says she is concerned that the addition of another fast food restaurant in Mid City would interfere with plans to makeover Government Street and hinder the area’s transition into a more bikeable and walkable community. The South Foster-Government Street intersection is already home to Jack in the Box, Raising Canes, Smoothie King, a Circle K convenience store and gas station and other businesses.
“What we’re trying to do is reduce traffic so that we can bike and walk in the area, and a drive thru will only attract more vehicles,” Lambert-Tompkins says.
Samuel Sanders, executive director of the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, also could not be reached before this afternoon’s publication.
Captain D’s announced in last year that it planned to enter the Baton Rouge market and establish its first location over the course of a year or so.
—Alexandria Burris
