‘Real Estate Weekly’: LSU’s Nicholson Drive redevelopment plan includes housing, office and retail

A proposed master plan for a $140 million to $200 million redevelopment of LSU’s married student housing and the old Alex Box Stadium site has been submitted to the LSU Board of Supervisors for possible inclusion on the Feb. 1 agenda. If the plan is approved, LSU will have to decide whether to develop and manage the project itself or partner with a private developer or foundation. “We know it has great potential for a public-private partnership,” says Steve Waller, director of LSU’s Department of Residential Life. While the details could change, about 1,200 housing units are envisioned, mostly for students, although 89 units could be offered at market rates to LSU faculty and staff. The master plan also includes about 130,000 square feet of retail and about 110,000 square feet of offices. “We’re looking at basically a mixed-use center that would be pretty much on top of the old Alex Box site, that would have retail on the first floor with a plaza and then housing above,” Waller says. Access the full story in the new Real Estate Weekly e-newsletter here. —David Jacobs