[ PHOTOS IN RER-24+25 folder ]
Progress viewed from 1000 feet.
BEN HUR ROAD
Once rural woodlands in East Baton Rouge Parish, Ben Hur Road is supplanting Tiger Town as the new residence of choice for LSU students looking for high-end housing. Today, three massive complexes supplant the green space bounded by Nicholson and Burbank drives: The Cottages, The Woodlands and, above, The Exchange.
CREDIT FOR BOTH: Eddie Weeks
THEN: December 2009
NOW: May 2015
LEXINGTON ESTATES
Developer Greg Flores brought to life this upscale development off Nicholson Drive. It is one of the nicest, upscale neighborhoods in Baton Rouge known for its guard house, lakes, fountains and green space. Alvarez Construction Company Inc. bought the 51.5 acres that make up Lexington Park—the third phase of the development—from Flores for $2.7 million.
CREDIT FOR BOTH: Charles Breard
THEN: September 2006
NOW: January 2015
TOWNE CENTER
Developed by Stephen Keller of Creekstone Companies, Towne Center at Cedar Lodge marked a change in the habits of Baton Rouge shoppers. After decades of strolling past storefronts in traditional malls, Towne Center heralded the arrival of the open-air concept and brought Austin-based Whole Foods to the market as well as a slew of high-end shops and boutiques.
CREDIT FOR BOTH: Charles Breard
THEN: April 2003
NOW: May 2015
BASS PRO OUTDOOR WORLD
Who’d have thought a sporting goods retailer could be so controversial? But when the idea of wooing Bass Pro by using public money to partially finance the project was introduced in 2003, the matter was tied up in court from the summer of 2004 until late in 2007. Ultimately,the deal survived. Since the outdoors superstore opened in 2008 off Interstate 12 in Denham Springs, more new businesses have followed, including a Sam’s Club. Another major retail development, Juban Crossing, opened just down the road last fall.
CREDIT FOR BOTH: Charles Breard
THEN: June 20015
NOW: November 2014
