[ PHOTOS IN RER-28 thru 34 ]
Office market: strong. Industrial market: booming. Residential market: poised for steady gains. Apartment market: soaring supply.
And retail? So thriving that broker Jonathan Walker of Maestri-Murrell characterizes it as being in the “unicorn zone”—a place so rare it’s hard to believe it exists.
That was the report from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors at its 2015 Trends seminar in April.
Here’s a look—in pictures—at what all of that means for the region. All locations are in Baton Rouge unless otherwise stated.
—Compiled by Holly A. Phillips
1. Essen Widening Project
Multiple locations
The city-parish, along with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, under its Green Light Plan, will widen Essen Lane to help ease traffic flow. While two projects are planned, the first will include two additional turn lanes to Essen between I-10 and United Plaza Boulevard. There will also be a lane added to the I-10 intersection of Essen Lane and Essen Park Avenue, and the two on/off-ramps at I-10. Construction for the first phase began April 8, 2015 and is expected to finish in October.
General Contractor: Command Construction Industries
Cost: $2.1 million (first phase)
2. Crispy Catch
3901 Perkins Road, near the overpass
The highly anticipated casual seafood restaurant, Crispy Catch, opened March 5 of this year after months of development in what was the Kean’s building. Crispy Catch also inhabits 805 square feet from an adjacent storefront and has 700 square feet of canopy space, making room for 80 patrons. Crispy Catch features catfish, seafood tacos, and boudin.
3. Rouse’s Supermarket
Long Farm Village
Rouse’s Supermarket acquired a 4.8-acre parcel and planned to begin construction in late 2014 on a 55,000-square foot store that would anchor Long Farm Village off Barringer Foreman Road between Jefferson Highway and Airline Highway. This will be the first Baton Rouge location for the Thibodaux-based chain.
4. LA Fitness
6474 Siegen Lane
The California-based fitness club made its Louisiana debut, opening its doors March 25 this year. LA Fitness purchased 8 acres of land in April 2014 for its workout facility totaling 38,000 square feet, with an indoor pool, basketball court, and sauna.
General contractor: Unknown
Cost: $1.3 million (land only)
5. The District
5842 Perkins Road
In November 2014, Perkins Road welcomed The District, a 312-unit apartment complex that also features a 439-space parking garage. Construction on the 11-acre site took nearly 14 months to build, and is now home to one- and two-bedroom apartments, and a 5,000 square foot clubhouse and leasing office.
Architect: JHP Architecture & Urban Design of Dallas
Developer: Vintala Partners
6. Costco
10000 Dawndale Avenue
Opening in late April of last year, Baton Rouge welcomed Costco after years of discussions, beginning in 2006. Costco purchased the former Coca-Cola Bottling property to house their 150,000 square foot retail warehouse for business. Costco is a members-only store, selling bulk items and discounted electronics.
Cost: $12.15 million (land only)
Developer: Intrepid Development
7. Lululemon Athletica
Acadian Village Shopping Center (between Shell and Galatoire’s Bistro)
The Vancouver-based yoga and fitness apparel manufacturer, Lululemon Athletica is announced a second Baton Rouge location, set to open this fall. The store will be a 3,200 square foot stand-alone in the Acadian Village Shopping Center off I-10 near Perkins Road at Acadian.
8. Barcadia
3347 Highland Road
Barcadia, a bar, burger joint, and arcade all in one, opened its Baton Rouge location in February 2015. The mixed-use restaurant lives in the former Serrano’s Salsa Company building, after the 5,100 square foot restaurant and patio underwent renovations.
Cost: $500,000 in renovations
9. The Velvet Cactus
7655 Old Hammond Highway
The family-friendly Mexican restaurant, The Velvet Cactus opened its first Baton Rouge location in January 2015. Construction lasted a little more than a year, with the 6,000 square foot restaurant featuring a waterfall and a pond on the patio.
10. LSU UREC
200 Student Recreation Complex
Construction on the LSU UREC continues, and is currently in phase III of the expansion plan. The third phase includes an update on the current indoor pool, a redesign of locker rooms, a 25,000 square foot expansion of the cardio/weight space, and the addition of an indoor jogging trail, a CrossFit training slope, a climbing wall, outdoor pool and lazy river, three tennis courts and a Fitness Assessment Center. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
11. Newk’s Eatery
7211 Corporate Boulevard, in Towne Center Business Park
Located between Chase Bank and Carrabba’s Italian Grill on the corner of Commerce Circle and Corporate Boulevard, a 5,150 square foot two-site building was constructed to house a Starbucks and a Newk’s Eatery. Newk’s opened in March 2015, offering salads, sandwiches, and catering.
Cost: $2.16 million (land and building)
12. G. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys office
I-10, College Drive exit/Esplanade Mall
Construction on the 1.1-acre parcel began in 2014, and includes a 25,00 square foot building for G.Gordon McKernan Injury Attorney and his staff of 70, and possible space for renters. The construction is set to be completed before fall.
Architect: Ritter Maher Architects
General Contractor: Cangelosi Ward
Cost: $5 million
13. Circle K
Government Street/South Foster Drive
In late 2014, Circle K moved forward with plans to demolish a Shell gas station and build a new, 4,400 square foot convenience store with a gas station and a 1,040 square foot car wash.
14. Exxon
Northwest corner of Highland Road and Staring Lane
The Exxon location, owned and operated by Circle K, acquired a portion of the adjoining shopping center to expand and create a new prototype location. The prototype includes a new 4,000 square foot convenience store. The store closed in October 2014 to begin construction.
Cost: $694,000
15. The Water Campus
Between LSU and downtown/Baton Rouge City Dock
A 33-acre site between LSU and downtown will be home to The Water Campus, a center for private and public research. Construction on phase I of the project began late last year, which includes building the headquarters for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the River Modeling Center, and the headquarters for the Water Institute of the Gulf.
Cost: $45 million
16. Juban Crossing
27853 Juban Road, Denham Springs
Juban Crossing finally opened its doors last fall, welcoming Rouse’s Supermarket, Belk, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Lane Bryant, Old Navy, PetSmart, and Ulta Beauty, among others. Louisiana’s first Movie Tavern, which offers dining options and alcoholic beverages, is under construction.
Cost: $350 million
17. Perkins Rowe apartments
Bluebonnet Boulevard at Perkins Road
Stirling Properties, which manages Perkins Rowe, plans to finish 89 apartment units in the back of the development, above Anthropologie, Sur La Table, and Paris Parker Aveda. The first round of units are set to be finished in May this year, with the second round in June, and the final round in July.
Cost: $8 million
18. Cloverland Business Park
Location: Benefit Drive in Cloverland Industrial Park
Description: Cloverland Business Park is building four 3,000 square foot suites with an adjacent 5,000 square foot building, all for offices and warehouse suites. The park will also contain a common area truck well that will be available to the tenants of the park. The projected completion date is January 2016.
General Contractor: JBS Companies
Developer: Grey Hammett III, Blake Seguin, and Todd McClure with JBS Properties and Holdings
19. Lava Cantina Patio
10001 Perkins Rowe, B100
In September 2014, rock ‘N roll Mexican restaurant Lava Cantina started construction on their patio. What was originally an uncovered space for eating and drinking, five weeks of construction transformed it into a covered, shaded area that benefits their outdoor bar.
20. Perkins Rowe pool
Barnes & Noble rooftop
September 2014 marked the end of a seven-year project: a rooftop pool atop the condominium tower finally opened for condo owners. The original pool was never opened because of a leak.
21. NFR BioEnergy
Multiple sugar-refining hubs in south Louisiana
In fall of last year NRF BioEnergy officials announced plans to install biorefineries at more than 10 sugar-refining hubs in south Louisiana. This project will add more than 2,000 jobs to the state, plus it will convert sugarcane waste into energy pellets for global power plants.
Cost: $312 million
22. Genesis Energy Pipelines
Port Hudson through Baton Rouge
Houston-based Genesis Energy is expecting to have its pipeline upgrade completed by the end of this year. The project includes a modernization and expansion of its terminal in Port Hudson, construction of an 18-mile, 20-inch diameter crude oil pipeline that will connect ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge refinery, and construction of a new crude oil facility in Baton Rouge. The project was announced in February 2013.
Cost: $125 million
23. Patrick F. Taylor Hall
3304 Patrick F. Taylor Hall
The groundbreaking for the renovation and expansion of Patrick F. Taylor Hall, LSU’s College of Engineering facility, was held in November 2014, with construction set to begin Feb. 1. However, the project was delayed due to pricing. Construction, which includes an 80,000 square foot addition, is still expected to end on time, in 2017.
Cost: $110 million
24. Walmart Supercenter
Bluebonnet Boulevard and Burbank Avenue
Baton Rouge welcomed another Walmart Supercenter in the summer of 2014. Construction on the 159,000 square foot retail warehouse began in 2013, and has nearly 300 employees.
25. Matherne’s Market
440 Third Street, ground floor
After 50 years without a grocery store, downtown Baton Rouge is now home to Matherne’s Market. After several delays, the highly-anticipated opening arrived in January. Matherne’s has 16,000 square feet, and features a deli, produce, and a wine and cheese department.
