Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan
MARCH 2006
On Thursday, March 23, 2006 at the Baranco Clark YMCA, the Center for Planning Excellence, formerly the office of Plan Baton Rouge, unveiled the final Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan in a public celebration.
McKinley High School students who are part of a jazz combo, children in the YMCA After School Fun Club and students of the Big Buddy partner Mid City Dance kicked off the festivities with music, The Pledge of Allegiance and a dance. Over 200 people shared in the celebration.
Preceding the 5:00 p.m. celebration, a 3-hour Gallery Open House was held at the Baranco Clark YMCA to offer community members a sneak-preview of the final Strategic Plan. Members of the RKG consultant team who worked with the community to develop the Strategic Plan and staff from the Center for Planning Excellence and Baton Rouge Area Foundation were on hand to answer questions and to walk visitors through the process that led to the final Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan Steering Committee Co-Chairs, Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden of the City of Baton Rouge, John Spain of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and both Provost Risa Palm and President William Jenkins on behalf of Chancellor Sean O’Keefe of Louisiana State University, each committed to stand behind the Strategic Plan and to advance it to implementation.
Currently, a Transition Committee comprised of volunteer members is creating a Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership that can, with the support of a Citizens’ Advisory Panel, work with the Center for Planning Excellence and other partners to advance implementation of the Strategic Plan beginning this year.
Additionally, Center for Planning Excellence is continuing to engage property owners, business owners, lenders, developers, City officials and others who may have questions about the Plan or who are interested in helping to advance implementation. As these stakeholders contact Center for Planning Excellence we are meeting with them personally to answer questions, to learn about proposed projects and to offer advice on how these projects can best fit into the framework the community's Strategic Plan has established.
- To view the final Strategic Plan, Click Here
A Strategic Plan Final Report that details the planning process and recommendations will be posted by May 2006.
DECEMBER 2005
The fourth Community Meeting of the Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan was held on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at Polk Elementary School.
The consultants presented the Draft Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Neighborhood & Economic Development Plan and answered questions about the Draft.
- To view Power Point Part I, Click Here
- To view Power Point Part II, Click Here
- To view DRAFT Strategies, Click Here - Part I
AUGUST 2005
The third Community Meeting of the Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan was held on Thursday, August 25, 2005 at Polk Elementary School .
The consultants reviewed the Goals and Proposed Actions to prioritize
next steps. To view this matrix, Click Here.
- The consultants also presented the report entitled "Assessing Sites of
Historic Significance in Old South BR".
- To see the final Historic Survey Report, Click Here.
- To see the Historic Survey Report Power Point, Click Here - Part I
JULY 2005
The second Community Meeting of the Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at Polk Elementary School .
The consultants presented Community Asset Survey results and the results of their field research about the physical conditions of the area.
- To see the Power Point presented at the second meeting, Click Here.
- To see the Meeting Summary from the second meeting, Click Here.
MAY 2005
The first Community Meeting of the Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan was held on Monday, May 2, 2005 at Polk Elementary. Over 300 people attended including Mayor Kip Holden, Chief LeDuff, Councilwoman Lorri Burgess and other community leaders. A survey was distributed to identify general conditions, assets and resources. The audience broke up into four groups to discuss issues that should be incorporated into the plan. The groups reconvened to share their priorities and concerns.
- To see the Power Point presented at the first meeting, Click Here.
- To see Community Survey presented at the first meeting, Click Here.
- To download the Community Meeting Summary, Click Here
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Plan Baton Rouge is an organization that has spent the last six years implementing a master plan for downtown Baton Rouge based on the principles of new urbanism. The planning process for downtown was originally envisioned as a model that could be used in other areas of the city.
With recent opportunities, we are now ready to turn to our next area of focus. Plan Baton Rouge has secured funds and has hired an expert team to create a strategic plan for a defined community adjacent to downtown, bounded by the Louisiana State University Campus to the south, the Mississippi River to the west, downtown to the north and Dalrymple to the east. This next focus area is a natural fit with the recent work of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation who championed the application process for a HOPE VI grant. In 2002, Baton Rouge was awarded $18.6 million to demolish two existing housing projects and create 126 new residential housing units scattered throughout the neighborhood. With this success in hand, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation would like to leverage the revitalization and economic benefits associated with redeveloping this area.
The Strategic Neighborhood Revitalization and Economic Development Plan will coordinate efforts underway and provide an overall vision for a three square mile area by creating guidelines for future physical improvements. The plan will identify strategies to strengthen and preserve the residential neighborhoods and provide an effective guide for decision-making. This area will greatly benefit from reestablishing its connectivity with surrounding areas, both physically and financially. An opportunity exists to leverage new investment through new commercial and residential projects. Another goal is to generate new development that both serves the existing neighborhood, but also attracts a wider, deeper market by capitalizing on the assets of this area.
Press Release for Launch of Plan (3/15/05)
Team of Consultants
Description of Project (104KB PDF)
Request for Proposal (112KB PDF)
Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Plan - Other information
CITIZENS SERVICES
Tel: 225-389-3090