3 ATOMIC PROJECTS THAT WILL BOND BATON ROUGE IN A DECADE - Baton Rouge Area Foundation
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third quarter 2021 | B AT O N R O U G E A R E A F O U N D AT I O N | braf.org 3 ATOMIC PROJECTS THAT WILL BOND BATON ROUGE IN A DECADE
PHOTO BY TIM MUELLER
34 RENDERING COURTESY GUY A. AVELLONE/WHLC
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CO N T E N T S
T H I R D Q U A R T E R 2021 | V O L U M E F I F T E E N | N U M B E R T H R E E
06 » Lakes project
50 58
LET TER » Bridge Center N O N P R O F I TS S PA R K
Jennifer E. Reilly, Braving new The new cyber
chair » Foundation words frontier
CEO search In Baton Rouge, Stephenson Stellar,
a school like few a plucky science
08 » Good Things others teaches
children with
dyslexia
startup, focuses
its cyber vision on
space
ABOUT US
14
09 2 Q G R A N TS 54 64
N O N P R O F I TS S PA R K B R I E FS
LEAD IN
20
Better as one
» Water Institute Pandemic
SmartPort
grants
C OV E R STO RY
3 atomic projects
restructuring
creates regional
nonprofit to
66
serve children CODA
that will bond Baton
» BR/NOLA
Rouge in a decade
passenger train
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.org
L E T T E R
Like the rebirth of our downtown, Mid City’s
new appearance foretells the promise of two
other projects that, we believe, will transform
how Baton Rouge looks, and perhaps how
our residents look at Baton Rouge.
shops to create a streetscape. Most Like the rebirth of our downtown,
drivers got it right away and adjusted Mid City’s new appearance foretells the
easily to the changes. Traffic slowed, promise of two other projects that, we
yes, but that was okay; curious drivers believe, will transform how Baton Rouge
were drawn to the pop-up businesses looks, and perhaps how our residents
along the way, and, for a little while, look at Baton Rouge.
S
Government Street was a destination. North of Florida Boulevard,
tanding up to the naysayers, Kip Holden and the state, which Ardendale will blend market-value
former Mayor Kip Holden owned the road, gave the go-ahead for and low-income housing with attrac-
approved the project. It the improbable: shaving away lanes from tive parks, public service facilities and
was started by the Center cars and giving the space to folks moving existing education centers operated by
for Planning Excellence at a slower speed, on bikes and on foot. Baton Rouge Community College and
(CPEX), a nonprofit that was spun off Experience teaches that, paradoxically, the East Baton Rouge Public School
from the Foundation’s master plan for slowing things down can make a place System. This new neighborhood
downtown some years earlier, called more lively and energetic. springs from the same idea animating
Plan Baton Rouge. Early on, CPEX did There were those who complained the Government Street project: If we
a pop-up demonstration to illustrate immediately, of course, but they’ve build places that draw different sorts of
how a “road diet” would work along a been laying low since then. That’s people to the same space, they’ll cross
segment of Government Street, slim- because the road diet is transforming paths, get to know each other, and build
6 ming the roadway for cars so that bikes Mid City. In this issue, CPEX’s Camille bridges where, before, there were only
and pedestrians could have a little room Manning-Broome reviews the rework- boundaries.
too. ing of Government Street, seeing it as The third project featured in this issue
Over a weekend, CPEX staff members an emblem for other not-so-wild-eyed is the one that naysayers insist is the
and volunteers erected temporary medi- ideas about how our region should most improbable. Essen Lane, Perkins
ans, painted bike lanes and set up tent function. Road and Bluebonnet Boulevard are
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21
100 NORTH STREE T, SUITE 900
BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA 70802
B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S
Jennifer E. Reilly, Chair
John G. Davies, President & CEO
Jeffrey W. Koonce, Vice Chair
Helena R. Cunningham, Secretary
Francis C. Jumonville Jr., Treasurer
William E. Balhoff, Past Chair
Annette D. Barton, At Large
Thomas J. Adamek
B. Eugene Berry, MD
Rodney C. Braxton
Preston J. Castille Jr.
Beverly M. Haydel
Scott N. Hensgens
Charles W. Lamar III
Todd S. Manuel
Linda O. Posner
Matthew C. Saurage
congested, unpleasant and dangerous. of this part of Baton Rouge has already
Nicklos S. Speyrer
On this, everyone can agree— even if begun, and skepticism fades in the face
they can’t imagine a solution. of facts on the ground. In a decade, the Karen R. Williams, MD
But the Baton Rouge Health District Health District will be a reality, traf- Morgan K. Almeida, Forum 225
did. fic in the area will ease, and maybe the
Formed by the Foundation and few remaining naysayers will join the
health care leaders, the Health District optimists in trumpeting the next auda- The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is
created a place-based design for a part cious idea. a community foundation that takes
of town predominated by medical advantage of opportunities to improve the
quality of life in South Louisiana. We do so
services and the health care industry. Sincerely,
by providing three essential functions. One,
The plan envisions breaking up conges- the Foundation connects philanthropists
tion by dispersing traffic onto a new with capable nonprofits to make sure the
network of streets that are off the main needs of our communities are met. For
arteries. It imagines pathways friendly example, our donors support the Shaw
Center for the Arts and education reform.
to pedestrians and cyclists, encour-
Two, BRAF invests in and manages pivotal
aging healthier alternatives to traffic projects to improve the region. Three, we
jams. There will be links to easy-go- provide consulting services to nonprofits.
ing green spaces as well as to retail, all Jennifer E. Reilly, For more information, contact Mukul
aimed at serving the health care staff Chair Verma at mverma@braf.org.
who work there as well as the patients 7
they serve and their families. Currents is published four times a year by
If you know the area around Essen, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. If you
Perkins and Bluebonnet, it’s not hard would like to be added to our distribution
list, please contact us at 225.387.6126 or
to see why some people might be skep-
email the Foundation at mverma@braf.org.
tical. But the unlikely transformation
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.org
A B O U T U S
mission The Baton Rouge Area Foundation
The Baton Rouge Area
accomplishes its mission in three ways:
�
Foundation unites human
We connect fund local knowledge about issues and
and financial resources to
donors—philanthropists— nonprofits, and manages all the
enhance the quality of life in
to worthwhile projects necessary paperwork.
South Louisiana.
and nonprofits. Over 55 years,
�
To achieve our mission, we: our donors have granted more We conduct civic
than $600 million across South leadership initiatives that
serve our donors to build change the direction of the
Louisiana and the world.
the assets that drive initiatives Baton Rouge region and South
and solutions; The Foundation offers several
Louisiana. Members support these
types of charitable funds, including
engage community projects, which solve fundamental
donor-advised funds, which can be
leaders to develop appro- problems. Tax-deductible
opened for a minimum of $10,000.
priate responses to emerging memberships range from $200 to
Contributions to the fund are tax
opportunities and challenges; $25,000.
deductible. Donors use these funds
�
partner with entities from to make grants to nonprofits. The
We offer strategic
our service area, as well Foundation manages the money
consulting services to
as with other community in the charitable accounts, offers
nonprofits.
foundations, in order to
leverage our collective
resources and create the Key Civic Leadership Projects
capacity to be a stimulus of
positive regional change; THE NEW MOBILITY: The Foundation is trying to make it easier for people
and, to get around the parish. We are participating with local and state government
on several projects that give residents transportation choices. Engineers say
evaluate our work and that more choices reduce the burden on roads. The projects include a train
share the results with our connecting Baton Rouge to New Orleans and a bike sharing system that
stakeholders. launched last year.
BATON ROUGE HEALTH DISTRICT (BRHealthDistrict.org): The parish
8 asked the Foundation to pay for a master plan for the Bluebonnet, Perkins and
Essen Lane corridor, where most of the health care assets are located. The plan
has been adopted by the parish, and an independent nonprofit—the Baton
Rouge Health District—is implementing the plan.
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21
L E A D I N
TIM MUELLER
The Water Institute’s Justin Ehrenwerth, left, scans river traffic on a monitor of a tugboat.
WATER INSTITUTE WINS WHAT WORKS TO rebalance road traffic may
change shipping around the globe. The Water
SMARTPORT GRANTS Institute of the Gulf, based near downtown, is
developing a Waze for water navigation, part of its
project to build the first SmartPort in the United States.
Waze, the popular app owned by Google, uses
data from moving vehicles to reroute drivers around
traffic. The Institute developed a seafaring version of
9
that app for a pilot project on the Mississippi River in
Louisiana. Crowdsourced movements of boats were
used to recommend the best routes.
The U.S. Department of Commerce granted $1.6
million to turn the experiment into a working tool
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.org
LEAD IN
as part of the Institute’s new TRAIN PROJECT GATHERS STEAM
SmartPort project. Louisiana
government added $1.4 million to THE ODDS OF PASSENGER rail service. President Joe Biden wants to
the endeavor. service connecting Baton Rouge and spend billions to upgrade the nation’s
The Institute worked closely with New Orleans have vastly improved. rail network.
the Port of New Orleans, IBM and Canadian National said it would sell Passenger service between Baton
Crescent Towing in developing a redundant rail line between the Rouge and New Orleans began as
tools that collected and validated two cities in its proposed merger with a project of the Baton Rouge Area
depth data and silt buildup to Kansas City Southern. Selling the rail Foundation more than a decade ago.
inform port dredging operations. line would help CN reduce anti-trust Economic development and elected
Through SmartPort, the Institute worries. The U.S. government must leaders along the proposed route
will scale the pilot project on the approve the merger before it can have hopped on board the project.
Mississippi from north Louisiana to proceed. What’s more, Foundation Executive
the Gulf of Mexico. Vice President John Spain is past chair
The line CN wants to sell is the best of the Southern Rail Commission.
“Through this collaboration, we route for passenger service between
are developing cutting-edge, the cities. It runs from near downtown The preferred line would have to be
crowdsourced solutions that will through the Baton Rouge Health upgraded before service could begin.
help us better plan and manage District, on to Gonzales, LaPlace, It’s estimated the South Louisiana
one of our state and nation’s most and the New Orleans airport, ending trip, with whistle stops at the cities
important assets—the Mississippi next to the Louisiana Superdome, all in between, would take about 70
River,” said Justin Ehrenwerth, proposed stops on the route. minutes, roughly the same amount
president and CEO of The Water of time as driving but with no risk of
Institute. Gov. John Bel Edwards has traffic. Cost of a one-way ticket is
committed $20 million to help start estimated at $15.
The SmartPort facility will be up passenger rail. In its 2021 vision,
housed on The Water Campus in Amtrak has included the
Baton Rouge, where it will serve Baton Rouge-to-New
as a specialized emergency Orleans city
operation center for ports when pair for future
needed and a place for the
exchange of information during
non-emergency times.
F O U N DAT I O N FAC T
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation
created The Water Institute of the
Gulf, now a stand-alone nonprofit
focused on water science.
The Institute is located on The
10 Water Campus, a place on the
Mississippi River near downtown
Baton Rouge where researchers
apply science to solve problems
associated with rising seas and
besieged deltas.LEAD IN
204
BRIDGE CENTER NUMBER OF GUESTS SERVED BY The Bridge Center for
RAMPS UP Hope in May, four months after the crisis stabilization center
opened. Law enforcement officers are taking people for treatment
at Bridge Center instead of to jail or emergency rooms. The center
can care for up to 5,000 guests per year. Bridge Center began
as a project of the Foundation with support from fund donors.
TIM MUELLER
L A K E S P R OJ E C T G E T S M O R E F U N D I N G
THE STATE’S CAPITAL OUTLAY A team led by Sasaski Associates is deepened to improve water quality and
PLAN includes $10 million this year for writing the final plan, with a $1 million for retaining water during heavy rains.
the University/City Park lakes project. Baton Rouge Area Foundation master Dredged materials will be scooped to 11
Combined with other sources and plan for preserving the lakes as a guide. the shore to build parks, safe walking
pledges of money, the $50 million first LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation and cycling paths, and promenades.
phase is funded and should begin with is overseeing implementation. The two largest lakes will be connected
dredging of the six-lake system, possibly for the first time via a bridge on May
Under the plan, the lakes will be
later this year. Street.
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgLEAD IN
F O U N DAT I O N C E O S E A R C H
P R O G R E SS E S
BEFORE YOU READ the next issue of Davies joined the Foundation in 1988. and three apartment buildings—525
this magazine, the Foundation may have Over the next 33 years, the Foundation Lafayette, ONYX and OneEleven Loft.
selected a new CEO and president grew from $5 million to $722 million
Other Foundation-led projects under
to take over from John Davies, who is in assets and granted more than $550
Davies’ watch include the formation
retiring at the end of the year. million to nonprofits and for projects.
of New Schools for Baton Rouge, a
Foundation Chair The Foundation has also collaborated nonprofit that is successfully drawing
Jennifer Eplett during his time on visible, large-scale the nation’s best nonprofit schools to the
Reilly and Past initiatives, led human services initiatives, parish, and The Bridge Center for Hope,
Chairs William E. supported science organizations, and which cares for people who are in the
Balhoff and Dennis developed real estate in challenging grips of a mental health crisis.
Blunt are leading areas of the parish.
Davies will continue as chairman of
12 a national search to find the next CEO
With Commercial Properties Realty the Wilbur Marvin Foundation. In that
and president. They recruited a diverse
Trust, the Foundation has invested in risk- capacity, he will work with Commercial
panel and a search firm to help them.
ier areas of town, sacrificing profits to Properties to build out The Water
The Foundation’s board will choose the
kick-start redevelopment. In downtown, Campus, a 35-acre research park on
next CEO.
those projects include the IBM building the riverfront.
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21LEAD IN GOOD THINGS
B AC K T O
THE RIVER
John Engquist has
purchased most of
a riverfront block
in downtown. The
executive chairman of
H&E Equipment wants
to develop the raw
land between Main
and Laurel streets,
possibly into a mix of
apartments or condos
and offices. The
project is good news
for downtown Baton
Rouge and the river-
front. Only one block
on the Mississippi
River will remain
underdeveloped. It’s
now a parking lot.
DOUBLE
DUTCH
The Louisiana
Watershed Initiative
will give BREC $4.7
million to build water
retention areas
in the 660-acre
Greenwood
Community Park,
reducing flood risk for
14,000 residents in
North Baton Rouge.
As in the Netherlands,
the retention areas F R A N U C A M P U S I N T H E H E A LT H D I S T R I C T
will double as
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, formerly Our Lady of the Lake
recreational space.
College, is consolidating operations into a campus in the Baton Rouge Health
The park will include
District. Known as FranU, the college will invest $28 million to build St. Francis Hall,
nature and bike trails,
the first building on the campus. It will encompass 75,000 square feet across three 13
canoe launches,
stories at the corner of Brittany and Picardy avenues. Groundbreaking is this summer.
multipurpose fields,
Future buildings on the campus will line Picardy and Brittany. They’ll include a
open space, play-
chapel, student residences, more administration and academic buildings.
grounds, gardens and
meadows.
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgG R A N TS
THE BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION Baton Rouge Green Association Inc. $10,129
Baton Rouge High School Foundation $1,000
GRANTED $5.5 million in the second quarter of this
Baton Rouge Opera Guild $2,023.15
year. Grants are listed below by organizations. We Baton Rouge Sponsoring Committee $3,500
publish all grants in our annual report. The Foundation Baton Rouge Symphony League Inc. $1,000
makes grants on behalf of people who have charitable Baton Rouge Youth Coalition Inc. $163,334
accounts with us. We also make grants from a Beth Shalom Synagogue $2,000
pool of unrestricted assets. If you are interested in Big Buddy Program $500
Blindness-Learning in New Dimensions Inc.
learning more about opening a charitable fund at the $10,000
Foundation, please contact Edmund Giering at (225) Boy Scouts of America—Istrouma Area Council
$83,593
387-6126 or egiering@braf.org. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Baton Rouge Inc.
$85,500
BREADA—Big River Economic & Agricultural
Development Alliance $4,750
BREC Foundation $1,250
Broussard Middle School $300
G R A N T S / 2 N D Q U A RT E R 2021 Bureau of Governmental Research Inc. $5,000
C.A. Weis Elementary School $2,500
Calvary Baptist Church $75,000
100 Black Men of Metropolitan Baton Rouge AmeriCares Foundation Inc. $500
$6,000 Camelback Ventures Inc. $25,000
Antioch Elementary School $1,528
Academic Distinction Fund $450 Camp Van Dorn World War II Museum $100
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Inc.
Academy of the Sacred Heart New Orleans $24,108.32 Cancer Services Inc. $5,000
Foundation Inc. $1,800 Cape Eleuthera Foundation Inc. $10,000
Arts Council of New Orleans $25,000
Acts of Love Inc. $5,500 Capital Area Agency on Aging District II $2,117
Ascension Parish School Board—Gonzales
Advocates for Science and Mathematics Middle School $1,091 Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless $1,000
Education Inc $2,000
Ascension Parish School Board—Prairieville Capital Area Animal Welfare Society
AFS-USA Inc. $250 Middle School $2,000 $1,330.21
Agenda for Children Inc.—New Orleans Ascension Parish School Board—Sorrento Capital Area CASA Association $300
$25,000 Primary School $963
Capital Area Family Violence Battered
Alameda County Community Food Bank $100 Ascension Parish School Board—Sugar Mill Women’s Program $300
Primary School $2,395
Alcorn State University $1,500 Capital Area United Way $39,316.35
Bail Project Inc. $100
Alliance Francaise de la Nouvelle Orleans Carencro Area Sports Youth Inc. $1,000
$2,500 Baton Rouge Area Kids Fore Golf Foundation
$1,000 Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton
Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area Rouge Inc. $27,000
$3,750 Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre Inc. $500
Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of
American Cancer Society Inc. - Mid-South Baton Rouge Bar Foundation $300 Mobile Inc.—St. Thomas by the Sea $1,000
Division $100
Baton Rouge Child Advocacy Center $2,500
14 American Diabetes Association Inc.—Louisiana
Catholic High School Foundation $3,807
and Mississippi $1,000 Baton Rouge Christian Education Foundation Center for Action and Contemplation Inc. $100
Inc. - The Dunham School $253,127
American National Red Cross - Louisiana Center for Orangutan and Chimpanzee
Capital Area $12,830 Baton Rouge Community College $1,500 Conservation Inc. $500
American Public Media Group $100 Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center Inc. Center for Planning Excellence Inc. $27,500
$4,010
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21GRANTS
Center for the New Economy Inc. $1,000 Ducks Unlimited Inc. $10,000 $1,000
Central Asia Institute $1,000 Dyslexia Association of Greater Baton Rouge Friends of a Studio in the Woods $5,000
Inc. $655
Centre for the Arts $1,000 Friends of Hilltop Arboretum Inc. $200
Earthjustice $500
Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting Inc.
Baton Rouge Inc./McMains Children’s EBRPSS—Baton Rouge Magnet High School $10,000
Development Center $7,750 $400
Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation Inc.
Children’s Cup $1,200 EBRPSS—Dufrocq Elementary School $2,478 $2,000
Children’s Education Foundation—Vietnam EBRPSS—Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Friends of the Animals BR Inc. $1,000
$7,000 $2,000
Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo $1,200
Children’s Water Safety Awareness $1,000 EBRPSS—Glen Oaks High School $1,131
Friends of the Old State Capitol $250
Chinese Christian Church of Baton Rouge EBRPSS—LaSalle Elementary School $2,000
$304 Front Yard Bikes $1,375
EBRPSS—Magnolia Woods Elementary School
Christ Episcopal Church $1,036 $2,400 GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship $36,000
Christ School Inc. $10,000 EBRPSS—Scotlandville Pre-Engineering General Health System Foundation $16,900
Magnet Academy $2,000 Getting Ready for Advanced Academic
Christ the King Parish and Catholic Center at
LSU $13,171 EBRPSS—Sherwood Middle Academic Destinations $500
Magnet School $900 GIVE Foundation $150
City of Monroe $1,000
EBRPSS—Southeast Middle School $1,500 Global Hunger Project $150
City of Natchitoches $2,000
EBRPSS—Tara High School $2,490 Govern For America $25,000
City of New Roads $1,000
EBRPSS—Westdale Middle School $1,500 Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership
City of Opelousas $1,500
Edgar Martin Middle School $2,200 Inc. $10,000
City Year Inc. - Baton Rouge $100,000
Educators for Quality Alternatives / The NET Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Inc. $12,400
Coalition for Louisiana Progress Inc. $1,000 Charter School: Gentilly $2,189 Habitat for Humanity International Inc. $500
Coastal Conservation Association—Louisiana Edward Douglas White Catholic High School
$200 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge
Foundation $200 $1,250
Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana ELLA Project $20,000
$3,500 Hannah’s Klozet $1,000
Emerge Center Inc. $6,946 Heifer Project International $1,000
Companion Animal Alliance $36,500
Empower 225 $2,000 Heritage Ranch $4,375
Congregation B’nai Israel of Baton Rouge
$11,450 Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge Hollins University Corporation $2,500
$282,861
Contemporary Arts Center $10,000 Holy Family Catholic Church $15,895
Evergreen Foundation $500
Cool Cooperative Inc. $25,000 HOPE Ministries of Baton Rouge $3,750
Fellowship of Catholic University Students /
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief FOCUS $4,000 Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge
Everywhere Inc./ CARE $500 $250
First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge
Creole Wild West Inc. $20,000 $14,500 Howard Bishop Middle School $2,500
Crestview High School $1,000 First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge Huntington’s Disease Society of America Inc.
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council $1,000 Foundation $950 $500
Cristo Rey Baton Rouge $15,500 First United Methodist Church $128,800 Iberia Parish School System—Belle Place
Middle School $400
Dancing Grounds $7,500 Firstline Schools Inc. - Langston Hughes
Academy $2,000 Iberia Parish School System—Center Street
Dillard University National Alumni Association Elementary School $400
Inc. $2,000 Foundation for a Better Louisiana $2,000 15
Iberia Parish School System—Magnolia
Direct Relief $500 Foundation for Historical Louisiana Inc. / Elementary School $1,200
Preserve Louisiana $13,564
Doctors Without Borders USA Inc. $3,000 Iberia Parish School System—New Iberia
Foundation for Woman’s $8,000 Senior High School $400
Douglas Manship Sr. Theatre Complex Holding
Inc. $12,414 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Iberia Parish School System—Pesson
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgGRANTS
Elementary School $400 $135,000 Make-A-Wish Foundation of America $500
Iberville Foundation for Academic Excellence Louisiana Elite Basketball Club $250 Map 1040 $1,500
$6,166
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities March of Dimes Inc. - Louisiana $8,500
Iberville Parish School Board - East Iberville $3,500
High School $3,150 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center $89,500
Louisiana Environmental Action Network Inc.
Innocence Project New Orleans $100 $1,000 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Foundation
$10,000
Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Louisiana Key Academy $1,000
Inc. $1,100 Mary’s Shelter $1,000
Louisiana Leadership Institute $4,000
International Community Foundation $500 MAZON Inc. a Jewish Response to Hunger
Louisiana Parole Project Inc. $1,000 $500
International Hospitality Foundation LSU $1,116
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra $10,000 Metairie Park Country Day School $1,500
International Rescue Committee Inc. $1,150
Louisiana Preservation Alliance Inc. $1,000 MetroMorphosis $5,000
IPSB - North Iberville Elementary School
$2,700 Louisiana Resource Center for Educators Metropolitan Crime Commission of New
$1,000 Orleans Inc. $5,000
ISKCON of Mississippi Inc. $6,000
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Metropolitan Opera Association Inc. $1,000
Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Mechanical College $1,500
Education and Conservation $500 Mid City Redevelopment Alliance Inc. $250
Louisiana Symphony Association / Baton
JDRF International - Louisiana $10,000 Rouge Symphony Orchestra $5,000 Miles Perret Cancer Center Services $250
Jewish Children’s Regional Service $2,500 Louisiana Tech University $1,500 Millsaps College $50,000
Jubilee Pioneers $2,000 Louisiana United Methodist Children and Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
Family Services Inc. $1,000 $52,500
Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge
and Acadiana $2,250 Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium N. B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts $850
(LUMCON) $28,165 National Audubon Society Inc. - Audubon
Juniper Table $5,000
Louisiana Veterans Museum Foundation Louisiana $500
Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation - $1,000
Historic New Orleans Collection $6,000 National Center for Teacher Residencies Inc.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation Inc. $100 $46,000
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
$2,000 Lower Mississippi River Foundation Inc. $500 National Federation of the Blind Inc. $15,000
Kids’ Orchestra Inc. $4,739 LPPS - Denham Springs Elementary School National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana
$15,000 Inc. $10,000
King of Kings Ministries Inc. / King of Kings
Community Jerusalem $750 LSU Alumni Association $1,350 National Jewish Health $500
Knock Knock Children’s Museum Inc. $2,316 LSU Foundation $14,000 National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Houston
$2,000
Kudvumisa Foundation USA Inc. $1,500 LSU Foundation—College of Art and Design
$100 National Organization of Black Law
L. H. Williams Elementary School $2,500 Enforcement Executives Baton Rouge Chapter
LSU Foundation—College of Engineering $1,000
Launch $1,500 $1,575
National Park Foundation $1,000
Leadership Ascension Foundation $20,000 LSU Foundation—College of Science $200
National Parks Conservation Association $500
Life Action Ministries $300 LSU Foundation—College of the Coast and
Environment $9,000 National Redistricting Foundation $50,000
Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church
$25,000 LSU Foundation—LSU Ag Center Botanic National Wildlife Federation $100
Louisiana Americana and Folk Society $300 Gardens at Burden $25,000 National World War II Museum Inc. $1,000
Louisiana Architectural Foundation $5,000 LSU Foundation—LSU Museum of Art $23,000 Nature Conservancy $1,000
Louisiana Art and Science Museum Inc. LSU Foundation—LSU Press $1,000 Nature Conservancy - Louisiana $10,000
$109,433.76 LSU Foundation—Manship School of Mass New Beginning Word Fellowship Evangelistic
16 Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network Communication $500 Ministry/Crossway New Beginnings $500
(LATAN) $500 LSU Foundation—Manship School of Mass New Orleans Adventist Academy $1,000
Louisiana Bar Foundation $250 Communication Excellence Fund $1,000
New Orleans Airlift $25,000
Louisiana Children’s Museum $25,000 LSU Foundation—Paul M. Hebert Law Center
$2,000 New Orleans Film and Video Festival Inc.
Louisiana Construction Education Foundation $10,000
Maison des Ami of Louisiana Inc. $20,500
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21GRANTS
New Orleans Museum of Art $23,500 $137,183 School $15,890
New Schools for New Orleans Inc. $875,000 Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge - Stand for Children Leadership Center $500
Bishop Ott Works of Mercy Trust $196
Noble Minds Inc. / Noble Minds Institute for STEM Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee
Whole Child Learning $2,000 Rotary Club of Baton Rouge Inc. Foundation $5,300
$200
NWEA $250,000 Suiting 101 $500
Russell Domingue Ministries Inc. / Blue Flames
Of Moving Colors Productions $3,000 Ministries $750 Teach for America Inc. - South Louisiana
$25,000
Ohio State University Foundation $12,500 Saint Elizabeth Foundation $250
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational
Okaloosa STEMM Academy $2,500 Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Fund $500
Ollie Steele Burden Manor Inc. $382.50 Center $100,500
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational
Omicron Beta Foundation Inc. $1,000 Sierra Club Foundation $500 Fund—Tulane University Law School $2,000
Opera Louisiane Inc. $500 Silver Sands School $1,465 The Ascension Fund Inc. $15,217.34
Opportunity Labs Foundation Inc. $20,000 Smile Train Inc. $200 The Bascom Corporation $7,000
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church $500 Son of a Saint $1,000 The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
$2,500
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church $41,377.54 Southern Poverty Law Center Inc. $3,000
The Friends of the Rural Life Museum Inc.
Our Lady of the Lake Foundation $26,525 Southern University System Foundation $4,142 $1,200
Oxfam-America Inc. $1,000 Spanish-Speaking Unity Council of Alameda The Greater New Orleans Foundation $100
County Inc. $100
Ozanam Inn $2,000 The International Dark-Sky Association Inc.
Spay Baton Rouge $1,000 $100
Pahara Institute $111,111
Special Olympics Louisiana Inc. $250 The Original Richland Library Restoration
Particular Council of St. Vincent de Paul of
Baton Rouge Louisiana $70,941 St. Aloysius Catholic Church $13,600 Society Inc. $873
Partners in Health $2,000 St. Aloysius Catholic School $2,000 The Salvation Army - Baton Rouge $1,000
Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation St. Augustine Church $1,031.29 The Tanzania Wildlife Fund Inc. / African
$179,500 Rainforest Conservancy $3,000
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church $500
Performing Arts Serving Acadiana Inc. $2,500 The Walls Project $2,000
St. Charles Catholic High School $100
Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast Inc. The Writing Revolution Inc. $12,500
St. George Catholic School $500
$1,000 Three O’Clock Project $1,000
St. Helena Catholic Church $5,000
Planting Justice $100 Thrive Foundation $15,000
St. James Episcopal Church $100,000
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc. Tiger Athletic Foundation $25,000
$20,000 St. John The Baptist Parish School System—East
St. John High School $1,000 Trinity Episcopal Church - Baton Rouge $1,000
Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc. - Silver Stage
$2,000 St. Joseph Cathedral $84,164.41 Trinity Episcopal Church - New Orleans
$5,000
Prairie View A&M University $714.21 St. Joseph Catholic Church $11,080.44
Trustees of Dartmouth College $2,000
Prevailing Word Christian Center $1,000 St. Joseph the Worker Church $6,758.54
UCSJ Union of Councils for Jews in the Former
Project HOPE the People to People Health St. Joseph’s Academy $1,000 Soviet Union Inc. $250
Foundation Inc. $500
St. Jude Catholic Church $10,000 United States Holocaust Memorial Council
Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana $1,000
Inc. $1,000 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Inc. $700
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School $1,584.07 University of Minnesota Foundation $714
Quixote Foundation $10,000
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church $3,675 University of Southern Mississippi $2,000
Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge Inc. $14,600
St. Margaret Queen of Scotland Church/ St. University of Texas Foundation $1,000
Red Shoes Inc. $16,500
Thomas Chapel $1,000 University of the South $2,500
Reliant Mission Inc. $1,500 17
St. Michael Special School $2,000 University Presbyterian Church $32,250
Rene Rost Middle School $1,300
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School Foundation University United Methodist Church $1,316
Rhodes College $2,500 $3,000
US Biennial Inc. $35,000
Rice University $20,000 St. Theresa of Avila Middle School $7,077
Vassar College $5,000
Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgGRANTS
Volunteer Ascension $500
Volunteers In Public Schools Inc. $1,250
Volunteers of America Inc. $1,000
We the Protesters Inc. $100
West Baton Rouge Foundation for Academic
Excellence $6,643
West Baton Rouge Parish School Board—Port
Allen Middle School $2,000
West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office $28,000
Wiley College $714
World Central Kitchen Incorporated $1,000
World Connect Inc. $25,000
WRKF Public Radio Inc. $2,000
YMCA of the Capital Area $6,300
Yosemite Foundation $500
Young Aspirations-Young Artists Inc. $5,000
Young Mens Christian Association of New
Orleans Metropolitan $5,000
Youth Oasis $200
18
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21Your finances and philanthropy, SIMPLIFIED. Under the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s new program, you can open a charitable account with us while keeping your own financial advisor. Your advisor manages all your funds, and you can make grants to nonprofits through the Foundation. Find out how the Foundation has simplified giving to the causes you care about. Please contact Edmund Giering at (225) 387-6126 or egiering@braf.org for more information.
C OV E R S TO RY
01 Ardendale
Government Street
02 Mid City
Baton Rouge
03 Health DistrictCOVER STORY
ATOMIC
PROJECTS
that will bond Baton
Rouge in a decade
hree sites that are The area around Essen Lane,
T becoming real places.
You’ll know them when
you enter. They’ll feel
distinct, different,
Perkins Road and Bluebonnet
Boulevard will show that even the
most congested and jumbled parts of
town can be made livable. New roads
special. In a decade, maybe less, all there will create a grid of streets. Bike
three will be transformed from mere paths will connect hospitals and clin-
locations to true destinations. And ics to the rest of town. Roads will be
they have the potential to reshape the friendly to pedestrians.
areas around them. The three projects will join others
Government Street is on its way. in the city that are already proving
Slimming the road, with planted medi- the once-impossible can be brought
ans and bike lanes, is delivering on within reach. Downtown is alive again,
its promise to stimulate redevelop- and the University/ City Park lakes
ment. Businesses are locating there, will be saved in the next two years.
and investors are taking chances in All of these undertakings are linked
surrounding neighborhoods. to members and donors of the Baton
On 200 acres north of Florida Rouge Area Foundation. We thank 21
Boulevard, Ardendale will become a them for believing that great, shared
mix of houses, parks, public services places show what’s possible for our
and maybe a charter school, all joining city and foster the kind of hometown
the education centers that are on the pride that drives us to do even more.
site already.
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
BUILDING
01 Ardendale
differently
Ardendale will blend services with a mix of housing
BY S A R A B ONGIORNI | PHOTOS BY T IM MUEL L ER
pcoming construction force and education hub on Lobdell
U
of a vital new roadway that includes Baton Rouge Community
and groundbreaking on College’s McKay Automotive
the first phase of $100 Technology Center and a collision
million in planned repair training center, as well as a
What this private-
housing highlight the Ardendale proj- public career high school. public partnership
ect’s focus on transforming some of Sidewalks and bike lanes will run
the poorest neighborhoods in Baton alongside the new connector. CATS is doing with this
Rouge. will develop transit routes and stops
Ardendale is being developed on along the publicly funded road, which development is
200 acres of raw land north of Florida
Boulevard. Catalyzing redevelopment
will cost between $5 million and $6
million and take about one year to
combating poverty.
is one goal of a master plan for the new complete, according to the city-parish It’s one of the most
community. It’s believed that success- MovEBR project team.
22 fully mixing uses on the site will revive Connectivity is central to exciting things
the disinvested neighborhoods that
surround it.
Ardendale’s vision of transforming
Melrose East and other disinvested
Baton Rouge has seen
The half-mile roadway will connect neighborhoods into a community of in a long time.”
the planned residential community high-quality, affordable homes, work
on Ardendale’s west side to a work- and education opportunities, parks, art —J. Daniels, EBR Housing Authority
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21COVER STORY
CHOCTAW DR
S CHO CTAW DR
RD
MADISO N AVE GS
IN
SP
R
7
WO
L
EL
W ST
OD
N Y
FAIRFIE LDS AVE EE RR
6
DA
GR BE
CK 8
LE
BL
A ST
BL
Y
RR
VD
JACKSON AVE B E
UE
LO
BL
BD
NA
EL
LB
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9
BLUEBERRY
LV
EN
PARK
D
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5
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PAUL SON ST
1
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CA PITOE
MIDDL L
SCHOO
MELROSE
ELEMENTA RY
SCHOOL RENOIR AVE
N ARDEN WOOD DR
HARRY DR
1 Choice Grant neighborhoods care for kids from birth to 3 years. students in high-demand jobs.
With a $29.5 million federal grant,
4 Ardendale Drive to Lobdell 7 Baton Rouge Community College
the Housing Authority will build
Boulevard connector This new road, Collision Center A training center for
new mixed-income apartments and
already funded, will open the land students who want to learn how to
single-family homes, as well as provide
for development and link education repair damaged vehicles.
services.
centers on Lobdell with the rest of the
8 Baton Rouge Community College
2 Proposed K-3 charter school would neighborhood.
McKay Automotive Training Center
provide pre-k education Children could
5 Planned Baton Rouge Community The new center trains students to be 23
advance to public schools at the edge
College athletic fields mechanics.
of Ardendale.
6 East Baton Rouge Career and 9 Planned hotel and commercial
3 YWCA Early Childhood & Women’s
Technology Center Operated by EBR development A place to serve the
Center An $11 million center will
Public Schools, this high school trains residents of Ardendale and visitors too.
provide Early Head Start, full-day child
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
Matt McKay, left, was the driving force behind
McKay Automotive Training Center.
spaces, and quality-of-life amenities, education. This road creates access to
from walking trails to public gardens educational opportunities.”
to grocery stores. The Housing Authority won a $29.5
The public-private partnership million HUD Neighborhood Choice
working to make that happen involves grant to support development of hous-
entities as varied as local arts orga- ing at Ardendale.
nizations, city-parish agencies, the The initial phase of Ardendale’s
Baton Rouge Area Foundation and mixed-income residential commu- The East Baton Rouge Parish School
the U.S. Department of Housing and nity also could break ground before Career and Technology Education
Urban Development. the end of the year and will consist of Center on Lobdell Boulevard
As with other elements of the a 170-unit mix of walk-up apartments
200-acre project, ease of access to and townhomes. Plans include a 1-acre
work, wellness and education oppor- community park, rain garden, technol-
tunities is the point of the new connec- ogy plaza and bikeshare station.
24 tor road. The first sharply designed homes at
“This road connects to opportuni- Cypress at Ardendale could be ready
ties that every family should have,” for occupancy in 2023 after a 12-to-
says J. Daniels, executive director 15 month build out, Daniels says. His
of the East Baton Rouge Housing agency will look to tax credits to help
Authority. “You combat poverty with pay for the second phase of construc-
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21COVER STORY
25
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
F O U N D AT I O N F A C T
Ardendale began as a project of the Baton Rouge Area
Foundation after Hurricane Katrina. Build Baton Rouge,
which owns the land, was formed in partnership with
the Foundation and is the developer, with partners.
tion, an 80-unit senior-housing area. create a seamless, multi-modal
The final phases of Cypress at connection from the schools on
Ardendale will be built over the next Paulson on the west to the workforce
four years for a total of 435 apart- and education amenities to the east
ments and townhomes. Residents of on Lobdell.
a dated public housing project a few Attracting more private and
blocks away will occupy subsidized public investment is also central to
units, but Cypress at Ardendale will Ardendale’s vision, and the planned
be indistinguishable from market- connector road is helping it do that.
rate properties, Daniels notes. At its new intersection at North
Additional plans for the 25-acre Ardenwood will be a YWCA Early
residential community include a Childhood and Women’s Center. It
walking trail through woodlands will offer Early Head Start, health
south of the housing area, play- services and daycare for children
grounds, a senior building and a under age 3 within a quick walk to
community center. Melrose East and people who live in the community.
Capitol Middle schools on Paulson It’s too soon to know what addi-
Street abut the community’s west tional investment lies ahead, but
side to make a quick pedestrian there are some ideas. Renderings
commute for children. show BRCC athletic fields near the
The public school system owns a career high school as well as a new
4-acre plot off Paulson where Daniels charter school at the new intersec-
and others would love to see a “food tion at North Ardenwood, but those
forest” for hands-on learning and a are conceptual for now, says Chris
garden that could improve access to Tyson, CEO of redevelopment agency
fresh produce. “Health and wellness Build Baton Rouge.
are key to a healthy community,” he Ardendale’s partners continue to
says. hammer out infrastructure improve-
Connectivity with the surround- ments as an initiative without prec-
ing community is a cohesive element edent in Baton Rouge. “What this
of Ardendale’s design and extends private-public partnership is doing
into its residential community, too. with this development is combating
The housing authority’s development poverty,” Daniels says. “It’s one of the
26 team will build a smaller road inside most exciting things Baton Rouge has
the residential community that aligns seen in a long time.”
with the larger new connector road
that begins across the street on North
Ardenwood.
Together, the new roadways will
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21COVER STORY
J. Daniels, EBR Housing Authority
27
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
02 Government Street Mid City
DELIVERED
Promise Road...
Government Street’s ith a reworking, Government Street has become
a destination, and no longer a fast road to some-
redesign has drawn where else. The state spent $12 million to turn
four lanes into two lanes and a turn lane, flanked
businesses and people. by bike paths most of the length. Landscaped
medians with irrigation have improved the look of the road,
Planner Camille Manning- while also making travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The transformation – a road diet – has drawn businesses to the
Broome says the success street. The former Garden District Nursery, once operated by
Gordon Mese, who was a lead advocate for narrowing the road,
is a beginning. will become a Parker Barber and, in the future, have an open-air
restaurant and a wine shop. More eating places and retailers are
expected to open for business on Government, and, crucially,
BY MUKUL V ERM A
new residences will bring more people to live in the area.
HEARTHSTONE DR
BEDFORD DR
BATON BEVERLY DR
OGDEN DR
ROUGE
22nd ST
19th ST
14th ST
17th ST
21st ST
MAGNET
H.S.
1 2 6 7
SA
CA
3 4 5
DI A
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28
HR
UW
22nd ST
DREHR AVE
ST. ROSE AVE
KENMORE
IBERVILLE ST
15th ST
PARK BLVD
CAMELLIA AVE
LAVINIA ST
EUGENE ST
ARLINGTON
AY
CATHOLIC
HIGH
SCHOOLCOVER STORY
Remaking Government Street
Government Street has accelerated its redevelopment. Here are commercial
developments that are luring people back to the street and Mid City.
1 Millennial Park Restaurants in 8 Mid City Beer Garden This new 13 Hannah Q Smokehouse
shipping containers are proposed for restaurant specializes in beer and pub
this project. food. The central courtyard is a key 14 Soji Modern Asian Restaurant
feature.
2 Electric Depot Developed by 15 Lake Urgent Care Upcoming after-
Dyke Nelson and David Weinstein, 9 Rocca Pizzeria Near the corner of hours clinic
Electric Depot is a mix of apartments, Steele Boulevard. Cannatella Grocery,
16 Hub and Spoke A new diner
restaurants and retail. also relatively new, is next door.
coming from Stephen Hightower,
3 Parker Barber and a restaurant 10 Curbside Burgers Owner Nick owner of City Pork and other
Garden District Nursery was sold Hufft turned his wildly successful restaurants
this year for an upscale barber shop, burger truck into a restaurant with an
17 Government Taco and Cypress
wine shop and outdoor restaurant by outdoor space for music and play.
Coast Brewery Both are located in
owners of a large Aveda distributor.
11 Youth City Lab The former church/ a building that housed a thrift store
4 Pelican to Mars An upcoming Sarkis Oriental Rug store is being operated by St. Vincent de Paul.
pet-friendly bar from the owners of rehabbed by Big Buddy, Front Yard
Hayride Scandal Bikes, Humanities Amped and Line 4
Line.
5 French Truck Coffee
12 Tap 65 and Bistro Byronz Both are
6 Radio Bar moving into the former home of White
Star Market.
7 Elsie’s Plate & Pie
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DR
RICHLAND AVE
YMCA
STEELE BLVD
EDISON ST
CLOUD DR
EAST DR
9 11 ALBERTSONS 15 17
8 10 12 13 14 16
29
BLANCHARD ST
RICHLAND AVE
EDISON ST
GLENMORE AVE
INGLESIDE DR
WILTZ DR
MOUTON ST
MOORE ST
HEBERT ST
BIENVILLE ST
FOSTER DR
CADDO ST
ST. TAMMANY ST
ACADIA ST
ST. LANDRY ST
CONCORDIA ST
FRANKLIN ST
RAPIDES ST
JEFFERSON HWYCOVER STORY
points were removed, but more need to
be to increase safety for pedestrians and
bicyclists. Another great next step would
be to add more street trees to make
walking and biking more comfortable
and safe, help improve air quality, retain
stormwater, and enhance the aesthetic
of the roadway.
It’s important to realize that a road
corridor is never truly complete. Great
progress has been made and the street
must continue to evolve over time, with
the help of zoning codes that uphold the
design elements that the community
desires.
Proponents of this change have
argued that the makeover would
draw businesses and residents
to the area. Do you think they are
right?
They were completely proven right.
Businesses and residents didn’t wait to
flock to the area—just the announce-
ment of the road diet was enough to
catalyze a steady flow of new invest-
ment and activity. For example, in 2013,
the year CPEX initiated the Better Block
demonstration on Government, there
were no coffee shops on the street. Now
there are two. Residents engaged with
Camille Manning-Broome
the Better Block demonstration later
got involved with the planning process
to share what they envisioned for their
We asked Camille Manning-Broome Now that it’s nearly finished, give community. We saw the announcement
what’s next for Government Street us your thoughts about Government of public investment spur more private
and the Mid City area. She’s CEO and Street’s new look. What went right investment immediately, which is often
president of the Center for Planning and what didn’t? the case; public investment in infra-
Excellence, which was originally formed The road diet has been a great success, structure improvements that enhance
by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. especially in calming traffic, provid- quality of life have a multiplier effect,
CPEX spearheaded the 2013 “Better ing more bike and pedestrian mobil- attracting more investment from the
Block BR” demonstration project that ity, and attracting new businesses, private sector. This is one of the best
sparked the road improvements. The updated buildings and more patrons. ways we can leverage public dollars to
independent nonprofit she leads is This people-friendly infrastructure create great places.
30 working across Louisiana, offering land is key to what we’ve accomplished on
planning services to city governments. Government Street: creating a vibrant There’s been some worry that
In Baton Rouge, CPEX is creating a destination where people and busi- the planted medians will go to seed.
master plan for Southern University and nesses can thrive. What’s the best way or mechanism
Scotlandville. There are still opportunities for addi- for maintaining the road for many
tional improvements. A lot of car access years to come?
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21COVER STORY
The best way to ensure ongoing main- Government Street, will continue to be
tenance of features like this is to incor- among the most desirable, as long as
porate green infrastructure assets flood risk is managed.
that are resilient and self-maintain- Planning for the future of these neigh-
ing. Ideally, a median would have land- borhoods should include a commit-
scaping that functions as stormwater ment to maintaining affordability while
infrastructure to funnel water through enhancing quality of life for residents. If
a natural filtration system. This can we are spending public dollars to make
be done in a way that’s highly effective our community a better place to live, we
for managing water and attractive for have to make sure it’s a place for all.
the community. It is less ideal to install
planters that need watering and upkeep. North Boulevard, one street
over, will also be changed under
Do you think residential areas the MovEBR plan. What reconfig-
around Government, particularly uration—if any—would you recom-
to the north side of the street, will mend to that road, which runs
draw more residents? from downtown to the Baton Rouge
Neighborhoods near easily accessi- Community College? Mid City Beer Garden on Government
ble amenities, like the businesses along Right now, North Boulevard is a four- Street at Steele Boulevard
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
Red Stick Social at the Electric Depot
celebrated its grand opening in June 2019.
lane road with sidewalks down the Which other streets in Baton
majority of it, but not all. It would be Rouge could be changed to spark
wonderful to see continuous side- redevelopment like we’ve seen
walks, marked bike lanes, street on Government?
trees and improved crosswalks at Streets are so important to our
major intersections. everyday life, work, recreation,
North Boulevard is an import- health, culture and economy, and
ant community corridor, and these impact so much about how humans
kinds of streetscape improvements experience the world. For that
can help unify the many destina- reason, I’ll say all streets can be
tions along the corridor while also changed to catalyze the improve-
enhancing and celebrating the ments we want to see as a society.
neighborhoods between BRCC and Thinking about big investments, we
downtown. Any streets that are in can see that on major thoroughfares,
need of resurfacing or improvements changes like dedicated lanes for bus
should be considered as opportu- rapid transit could reduce traffic and
nities to incorporate or improve transform the way people travel. At
people-powered transportation and the cheaper, more local end of the
environmental benefits like storm- spectrum, using paint and plants
water management and reducing to make safer, more inviting spaces
urban heat. for people makes economic sense
for nearby businesses as well as
What else can the city-parish improves residents’ quality of life.
do to make the area more inviting Specifically, there’s so much
to businesses and homeowners? opportunity on Florida Boulevard.
The Government Street road I see the potential for its entire
diet has been a wonderful success, length to return to a thriving busi-
but it can’t start and end with one ness mecca with housing, recre-
street. To be truly effective, it needs ation and services. Maintaining and
to be part of a strong network that reinvesting in existing infrastruc-
connects cyclists and pedestrians ture is the fiscally responsible path,
to Mid City, downtown, LSU Lakes and there is enough space for many
and the Perkins Road overpass—for different functions to coexist. We
a start. These connections would can look to the Imagine Plank Road
allow people to live and play within Plan, with its focus on equitable
a 5-mile radius, and would position economic development and commu-
Baton Rouge as a place where true nity engagement, as an excellent
32 20-minute neighborhoods, where example. Florida Boulevard spans
people have access to everything the entire parish, and investing in its
they need on bike, foot, or public redevelopment would help ensure
transit within 20 minutes or less, that our entire community can
TIM MUELLER
can flourish. thrive and prosper.
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21COVER STORY
33
B ATO N RO U G E A R E A FO U N DAT I O N | braf.orgCOVER STORY
DISTRICT Rx
03 Baton Rouge Health District
better mobility
How infrastructure will unlock the potential
of Baton Rouge’s second city center
BY GA RY PERIL LOUX | RENDERINGS C OUR T ESY GU Y A . AV EL LONE/ W HLC
roadway fans will acre Baton Rouge Health District Implementation Plan completed by
B
remember the musical created to capture the area’s promise. Baton Rouge-based WHLC Architecture
Fiddler on the Roof and District hospitals, clinics and research in 2018.
the battle cry of Tevye the campuses are magnets for economic WHLC principal Rex Cabaniss
Dairyman: “Tradition!” development. Better mobility is a reviewed that 137-page document on a
Yet tradition without change, as Tevye prescription for a healthier city center. recent morning and noted that roads are
discovered, can bar growth. In December, the Health District critical to good infrastructure, but so too
In the early 21st century, Baton turns 7, and projects rolling out in the are signage, lighting, landscaping, bike
Rouge leaders recognized that truth. coming months will bring the most visi- lanes, pedestrian paths and recreational
A 2011 master plan, FuturEBR, iden- ble signs yet of how better infrastruc- and public-gathering spaces.
tified 11 million square feet of health ture can unlock the district’s potential “Our charge was to look at the most
care, commercial and residential struc- and create a health care destination of meaningful, value-added and practical
tures squeezed into a dense 1,000 world-class dimensions. enhancements—to take what are now
acres. Traffic data revealed 10 inter- more standard city streets and develop
sections engulfing the area with nearly A visible brand more quality and character to them that
a half-million daily drivers—enough In 2015, the Health District completed are consistent with a district,” Cabaniss
34 people to fill a season’s worth of SEC its own master plan that identified said.
sellouts at Tiger Stadium. Were Baton a consensus No. 1 complaint: acute Essential to the Health District’s
Rouge planners staging a musical, their congestion on arterial roads. That identity, he said, are major signage and
theme might be: “Congestion!” 162-page plan by Chicago-based wayfinding elements that reinforce the
Today, they’re embracing change in Perkins + Will triggered a second major district’s value to residents and help
the way people travel through a 1,000- work, the district’s Infrastructure visitors reach their destination.
CURRENTS | t h i r d q u a r t e r 2 0 21You can also read
