Background Feasibility and City Planning Studies

Downtown Baton Rouge

This is to be the principle retail and entertainment district of the Downtown area. It is anchored by the west capitol parking garage, on a trajectory that delivers pedestrians south onto third street, concluding at the Auto Hotel on Lafayette street. A principle destination for this area will be the proposed cinema and retail multiplex that will support restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightlife in general (Plan Baton Rouge , i).

Commercial Development

The findings of the Plan Baton Rouge research group identify that Downtown Baton Rouge is presently economically underdeveloped, and with proper management and leasing efforts, downtown is capable of supporting and additional 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant establishments. It is recommended that most of this commercial growth primarily occupy the length of Third Street. Additional service retail and a public market are recommended at Main Street between River Road and Seventh Street (Plan Baton Rouge, ii). (This location is only 1 block from the proposed location of Third Street Grocers.)

Historical Third Street

Third Street is the historical retail street of the Downtown. It has lost its function. The disappearance of retail from Third Street is a phenomenon of the 1960s. This was a result of several policies one being the granting of the planning commission to allow for urban sprawl. This pulled the consumer away from the center of the city. Secondly, the attempt to retrofit Third Street into a pedestrian mall, proved utterly detrimental. Parking has proved to be the third factor in deterring Third Street from continuing its prosperous retail history.

The Future of Third Street

It is proposed that a movie theater be placed at the corner of Third and Florida to act as an anchor for the retail strip. Third Street Grocers would then be located on the same block as that location. located in the heart of the Downtown retail area will provide consumers with a missing resource, a food market. Due to the urban sprawl of the 60s and 70s, all of the grocery stores have been relocated to areas down the interstate. The citizens living in and around the core of Downtown Baton Rouge lack a permanent grocery market. I intend on giving them one.It is recommended that downtown develop a public market that is around 15,000 square feet. Third Street Grocers and its accompanying restaurant will boast around 15,000 square feet total.

Why Third Street Grocers Will Work

The residential population in the immediate downtown retail area was estimated at only 2,000 people in 1998. This low number is in stark contrast to the estimated 17,000 permanent workers in the area everyday. According to the City of Baton Rouge, an additional 100,000 people conduct some business in the Downtown area on a daily basis. Plans for new residential developments will increase the area’s populace by another 2,000 people. Shopping in the neighborhoods is inadequate. Neighborhood life is premised on ordinary needs being available within walking distance of home. Retail plays an important role here and should include at least a neighborhood grocery, video store, restaurant, ATM, postal service, etc. The Plan Baton Rouge study has designated the area around the intersection of Main and Seventh streets as an optimum location for these vital parts of infrastructure. Reasons for this location include: underutilized commercial buildings suitable for these purposes, convenient location for state employees, nearby to proposed parking lot, located between Beauregard and Spanish Town Neighborhoods. The Potential for a Public Market located in Downtown Baton Rouge Exists: The primary, secondary, and tertiary population of the area will support up to 15,000 square feet of Public Market. The public market would provide services to nearby neighborhoods and workers in the CBD. The Primary trade area, composed of Spanish Town, Beauegard Town, as well as the daily office workers, will account for most of the day to day sales for the market. The worker (daytime) will utilize the market before, or on the way to work, their lunch break, and after work. They will be using the store for more convenience-oriented sales as opposed to the secondary trade area. The secondary trade area (within 5 miles) will make up a large portion of the weekend sales and will shop at the proposed market on a less frequent basis than those living in closer proximity.