The Main Street Shops and Public Market

SSC-2

Observation

Shopping in the neighborhoods is inadequate.

Discussion

Neighborhood life is premised on most ordinary needs being available within walking distance of home. Re-tail plays an important role here and should include at least a neighborhood grocery, video store, neighborhood restaurant, automatic teller machine, local post office/police post, as well as a bakery and a walk-in clinic. The best location for these is the intersection of Main and Seventh Streets. There are several reasons supporting this location: 1. This location holds a series of under-utilized commercial buildings suitable for these purposes. 2. This location is on the exit trajectory for state employees where they may conveniently shop on the way home. 3. The second state parking garage will soon be built nearby, which will bring customers by on the way to their cars. 4. This location is along the trajectory that connects the Beauregard and Spanish Town neighborhoods.

Project A

The Main Steet Shops

Recommendation A

Professionally merchandise the empty retail at the intersection of Seventh and Main.

Responsibility

Downtown Development District

Project B

The Public Market

Recommendation B

Integrate a Public Market in the design of the State’s East [Galvez] Parking Garage on Main and Sixth Street.

Responsibility

State Commissioner of Administration

Project Status

Eight buildings on Main Street have been purchased since Plan Baton Rouge was completed. Better Business Bureau, Baton Rouge Bar Foundation and the former DSI-LA are completly renovated. Also, the Golden Dome has recently undergone renovation by the deGravelles, Palmintier Holthaus & Fruge Law Firm. Petroleum Service Corporation completed its renovation of the old Bell South building on Eighth Street and Main and it serves as a training center. The DSI building was purchased by The Relocation Center in December 2002. ABMB has restored the Joy Building and will open its offices at this location in March 2004.

Immediately following the Plan Baton Rouge charrette, the Baton Rouge Economic and Agricultual Development Alliance (BREADA), the organization which developed the Red Stick Farmers’ Market, helped to form a committee to investigate the feasibility of a public market in the proposed Galvez Garage. This group evolved into the Public Market Working Group.Nancy Duncan Porter, a consultant with Projects for Public Spaces, was hired by Plan Baton Rouge to provide guidance about the design and programming for the public market. The Public Market Working Group then developed the program for the public market which was the basis for the Public Market business plan. The business plan was presented to the BREADA Board in November 2000 and was approved by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Planning and Development Board in March 2001. BRAF provided the start-up funds to hire a market director and initial funds for operations. Main Street Market opened on November 2, 2002.The market operates six days a week and serves as an incubator for ten micro-enterprises. The Red Stick Farmers Market opens on Saturdays in front of the Main Street Market. The Baton Rouge Arts Market opens once a month at the same location.

Implementation

Explanation of Terms

Product

Renovated Buildings

Responsibility

DDD

Implementing Agent

Feasibility Analysis

PBR

Initial Financing

Various

Project Financing

Retail Tenants

Timing