Square at the Centroplex Hotel

CTD-2

Observation

The design proposed for the new hotel lobby will direct activity away from the rest of the atrium and from the Downtown.

Discussion

The hotel lobby and its porte-cochere currently face directly away from the atrium and northward onto the proposed service alley of the Convention Center. Both the hotel and the atrium are masked by the two brick buildings to the north. An access road should be built between the two brick buildings as the hotel drop-off. The lobby of the hotel should be adjacent to the atrium. This will direct activity to the facility.

Recommendation A

Closely supervise the design of the proposed hotel, in particular that of the lobby. Ascertain that the location of the principal entrance will be adjacent to the atrium. Make this a condition of the development order. [Recommendation implemented].

Responsibility

Downtown Development District

Recommendation B

Secure a civil engineer to study and prepare technical drawings for an access road from the Square at the Centroplex to the atrium, its terminus to be the forecourt of the hotel lobby. This drop-off should incorporate bus accessibility.

Responsibility

Downtown Development District

Project Status

The Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel officially opened on February 5, 2001. The Sheraton is using the existing atrium, restaurant, and meetings rooms for the hotel, as suggested in the Plan. Occupancy has exceeded projections except the month following the World Trade Center tragedy. St. James Street was reopened January 2001.

Implementation

Explanation of Terms

Product

New Hotel

Responsibility

DDD

Implementing Agent

Argosy Gaming

Feasibility Analysis

Argosy Gaming

Initial Financing

Argosy Gaming

Project Financing

Hotel construction budget

Timing