The Downtown Development District will soon add another project to its long list.
Davis Rhorer, executive director of the DDD, said once it raises enough funds, the DDD will begin construction on the “downtown greenway,” which will connect the downtown area to inner-city neighborhoods surrounding it with pathways that allow residents to travel without using cars.
“It will grow downtown and allow us to embrace our neighborhoods,” he said.
ABMB Engineers Inc. conducted a feasibility and cost study in March 2010 to determine how the DDD should approach the project, funded by the planning fund under the Downtown Visitor’s Amenity Plan.
Rhorer said the 2.7 miles of bike and pedestrian pathways will also connect the downtown area to several parks in Baton Rouge like the Capital and Spanish Town parks.
According to the study, engineers found the greenway will lead to a boost in tourism, real estate values and economic development.
Rhorer said the project is still in early stages, so he’s unsure of how much it will cost.
“It could be anywhere from a couple million to $10 [million] or $11 million,” he said.
Rhorer said the DDD has only planned the first phase of the project, and the rest of the phases will be planned as they go along.
Recently, the DDD has begun construction on a number of projects downtown, which Rhorer said he believes is a good thing.
“We’re in implementation mode right now,” he said.
Rhorer said the reason for the sudden surge of projects is the DDD wants to have most of them finished by 2012 when the United States Bowling Congress comes to Baton Rouge for a six-month convention.
“There will always be a little bit of inconvenience,” he said. “Just bear with us.”
Tara Curwick, nutritional sciences junior, said she often rides her bike to work downtown, and the construction has caused her some trouble. But she doesn’t mind.
“It’ll be worth it,” she said.
Curwick said she thinks the multiple projects under construction downtown will make the area safer for visitors and residents.
 
 
____
Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]