City, state and development officials cut the ribbon Friday morning of the newly constructed underpass off River Road by Hollywood Casino to celebrate the opening of future commercial land.
Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, said the underpass gives access to 36 acres of development, which is “unparalleled in Louisiana.”
“This is one of the most extraordinary projects yet because it opens 36 acres of site along the Mississippi River,” Rhorer said.
The underpass marked the end of the first of four phases in the River Park Development plan.
The project took cooperation from the Mayor’s Office, the Metro Council, the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Development District and the state of Louisiana for its completion, according to a news release.
Pete Clements, CEO and manager of River Park Development LLC, said the underpass took five years to complete.
Clements said phase two includes the development of an entertainment district, retail shops, a parking garage and a hotel.
Cosima Clements, executive assistant at River Park Development LLC, said phase two provides 120,000 square feet for restaurants and bars surrounding a public concert facility and also a boardwalk.
Cosima Clements said phase three will feature another hotel and office space, and phase four will be a residential development.
East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden said the development will create 1,400 temporary jobs and 3,400 full-time jobs. Holden also said the space is expected to make $103 million in tax collections in the first 10 years.
“This project means revitalization, economic growth and the transformation of a site that was previously used to hold limestone,” Holden said.
Holden said the project is beneficial to the Baton Rouge community.
“It is a chance for us to lock up [businesses] in Baton Rouge and let them know we are a vibrant community,” he said.
 
 
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]