Thats great that he has hired "professional parking consultant" but what about a traffic consultant to show how a several thousand more people in the busiest area in the city will affect the rest of us?

The the traffic study used on your website is from 1990 and most of the other data is all listed as Pre Katrina Data, which is essentially useless because of the population explosion in BR since.

Also, i can't find anything about how much these houses will cost. I am sure based on the area and the fact that is all going to be new construction will probably put at least 200,000. With a decline in the economy, an already over priced and bloated housing market in this area, and an average income in baton rouge of 41,000 how can this project be justified? Because they are putting in a library?

Fred's last name has to be Spinosa or Rouzon.....

Average, you need to get out more if you think this area is the busiest in the city. The traffic does get bad on "Get Away Fridays", like many other areas around town. The Traffic Study is the responsibility of the city.

Should we not build in the outskirts of the city because the interstates are extremely over burdened?

The traffic study TND Trip Generation Study you speak of was written in April 2004. The sprawl numbers you speak of are 1990, which is the lastest available. Yes, the sprawl in the Baton Rouge area has gotten much worse since Katrina, which is all the more reason to build Infill TND Villages like Rouzan.

I'm assumng that you don't live in the Southdowns area, otherwise you would know that the average price for housing in this area is above $200,000. The housing market in the Baton Rouge area is actually very health, unlike most other areas of the country.

My last name is neither Spinosa nor Rouzan, but I do live very close to the Rouzan site and plan to walk to the library very often.

I wish I could take credit for the For Rouzan web site, although I have made some suggestions for information included in the web site. Another resident who also lives near the Rouzan site is the web master.

Originally Posted by Fred

Average, you need to get out more if you think this area is the busiest in the city. The traffic does get bad on "Get Away Fridays", like many other areas around town. The Traffic Study is the responsibility of the city. Should we not build in the outskirts of the city because the interstates are extremely over burdened? The traffic study TND Trip Generation Study you speak of was written in April 2004. The sprawl numbers you speak of are 1990, which is the lastest available. Yes, the sprawl in the Baton Rouge area has gotten much worse since Katrina, which is all the more reason to build Infill TND Villages like Rouzan. I'm assumng that you don't live in the Southdowns area, otherwise you would know that the average price for housing in this area is above $200,000. The housing market in the Baton Rouge area is actually very health, unlike most other areas of the country. My last name is neither Spinosa nor Rouzan, but I do live very close to the Rouzan site and plan to walk to the library very often. I wish I could take credit for the For Rouzan web site, although I have made some suggestions for information included in the web site. Another resident who also lives near the Rouzan site is the web master.

I think what "Average Citizen" was trying to say was this:

1. This is a multi million dollar project the most recent data they can get is almost 20 years old?

2. With an average income of 41K in Baton Rouge, who is expected to buy all of this new housing (I think you actually help his argument with saying the prices are even higher than he was supposing.)

3. You don't think the developers have any responsibility to the people already living in an area to take into consideration the traffic they are adding to an area?


And on a personal note:

You don't think its that busy over there? College, Acadian, Burbank, and Perkins?

I agree with Rouzan in the aspect that it would be a nice addition to that area as most of the residential areas there are getting older. However, regardless what anyone says, College/Perkins/Acadian is the worst traffic in Baton Rouge at any time of the day. You can't possibly tell me its no headache leaving Lee Drive and trying to make it to I-10 or trying to turn from Corporate onto College and proceeding to the Lee Drive area is anything but a massive headache. I've sat on College for 30 minutes trying to get from Perkins Rd to I-10. What is this new development going to mean for the stretch of College between perkins and I-10. Whats your options? Go east to Essen!?!?! I predict a rise in suicides behind the wheel or road rage shootings in that area, once Rouzan is completed.

Originally Posted by Sunny

I think what "Average Citizen" was trying to say was this: 1. This is a multi million dollar project the most recent data they can get is almost 20 years old??

Sunny this web site is done by local residents who do not have multi millon dollar budgets. Don't confuse this with the Developer's Rouzan site. One reason for some of the articles being decades old is that Baton Rouge is way behind the times and most of these discussions on TNDs happend decades ago in other parts of the country.

Originally Posted by Sunny

I2. With an average income of 41K in Baton Rouge, who is expected to buy all of this new housing (I think you actually help his argument with saying the prices are even higher than he was supposing.)

I have no clue to what the pricing will be. But if this TND follows the 400+ that have been built in this country, the housing will bring a premium due to the high quality of life the residents enjoy. I will not likely be able to afford the housing, but hope to enjoy all or most of the benefits as will most of the existing residents in the adjoining subdivisions.

Originally Posted by Sunny

3. You don't think the developers have any responsibility to the people already living in an area to take into consideration the traffic they are adding to an area?

I think (and more importantly the city thinks) the developer has a responsibility for the traffic their development adds and will have to pay for those improvements. But at the same token, they shouldn't have to pay to fix the existing problems.

Originally Posted by Sunny

And on a personal note: You don't think its that busy over there? College, Acadian, Burbank, and Perkins?

Yes, of course the traffic in this area is a problem. My point was traffic is a problem in many places in the city and in particular the Interstates, but this has never stopped a subdivision from being built in outlying areas. The traffic problem we have now is do in part to the way we have built the subdivision model for our housing needs over the past 60+ years.

Also, no one in Baton Rouge would rather see the old Ford Property stay just the way it is then me. But this is not possible. I, like many in the area, believe a TND is the best option. Will there be growing pains? Yes of course, but once all the smoke clears I truly believe that Rouzan will only add to the quality of life and desirability of the surrounding existing neighborhoods.

I suppose if they are dead set on developing that empty property, i'd rather see something that doesn't have the potential to turn ugly like an apartment complex or some cookie cutter 1200 sq foot home neighborhood. Look on the bright side, they could go drop a St Jean Apt complex in there on top of you. There's nothing like living in a $450k house a half a mile from Section 8 apartments, let me tell you.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I suppose if they are dead set on developing that empty property, i'd rather see something that doesn't have the potential to turn ugly like an apartment complex or some cookie cutter 1200 sq foot home neighborhood. Look on the bright side, they could go drop a St Jean Apt complex in there on top of you. There's nothing like living in a $450k house a half a mile from Section 8 apartments, let me tell you.

I agree with that. I've seen some of the plans for Rouzan and while I admit it's going to put an unneeded traffic load on the area, I find it to be pretty classy and a nice addition to Baton Rouge

Why does it have to be developed? whats wrong with leaving a few trees?

Originally Posted by Sunny

Why does it have to be developed? whats wrong with leaving a few trees?

Empty property costs money (taxes, insurance) ; Developed property (in most cases) makes it.