East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority Programs
Community improvement plans
MELROSE EAST
Is bordered by N. Ardenwood to the west, N. Lobdell Boulevard to the east, Renoir Avenue to the north, and Florida Boulevard to the south. This is approximately a 1.5 mile area populated by approximately 5,500 residents. The area was once anchored by retail merchants including the now closed Bon Marché Mall. The large retail complex of Bon Marché Mall has been converted into an economic development project, Bon Carré, which houses corporations including Cox Communications and Louisiana Center for Educators. Churches and other community groups have also moved into the area and now refer to the community as Melrose East instead of the negatively charged “Mall City”.
Melrose East Community Improvement Plan
- The Melrose East Community Improvement plan is complete. Follow the links below to view the plan, appendix, or implementation matrix.
- Community Improvement Plan (14.4 MB)
- Appendix (21.7 MB)
- Implementation Matrix (285 KB)
News
22 July 2010 - Our first public meeting
A group of about 45 Melrose East area residents gathered Tuesday at the BREC Headquarters to work with members from the RDA and its consultant team to discuss and map out ideas for revitalizing their community. The meeting consisted of residents identifying assets within the community and challenges that need be addressed. Along with these challenges, the residents helped to locate potential sites for much needed development and revitalization projects. Types of development include: grocery stores or other types of shopping & services, clinics & pharmacies, daycare facilities, community centers, and new housing needs.
All the work and concerns voiced by the residents at this meeting are currently being evaluated and incorporated into plans that will be voted on by the residents at the next public meeting.
We greatly appreciate all the residents who volunteered their time at this meeting to let their voice be heard and helped to shape the future of Melrose East. Please stay informed for future public meetings to continue the progress of moving forward in a positive direction.
Visioning Workshop Input Results
During the Visioning Workshop in the Melrose East area, many assets and challenges were identified by area residents and stakeholders. Analysis of stakeholder input at the first meeting indicated an overwhelming presence of slum housing and crime due to the absence of many landlords to maintain their properties. A majority of the landuses within the Melrose East included businesses and low income apartment housing. While businesses can be an asset, many of the residents indicated there are too many predatory lending offices and few restaurants or eateries. The primary assets identified include the police sub-station, Bon Carre Business Center, the Lewico/Gerry Lane business, and the BREC Headquarters.
Public services, community outreach, and education are some of the elements the residents indicated were not being met by the current churches and community centers. Residents indicated that while child education is lacking, adult education services also need to be enhanced. This includes not only reading and writing schools, but information and family services for parents and the unemployed.
Alternative Implementation Workshops 2010.09.30
The intent of the Alternatives & Implementation Workshop on September 30, 2010 was to gain public input on the catalyst area concepts developed by the Phillips-Davis Legacy, BROWN+DANOS team based on conducted market analysis and information received from the community at the Visioning Workshop on July 22, 2010. First, an introduction regarding the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority’s mission and an outline of the 5 CIPs project was given by Mark Goodson and Karen Phillips followed with a brief description of the process completed up to this point. Following the introductory presentations, Dana Brown revealed the concept plans created for the two identified target areas within Melrose East. Attendees were given digital voting devices and were asked to vote on the concepts as a whole as well as individual components within each. After voting was completed, respondents took a brief break to visit participants of the Resource Fair while the consultant team made adjustments to the concepts. Finally, attendees reconvened at the tables and were shown an overall vision for the area and the preferred concepts illustrating their input were revealed. The Phillips-Davis Legacy, BROWN+DANOS team will continue to develop the Melrose East Community Improvement Plan based on input received at both the Visioning and Alternatives & Implementation Workshops, technical analysis, collaboration with the RDA, and the team’s expertise.
Schematic Catalyst Site 1
Schematic Catalyst Site 2
Market analysis of the area was conducted to determine what types of catalytic development could be supported and conceptual designs were developed based on both the market analysis and the input from community residents. Two concepts for each of the two target areas were created for presentation to the public.
Analysis of input received by area residents at the Melrose Visioning Workshop identified two target areas for future catalyst development. The first area, along N. Ardenwood Drive north of Harry Drive, illustrated resident desires focusing primarily on commercial and mixed-use development fronting Ardenwood Drive with some housing needs and public park space located behind. The second area, north of the Bon Carre area at the corner of Harry Drive and Lobdell Boulevard, showed residents requesting additional single family housing and townhomes with some mixed-use and commercial along Lobdell Boulevard. Design of the new catalyst development as well as plans for redevelopment and restoration of the entire neighborhood will continue to be refined over the next several weeks, and will be made available to the public in a final report.
Melrose East - Inventory Maps
