Franklin Associates is serving on a team led by Lord Cultural Resources of New York to provide examples of how both physical and performing arts can be harnessed to encourage redevelopment in a blighted neighborhood. In December the team completed and submitted their draft “Cultural Placemaking & Economic Development Strategy” report to the clients: The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the Center for Planning Excellence. This report was well received, and as improvements are made the team will also be planning a community implementation charrette to occur in early 2014.
In preparing the report, Franklin staff assisted by collecting and analyzing property data from the City Planning Department. Using GIS software, a series of property ownership, assessed value, and condition maps were prepared which were then used by other planners on the team (Mosaic Urban Partners and James Lima Planning + Development.) to draw conclusions and recommend improvements for a targeted area of reinvestment, centered around the historic Lincoln Theater. The theater is presently undergoing remediation and restoration through an effort of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority.