2009 - Q2 Barton Award winners. Students at SJA and CHS join to ...

Now.....
Idling at LSU >> The
economy has caused a glitch in an
LSU redevelopment.
Last year, the university began
talking about remaking 37 prized
acres on Nicholson Drive, where
outdated student housing, the
former baseball stadium and a
Possibility.....
parking lot are now situated. A
committee continues discussions
about the project, but Staci
Pepitone, a panel member,
says economic turmoil is complicating potential
partnerships with the private sector and “there hasn’t
been substantive progress…” She adds that the
university remains committed to replacing the housing.
A handful of other universities have created dense
mixed-use projects that provide a revenue stream
to the university. Ohio State, for instance, has a
$150 million gateway project on 7.5 acres near the
university. It includes a movie theater, Barnes and Noble,
restaurants and housing. LSU officials say they are considering retail on their site. •
Stuck in mud >> The dream of a continuous
walking trail and more park space
around the lakes—as well as fewer fish kills and
a healthy waterway—have been sidelined.
It appears that the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers won’t be dredging the lakes as expected
in the next couple of years. So the silt
from the lakes, as was schemed, won’t be
available to build pathways around the lakes
and to expand park space.
A corps representative could not be reached
for comment, but BREC’s planning director
says the cost of dredging alone was an estimated
$12 million to $15 million, and the corps
says that only $5 million is available for the
project. LSU, the city-parish and BREC don’t
have funds to cover the shortfall and to pay for
more recreational areas, said BREC’s Ted Jack.
The new strategy is a longer shot. Jack says
the parties may seek a direct federal appropriation.
They will gather again to discuss the next
step. “We need to step back and think about
this,” Jack said. •
Currents Q2 | 2009