All the right moves

This from Adam Knapp, a 34-year-old fan of downtown revitalization and the new CEO for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Knapp understands the role a successful downtown will play for the entire nine-parish area in the next decade.

In a word, huge.

Successful downtowns have most, if not all, of the following: synergy and diversity, sound policies and citywide events, working artists and the working class, quality architecture and local food, movie theaters and music halls, grocery stores and retail spots, bars you’d never drink in and ones you love, restaurants out of your price range and others that aren’t, art you don’t understand and art you do. Oh, and thousands of permanent residents. Don’t forget them.

In March, after years of meetings and studies, the Metro Council established the boundaries and design guidelines for the new Arts and Entertainment District in Baton Rouge. This is square one, soon to be followed by streetscape improvements, comprehensive policies, economic incentives packages and, in theory, unprecedented growth.

225 polled subscribers to our sister publication, Daily Report, for opinions on what they think downtown needs. The non-scientific poll, taken in early May, received 799 responses. The percentages have been rounded off.

Supermarket with pharmacy…32

A large music hall for popular bands…18

A movie theater for commercial & indie films…18

A 24-hour diner…10

A sports bar and grill…6

Affordable artist studios…5

Trendy clothes stores…5

A funky art gallery…2

This month 225 looks at where the new district stands and where its next steps need to lead.

Click the links below to read each section of the cover story.

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have sound policies…Authorities better hurry

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have synergy on diversity…Austin’s 18-hour plan

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have movie theaters…Dinner and a movie

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have working artists…Where art thou?

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have permanent residents…Movin’ on up

How did they do it?

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have good looks…Designing downtown

Successful Arts & Entertainment districts have clear alcohol rules…Unclear rules could hamper district