When I moved to Baton Rouge (five years ago) the
Government Street Overlay District was adopted. I didn't know much about Mid City, but the ordinance was obviously written to encourage street life. You know. Create some activity on a road that is relatively a highway.
Fast forward five years after I decided to buy a place
along Government Street, and now a new bar (Radio Bar of course) opens a mile down
the road. Even though I frequently walk to Calandos and Albertsons (a quarter
mile), I now transverse the street even further. Cause, I mean,
even in Baton Rouge people will consider walking if alcohol is involved.
(Notice I said consider… there’s still a long way to go).
A year ago Government Street appeared dead on any given evening. While the street is home to several restaurant and bars, you can't really tell from the street. They function as destinations, and
if you don’t know about nightlife, you weren't going to find out from the
street. Phil Brady’s has a sign, but the entrance is in the back. Superior Grill’s
patio gives no indication of life. Heck, La Caretta’s decided to move their
entrance from the front, to the back. So now they have an awesome patio in the
back… but from the street, the restaurant looks closed.
Now there has been a resurgence of nightlife! OK, that’s a little overstated, the street
gives a much different feeling at night. Bohemia always has something going on. The tattoo
shops actually bring life to the street.
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| Bohemia, and even the tattoo shop, have done a great job keeping the street active at night. |
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Now a new bar – a year in the making – is opening. A turning point in Government Street nightlife? Finally a chic, trendy bar; slightly high drink prices; yet hipster enough to keep it low key.
Radio Bar could be the turning point.
Last night I noticed... the fence surrounding the
soon-to-be patio seems more permanent than it did before. Maybe I'm just freaking out. I
just assumed they would have a patio… not a fortress. Is the ABC requiring an extremely obnoxious fence? Did the ABC board require the windows to be frosted? I don’t know. But it actually ruined my
night. Finally changes taking place… street life reemergence along Government
Street. One tiny shred of hope. All ripped away (with a glass of Jack and Diet in hand). Why are people hell bent on keeping the businesses shielded from
the street. Why?
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Well the obvious answer is Government Street is a major, high speed, state road. It’s noisy. Not the most desirable for walking, dining, and enjoying. But hiding a business from the street doesn’t seem to be the most ideal business plan. I realize a lot of Louisiana business relies on word of mouth. But at the same time, something has to attract people. Even Walmart makes it self look presentable from the street. Heck, Government Street may be loud and unsafe on the sidewalk; but ten feet off the sidewalk is a totally different world. Several places have patios in front – Rotolos, Bistro Byronz, even Sonic, Raising Canes, and Popeye’s. But we need even more attractive (and very active) places to face the street. Something like Radio Bar could have provided. I’ll put a lot of blame on the City. I mean, they have shown no desire (past FutureBR) to assist the businesses along the popular corridor. The only corridor in town that houses all the art galleries, and is heavily populated (about 22,000 people within a radius). Foster Street and Acadian Thruway got pedestrian push buttons. Which is awesome. But otherwise the road is crumbling; conditions are incredibly unsafe for pedestrians, bikes, and cars; and it’s just ugly. |
But just a little streetlife along Government would turn the
place overnight. It might not be the best pedestrian atmosphere. But the
businesses are there. The people are there. They just have to work together. Like I've said before. A 'place' isn't a place because of looks. A place is a place because of what it is, and who is there.