΄‘Μύ$50 million north Baton Rouge development,Β more than a decade in the making, is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The East Baton Rouge Planning Commission approved the BLVD at Harding project plans at its April meeting, alongside a proposed church and residential developments.
BLVD at Harding will bring a long-awaited full-service grocery store to the area, along with other retailers and essential services as a result of about 15 years of advocacy from city officials, developers and Southern University leaders.
The more than 100,000-square-foot campus, located off Harding Boulevard near the Howell Boulevard intersection, will be anchored by Harvest Fresh, a new grocery store in partnership with Associated Grocers. It builds on the Howell Place development, a 200-acre mixed-use development intended to spur growth in the area.
The projectβs announcement in January was met with great excitement in north Baton Rouge, which has long lacked food resources. Rouses Supermarkets has tried to drive investment in north Baton Rouge with its store on Florida Boulevard, close to Mid City.
City council member Anthony Kenney said the development will reduce food insecurity in his district.
βThis is something right here that so many people in that area have been longing for a very long time,β Kenney said at the meeting. βAs Southern University continues to expand and Scotlandville, North Baton Rouge and District Two continue to expand, this shows the progress that has come in that area.β