South Denham Springs plans 57 acre retail development

Re/Max First, some Vincent Rd. property owners and Sauviac and Dang Architects have teamed up to bring a proposed 150,000 square feet of retail development to 57 acres between Bass Pro Blvd. and Vincent Rd. in south Denham Springs. The conceptual master plan, “Phase 2,” was announced at a press conference Jan. 11 by coordinator Joe G. Moore, Commercial Div. Director of Re/Max First, along with Craig Sauviac, Jacob Fakouri, Parish Pres. Layton Ricks and Mayor Jimmy Durbin.

Moore’s data indicates the Bass Pro development is the #1 site in retail traffic in La. from state line to state line; the Sam’s Club Store, under construction, is the largest one in La.; Livingston Parish grew by 39.4 percent from 2000-2011; local retail numbers are above 2008 levels; and Denham Springs is a thriving city. Added together, the Denham Springs site will naturally attract successful businesses and is an ideal location to expand development.

Design plans include:
• Boulevard Park, a 1.5 acre, multi-tenant, 11,875 sq ft retail center with parking & green spaces,
• Shadow Retail Center (in shadow of Sam’s Club), 3.5 acres of retail & parking,
• Street from Bass Pro Blvd. to Vincent Rd. running through Shadow Retail Center, • Spring Side Mall, 15.25 acres with retail tracts, fountains, lakes, island parking & lush green spaces,
• 14.3 acre large tract development
• Acreage tracts to the east of Shadow Retail Center available for future development

Moore stated that the forward-thinking vision of Denham Springs’ public officials’ makes the planned development “shovel ready.” Necessary infrastructure of roads, water, sewer and gas has already been installed in the area by the City.

“Scouts from dozens of national retail chains (regularly) visit the new land sites and request information,” said Moore. “Feasibility studies are underway by several national franchises,” and location sites for the development of two hotels have been designated, Moore said.

Fakouri of Fakouri Construction, original developer of the Bass Pro tract on the north side of Bass Pro Blvd., bordered by I-12, S. Range Ave., and La. 1032 (4-H Club Rd.), indicated that approximately 13 acres remain there. The Phase 2 south side development will attract retailers to that remaining property.

American Cancer Society : Lights, Camera, Relay!

Get ready for the most fun and exciting Relay ever. American Cancer Society’s Liv. Parish Relay for Life coordinators are planning the event from 6 p.m., Friday, March 23 until 6 a.m., Saturday, March 24 at the DSHS football field. This year’s goal is $45,000 and 23 registered teams. Sponsorship goal is $9,000.

All monies raised remain in Liv. Ph. to fund the many cancer services provided to local patients by the ACS. A percentage is also for cure research. Cancer survivors and patients are encouraged to come out and participate, showing support and hope for others currently battling the disease.

For this year’s theme, “Lights, Camera, Relay!,” teams are asked to choose a movie or TV show and dress up, decorate and have activities related to that theme. Corresponding events will be held at other locations prior to and after the Relay to contribute to the monetary goal, such as the Dance for a Cure on Jan. 28, Celebrity Waiter Gala on June 23, Public Officials & Survivors Breakfast on Feb. 4, Celebrity Car Wash, garage and bake sales, etc. Teams are encouraged to plan other fundraising events.

The Relay big event kicks off with a Survivors Ceremony and encouraging testimonies. Fun activities going on include a rock climbing wall, smash car, music, children’s rides, face painting, food and drink, dunking booth. Team members and volunteers will take turns walking and running the relay track throughout the night.

Individuals or groups are asked to sell donation campaign items, such as luminaria in honor or memory of cancer patients. The luminaria will line the track and burn all night.

Donations are tax deductible. Planning meetings will be held at City Hall at 5:30 pm on Feb. 2, March 1 and April 5. To register or for more info, visit www.relayforlife.org/livingstonla or contact Amy Douglas at amy.douglas@cancer.org, 225-767-4554 or 225-966-4645.

Garbage Service Update

Please read all guidelines thoroughly. Denham Springs residents must comply with the following rules for garbage, trash and recycling to be collected.

RECYCLING: Collected on Wednesday only by automated truck. Allowed: Plastic, aluminum, metal cans, paper products, cardboard, cardboard boxes (No styrofoam!)

- Three feet of clearance surrounding automated carts is mandatory for collection. Avoid mailboxes, utility poles, vehicles, overhead lines and limbs, shrubbery and second carts.
- Automated carts must have handles facing house and metal bar facing street.
- Recycling will only be collected in the 96-gallon cart with the GRAY lid marked “Recycling.”
- No sorting is necessary.
- The lid must be closed.
- Items in old recycling “bins” will not be collected.
- Flattening of jugs, bottles and boxes will allow more items to fit in cart.
- Only allowable recycling items will be collected. Recycling carts containing garbage or other items will not be emptied.
- Bags and items placed on top of carts will not be collected and may prevent recycling collection. No recycling will be collected as out-of-cart contents.

If your recycling will not regularly fit in one automated cart, purchase a second cart from City Utilities Dept. Continued abuse of recycling guidelines may result in your recycling cart being removed.

GARBAGE: Collected twice a week by automated truck (see neighborhood schedule below). Allowed: Household garbage, styrofoam

“Household” garbage is trash created by daily living, typically held in inside garbage cans, bagged and placed in collection carts.

- Three feet of clearance surrounding automated carts is mandatory for collection. Avoid mailboxes, utility poles, vehicles, overhead lines and limbs, shrubbery and second carts.
- Automated carts must have handles facing house and metal bar facing street.
- Garbage will only be collected in the 96-gallon cart with the BLUE lid marked “Trash.”
- Styrofoam ‘nuggets’ should be bagged inside the cart so they will not scatter when dumped.
- The lid must be closed.
- Bags and items placed on top of carts will not be collected and may prevent garbage collection.

No household garbage will be collected as “out-of-cart contents.” If your garbage will not regularly fit in one automated cart, purchase a second cart from City Utilities Dept.

OUT-OF-CART CONTENTS: Collected once a week by special truck (see neighborhood schedule below). Allowed: (No “household” garbage!) Bags of leaves, limbs, furniture, carpet, clothing items, shoes, white goods (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators) etc.
- Disposal of building materials are the responsibility of homeowner or contractor and will not be collected.
- Out-of-cart contents should be placed at least three feet from automated carts and out of streets.
- Collection drivers will ‘poke’ out-of-cart bags to determine if they contain household garbage. Household garbage will not be picked up.

COLLECTION SCHEDULE: West of Range Ave: Garbage carts collected Monday and Thursday. “Out-of-Cart” collected Monday only. East of Range Ave: Garbage carts collected Tuesday and Friday. “Out-of-Cart” collected Tuesday only.

To order additional carts ($9 a month), call the City Utilities Department at 225-667-8330. Questions about recycling, garbage and out-of-cart collection should be directed to Allied Waste at 225-778-3800 or to the City Utilities Dept. Replacement of stolen carts requires police report.

Kidz Korner: Your Vote Needed

Vote Today! The Pilot Club of Denham Springs has been nominated as one of only four non-profits in the whole USA to become the winner of $25,000 from Home Depot Foundation.

Proposed Project: If the Pilot Club of Denham Springs Louisiana Foundation were to win the $25,000 gift card, they will serve along-side Team Depot volunteers to install ADA compliant picnic tables, landscape the area with trees and shrubs, and add additional playground equipment. The enhancements will allow all children and their families to enjoy the outdoors regardless of physical, mental or developmental abilities.

If the Denham Springs Pilot Club wins the $25,000, they are then placed in a contest to also win $250,000! Vote once every 24 hours through Jan. 31 by clicking here.