Electric Depot

Total Duration:

2016 – 2019 (Phase 1)

Estimated Investment:

Over $20 million

Impact: Transformed a 6-acre vacant historic site into a mixed-use cultural and commercial anchor with restaurants, entertainment, housing, and green space.

Public Benefit: Preserved a historic power plant, supported local entrepreneurs, and activated a key corridor with new jobs, businesses, housing, and public gathering space.

Electric Depot is a multi-phase redevelopment of the historic Entergy power plant site on Government Street in Mid City Baton Rouge. Once a long-vacant industrial complex, the 6-acre site has been transformed into a regional entertainment and cultural destination.

Phase 1 of the project included the adaptive reuse of former warehouse buildings into restaurant, retail, and entertainment spaces. Tenants include Red Stick Social (a bowling alley, music venue, and restaurant), City Roots Coffee Bar, BŌRU Ramen, Sweet Society, and more. The design maintained the industrial architecture while adding outdoor courtyards and pedestrian connections.

The site plan also incorporates residential housing, including 24 mixed-income apartments developed in partnership with nonprofit organizations. The project is located within the Eddie G. Robinson Sr. Historic District and leverages a mix of public and private funding, including CDBG, historic tax credits, and private equity.

Build Baton Rouge helped initiate the redevelopment by issuing the original RFEI, assembling site control, providing CDBG funding, and guiding alignment with public planning and infrastructure investment in Mid City.

Project Objectives

Revitalize a vacant industrial site with cultural, retail, and residential uses

Preserve and celebrate the site’s historic architecture and civic identity

Support locally owned businesses, creatives, and food entrepreneurs

Reinforce walkability and community gathering space along Government Street

Deliver mixed-income housing options in an amenity-rich area

Anchor Mid City and Downtown East corridor redevelopment

Our Role

Real Estate Development

We partner with developers, nonprofits, and institutions to bring affordable, catalytic projects to life—especially in neighborhoods that need them most.

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Land Banking

We acquire, hold, and prepare vacant and tax-adjudicated properties for redevelopment that aligns with community priorities.

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Community Benefits

Beyond buildings and infrastructure, every BBR project aims to create lasting impact. These benefits reflect how the project improves lives, supports neighborhood growth, and contributes to Baton Rouge’s long-term vitality.

Benefits:

Redeveloped 6 acres of formerly blighted land into an active cultural destination
Preserved and adaptively reused historic structures in a national historic district
Created dozens of jobs and supported new small businesses
Introduced 24 mixed-income housing units with plans for future residential phases
Sparked additional reinvestment along Government Street, including new retail and hospitality developments
Hosted local events, concerts, and community programming in shared spaces

Partners

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Conclusion

Electric Depot is a landmark example of creative, community-aligned redevelopment. By activating a long-vacant historic site and integrating culture, housing, and commerce, the project has become a powerful anchor for Mid City and a model for how Build Baton Rouge catalyzes inclusive neighborhood transformation.