On Nicholson, a heady idea

Nicholson Drive has long been pitched as Baton Rouge’s next lively corridor, and a new project at a familiar site could help push it that way.

Driving the news: A public partnership is converting the former Tin Roof brewery into Proof Works, a home base for companies building carbon-tech and other industrial innovations. Expect many of the first tenants to come from LSU FUEL’s NSF-funded Regional Innovation Engine, which is already helping spin research into companies. A construction timeline wasn’t immediately available, though some companies are moving in soon.

Who’s leading it: The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership (formerly BRAC) is spearheading the effort with LSU FUEL, Louisiana Economic Development and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

The big picture: Nicholson is one of Baton Rouge’s most obvious development plays. It’s the link between LSU and downtown—with enough underused land to build housing, retail and commercial spaces.

What’s powering the corridor:

• Location: Nicholson is the straight shot between the region’s biggest economic engine (LSU) and its civic center (downtown).
• The Water Campus: Proof Works will sit about a block from the Water Campus, including the Water Institute of the Gulf and other organizations focused on water management in Louisiana and the world. CPRA and the LSU Center for River Studies are on the campus, too.
• New housing coming online: Commercial Properties Realty Trust is redeveloping about 30 acres around Magnolia Mound, adding residential and commercial uses that can support more retail nearby.
• LSU growth pressure: With enrollment at record levels and rising, LSU is fueling a wave of multi-story apartment construction around Burbank Drive and Nicholson.

The opportunity: The city-parish is demolishing the former wastewater plant on the riverfront. With the right infrastructure and incentives, local government can turn it into a catalyst that makes the next round of private investment easier and faster.

The bottom line: Proof Works isn’t just a smart reuse of an old building. It’s a signal that Nicholson’s redevelopment window is open. If Mayor Sid Edwards’ administration wants a signature, tangible win, the corridor is ready for innovative ideas that lead to investments.