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Mayor outlines Mill District progress, teen center and infrastructure work; DOTD contract for RAISE design underway
Summary
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. gave updates on the federally funded RAISE design contract, Mill District site work, a planned teen center called Skybox, seawall work and water-infrastructure repairs; staff said topographic survey and initial engineering are next steps.
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. used his Feb. 24 update to outline several city projects, saying some work is in design or pre-construction even though heavy construction is not yet visible.
On the RAISE grant project the mayor read a summary from project point of contact Nick Barrett and said the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) advertised the design contract, which was awarded to Gresham, Smith (a Baton Rouge firm). “Gresham Smith has drafted and submitted an initial services contract document, and it's currently being reviewed,” the mayor said. The firm’s first task will be a topographic survey of multiple project sites.
Mill District and local site work: the mayor and staff described fence removal near brewery and Riverside Reserve, installation of wheel stops to control vehicle access and a pending seawall project. A city staff member said a pre-construction meeting had been held and workers were expected to start the seawall in about 7–14 days.
Skybox teen center: the mayor shared before-and-after photos and described a planned teen center called Skybox. He said one room will be configured as a podcasting studio under adult supervision and that staff would likely be hired part time to operate the center a few days a week, expanding hours as demand grows. He said the center would target teenagers (roughly 13–17 or 18) and that construction should be done by March pending furnishing.
Water, sewer and other infrastructure: council members showed a photo of a collapsed sewer line that staff said has been repaired; the mayor said such breaks happen unpredictably and that the city will budget for future repairs. The mayor also showed images of the Clearwell water project and said painting and aesthetic work remain and that a later update on the water treatment plant project would follow.
Why it matters: the RAISE design contract moves the project from planning toward engineering, and local investments such as the seawall and Mill District repairs are steps toward broader revitalization and potential economic development.
Ending: staff said they will continue design work, begin the seawall soon and bring periodic updates to council as engineering and construction milestones are reached.
