Community/Economic Development | The Heart of a City

MyCity: Baton Rouge

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Greg Hampton

The Historic Lincoln Theater in Baton Rouge. Photo Credit to Chenevert Architects.

The next entry in our MyCity series is from Harold Dorrell Briscoe. A former community and economic development practitioner, Dorrell’s desire to get involved in public service led him to shape the revitalization of a major community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“Since I was 16 years old, I dreamed of working in government and running for political office. For many years, I was very successful in the pursuit of that dream. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Florida and an academic scholarship to attend the George H. W. Bush School of Government Public Service at Texas A&M University. I had the privilege of interacting with President Bush, various ambassadors, and distinguished faculty who have served this country and impacted the world. I graduated in May 2009 with a Masters degree in Public Administration.”

“I served as a project manager for the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority (RDA) from 2009-2011. In that position, I oversaw the renovation process of the historic Lincoln Theater in Baton Rouge (a theater that Dr. Martin Luther King visited), the Land Banking program, and brought in over $2.5 million in one year through grants and tax credit programs.”

“While at the RDA my focus was on land banking in the revitalization of the Lincoln Theater. This process involved securing funding for revitalization, conducting environmental assessment of the property and surrounding area, create a design team, conduct a vicinity survey, and acquire real estate of surrounding area for further development. The RDA had special Authority from the Louisiana Legislature to expedite the process and quieting title to vacant and abandoned property in areas where economic and community improvement was badly needed. My role was to collect over 200 pieces of adjudicated property and lots, clear the title, and essentially give this property away to developers who were interested in revitalizing the area.”

After a massive fundraising and revitalization effort, the Lincoln Theater will reopen this weekend on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14th.

After a successful fundraising and revitalization effort, the Lincoln Theater will reopen this weekend on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14th.

“The historic Lincoln Theater is strategically located to provide an economic and social stimulus within the Old South Baton Rouge community. Its’ structural integrity supports its candidacy for revitalization. However, identified environmental contaminates and dilapidation have revealed a need for complete renovation of the building and its surrounding area. The Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame (LBHHF) along with its acquired partners have requested financial assistance to complete the revitalization necessary to bring an iconic, historic building back to commerce.”

Since his involvement in the project, the LBHHF and their partners completed a successful fundraising and renovation campaign and the Theater will reopen this weekend on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14th. Currently living in Jacksonville, Florida, Dorrell, along with his wife Tracy, serves as the Young Professionals Pastor at Southpoint Community Church. Dorrell also is a Professor of Public Administration at the University of North Florida. For more information, visit Dorrell’s website.

USF and Downtown Tampa: Signifying a New University Image

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Greg Hampton

Could USF spark a transformation in Downtown Tampa? Photo by Joaquim Alves Gaspar.

When you think of a university, a number of images may immediately come to mind. Students rushing to class. Lecture halls filled with world-class professors. Rowdy crowds at football games. And, for many, a campus full of ivory towers separated from the fabric of the surrounding city.

Rendering of downtown Tampa redevelopment featuring USF. Photo Credit: Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications and Marketing

Recently, many universities have sought to breakdown these images through economic and social investment in their cities. An example of this trend can be found in Tampa, Florida. Last month, the University of South Florida (USF), along with the City of Tampa and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lighting, unveiled plans for a massive redevelopment project in downtown Tampa. The project would relocate the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and USF Health Heart Institute from their current location on the main USF campus to the downtown Tampa area. The College of Medicine and Heart Institute would join Tampa General Hospital and the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation to create a medical industry hub. In addition to the hub, the redevelopment project would also bring new housing, retail, and office space to create a mixed-use, walkable community downtown. If successful, the downtown redevelopment could produce an economic impact of over $832 million for the state of Florida, according to USF President Judy Genshaft.

The ambitious project, which will take up to ten years to complete pending approval from the Florida Board of Governors, is a part of a larger trend nationally. During the last decade, universities such as Arizona State University in Phoenix, have begun to expand from their campus headquarters into their neighboring communities. From business corridors and innovation hubs to K-12 school and public health initiatives, universities are taking a more proactive role in shaping the opportunities for growth and advancement in their cities. If successful, projects such as the downtown Tampa redevelopment could revolutionize the way universities engage in shaping the future of their cities during the 21st Century.