news

Greater Baton Rouge MSA

Baton Rouge, LA is supported by state government, higher education, healthcare, and heavy industry. Some of the market’s anchors include Louisiana State University, the State of Louisiana, ExxonMobil, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge General, Ochsner Health, and the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. These employers drive demand across office, medical office, retail, multifamily, industrial, and hospitality-oriented commercial properties. Most current activity is concentrated in downtown Baton Rouge and along the Perkins Road/St. George corridor, with the broader region also feeling the pull of the historic industrial buildout underway across the river in Ascension Parish.

Baton Rouge

Plan Baton Rouge III, infrastructure investment, and a growing hospitality pipeline keep demand strong for residential, hospitality, and mixed-use uses downtown.

• Plan Baton Rouge III: The Baton Rouge Area Foundation unveiled Plan Baton Rouge III, a $1.5 billion, 10-year downtown master plan led by Sasaki. The plan targets 5,000 new residential units, more than 7,000 additional downtown residents, and up to 10,000 new jobs, anchored by a riverfront park and entertainment district along the Mississippi River.
• Sports Illustrated Resort: The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center on Lafayette Street will undergo a roughly $40 million renovation and relaunch as a Sports Illustrated Resort, a concept from Travel + Leisure Co. with investment from LSU alumnus Shaquille O’Neal. The existing hotel operates normally through 2026, with renovations beginning in 2027 and the rebrand opening later that year.
• Hospitality and gaming: Downtown’s casino and hospitality base continues to turn over. The former Belle of Baton Rouge hotel reopened as Bally’s Baton Rouge, with construction underway to integrate the renovated hotel with a new casino, and separate proposals would reposition the Raising Cane’s River Center into a modern convention and events facility, potentially paired with a new headquarters hotel.
• Residential redevelopment: Residential redevelopment includes the Rivermark Centre and the conversion of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple into mixed-income housing, part of a broader push toward attainable and workforce housing for state employees and young professionals who want to live near work.
• Infrastructure: The Downtown Greenway, the MOVEBR bus rapid transit corridor, and a proposed new Mississippi River bridge (currently in environmental assessment, with a preferred site targeted by 2026) continue to support long-term downtown and regional mobility and investment.
• Sports and entertainment district: City and civic leaders have floated a privately funded LSU arena and a unified sports, entertainment, and convention district linking major downtown civic assets, positioning Baton Rouge to host larger athletic and entertainment events.

St. George

St. George’s rapid growth and continued investment along Perkins Road, Siegen Lane, and Highland Road are reshaping southeast Baton Rouge’s retail, restaurant, and office landscape.

• Road infrastructure: MOVEBR broke ground in February 2026 on the $92 million Jones Creek Road extension and the $40 million Perkins Road capacity project, adding travel lanes, shared-use paths, and drainage improvements to support the corridor’s growth.
• Comprehensive planning: The St. George 2050 Comprehensive Plan identifies Perkins Road, Siegen Lane, and Highland Road as priority growth corridors, with a stated goal of building “20-minute neighborhoods” where retail, healthcare, and daily needs sit close to new rooftops.
• Broader southeast Baton Rouge: Corporate Boulevard and Bluebonnet Boulevard remain the region’s premier Class A office and medical district, and the Siegen Lane/Coursey Boulevard corridor continues to see steady multi-tenant retail turnover, underscoring sustained investor demand in Baton Rouge’s southeast quadrant.

Airline Highway State Fairgrounds / Youth Sports & Entertainment

A long-planned overhaul of the fairgrounds on Airline Highway is moving into construction, with city and parish leaders framing it as a regional sports-tourism draw with the potential to support a live/play/stay node similar to what OWA has built around its sports complex in Foley/Gulf Shores, Alabama.

• Airline Highway Park redevelopment: BREC and the City of St. George unveiled final plans for a $9 million to $12 million first phase redevelopment of the 133-acre Airline Highway Park (the longtime home of the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair), adding new baseball fields, batting cages, a new sports complex, and indoor pickleball courts. Construction documents are being finalized through 2026, with Phase 1 construction targeted for 2027.
• Regional draw: City leaders anticipate the complex will host baseball championships, vintage car shows, farmers markets, and multi-parish tournaments drawing families from Baton Rouge, Central, Zachary, and Baker, with a St. George council member calling the potential economic impact on nearby retail, restaurants, and hotels “enormous.”
• Broader entertainment investment: The appetite for larger-scale, OWA-style family entertainment in the region is also showing up nearby: Blue Bayou Waterpark reopened in 2026 as Soak’n Fun under Leisure Sports and Recreation, the same operator behind Gulf Islands Waterpark and the planned Jubilee Park attraction in Mobile, Alabama, which will pair a water park with zip lines and sports fields. No comparable resort-style water park, retail, and hospitality complex has yet been announced in the Baton Rouge MSA, but the fairgrounds redevelopment and renewed water park investment point to growing demand for that kind of destination.

LSU and Southern University Student Housing

Record enrollment at both LSU and Southern University is driving a wave of on-campus and off-campus student housing investment, with the Nicholson Drive corridor remaining the epicenter of activity.

• LSU South Quad: LSU broke ground in December 2025 on a $215 million South Quad residential project that will add 1,266 freshman beds across two residence halls near the Business Education Complex, with delivery targeted for fall 2027. The project follows eight consecutive years of record freshman enrollment (roughly 8,000 incoming freshmen in fall 2026) and continues LSU’s multi-phase, RISE-led on-campus housing partnership that previously delivered Nicholson Gateway, Spruce Hall, Cedar Hall, and the Greenhouse District.
• Sterling Tiger Valley / Sterling Southgate: Off campus, a joint venture between The Dinerstein Companies and Harrison Street Asset Management is developing two amenity-rich communities totaling roughly 1,700 beds: Sterling Tiger Valley (845 beds, along Burbank Drive, delivery before fall 2027) and Sterling Southgate (899 beds, near LSU’s engineering and business schools and the planned new 14,000-seat arena/retail hub, with groundbreaking expected in 2027 and delivery in fall 2028).
• Southern University on-campus housing: Southern University broke ground in June 2026 on the first phase of a $50 million, 850-bed residence hall development adjacent to the Horace W. Moody Intramural Sports Complex on Helen Barron Drive, with the university’s Board of Supervisors having approved preliminary financing for a roughly $100 million total program. Phase I (500 beds for freshmen and sophomores) is targeted for fall 2027, with Phase II adding upperclassman apartment-style units.

Livingston Parish / Juban Crossing

Livingston Parish continues to pull retail demand out of East Baton Rouge Parish, with Juban Crossing in Denham Springs anchoring the growth.

• Juban Crossing: Target has confirmed a roughly 128,000-square-foot store at the northwest corner of Juban Road and Juban Crossing Boulevard, the first Target location in Livingston Parish. The surrounding outparcels are drawing a wave of first-to-Louisiana and first-to-market retailers, including HomeSense, Burlington, and Sierra, alongside the center’s existing mix of Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Ulta, Belk, and Rouses.
• Trade area impact: The continued build-out reinforces Juban Crossing, at the I-12/Juban Road interchange, as the dominant retail draw for Livingston Parish and eastern Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parish shoppers, and signals room for additional retail, restaurant, and outparcel demand along the corridor.

West Feliciana Parish

Hut 8’s River Bend campus is bringing a new asset class and a new scale of capital investment to the northern edge of the Baton Rouge MSA.

• Hut 8 River Bend: Hut 8 is developing its River Bend AI data center campus on a roughly 600-acre site near St. Francisville, with Phase I representing up to $10 billion in investment and a 15-year, $7 billion lease signed with Fluidstack, backed by Google, alongside a partnership involving Anthropic. The site sits near the River Bend nuclear plant and is expected to draw thousands of construction workers and significant permanent technical staffing as it scales.
• Regional impact: The project is projected to generate up to $90 million a year in new parish revenue under a 30-year agreement, and the scale of power, fiber, and construction activity is expected to ripple into demand for workforce housing, contractor and laydown space, and supporting retail and hospitality across West Feliciana and the northern Baton Rouge MSA.

Ascension Parish / Highway 30 Industrial Corridor

Beyond RiverPlex, Ascension Parish’s established Highway 30 petrochemical corridor is adding meaningful Class A distribution and logistics capacity.

• Magnolia Ridge Logistics Park: Magnolia Ridge Logistics Park, a roughly 186-acre industrial park at Industriplex Avenue and LA-30 in Geismar, is under construction and expected to deliver up to 2 million square feet of Class A distribution, office-warehouse, and manufacturing space, with lots targeted for sale and vertical development in phases.
• Corridor fundamentals: The Gonzales/Highway 30 logistics corridor benefits from direct access to I-10 and LA-73, proximity to the Geismar petrochemical plants (BASF, Air Products, Air Liquide, Westlake, and others), and continued industrial sales activity, with Ascension Parish’s industrial base now exceeding 750 properties and roughly 8 million square feet.

Executive Summary

Across the river, Ascension Parish’s RiverPlex MegaPark, a roughly 17,000-acre industrial site along the Mississippi River’s west bank, is drawing historic capital commitments. Hyundai Steel’s $5.8 billion ultra-low carbon steel mill is set to break ground in September 2026, and CF Industries has announced a $4 billion ammonia production facility nearby. Together with supporting projects, RiverPlex is expected to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across the Capital Region, fueling workforce housing, retail, and industrial/logistics demand well beyond Ascension Parish’s borders.

Baton Rouge’s commercial real estate market is benefiting from downtown revitalization, record LSU and Southern University enrollment driving a wave of student housing investment, St. George’s rapid buildout and new sports-tourism infrastructure, first-to-market retail expansion in Livingston Parish, a generational data center investment in West Feliciana Parish, and a wave of industrial and petrochemical-adjacent investment along the river corridor.

The best opportunities are in industrial/logistics, mixed-use redevelopment, hospitality, multifamily and workforce housing, student housing along the Nicholson Drive corridor, suburban retail and town center concepts, and land positioned along the Perkins Road/St. George growth corridor, the Airline Highway sports-tourism corridor, the Juban Crossing/Livingston Parish retail node, and the Ascension/Gonzales industrial belt.

Steve Legendre, CCIM

Senior Advisor and Baton Rouge Market Leader

NEW ORLEANS, LA, August 20, 2026 – Stirling proudly announces its founder, James E. Maurin, has been elected 2026–2028 Chair of The National WWII Museum’s national Board of Trustees.

A dedicated supporter of The National WWII Museum for more than a decade, Maurin first joined its Board of Trustees in 2013. As Board Chair, he will help guide the Museum as it builds on the progress made during the first year of Victory’s Promise, a 10-year, $300 million comprehensive fundraising campaign focused on sustaining, expanding, and transforming the Museum’s educational impact over the next decade. Maurin will also support the Museum’s continued efforts to broaden its reach in New Orleans and across the country.

Maurin founded Stirling and served as the company’s Chairman for more than 30 years, helping establish the firm as one of the Gulf South’s leading commercial real estate companies. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to business leadership, community service, and philanthropic engagement.

In addition to his leadership with The National WWII Museum, Maurin currently serves on the boards of Ochsner Health, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation, and the LSU Real Estate Facilities Foundation.

“Jimmy’s leadership, integrity, and commitment to serving both the business community and nonprofit organizations have left a lasting impact,” said Townsend Underhill, President & Chief Executive Officer of Stirling. “We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor and are proud to see his leadership continue through such an important institution.”

Located in New Orleans, LA, The National WWII Museum is internationally recognized for preserving and sharing the history of the American experience during World War II and honoring the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of the generation that shaped history.

BATON ROUGE, LA — August 20, 2026 — Stirling is pleased to welcome Travis Thornton, CCIM, Alexis Davis, and Spencer Trussell to its Baton Rouge Advisory Team, strengthening the company’s expertise and presence across the Louisiana commercial real estate market.

Travis Thornton, CCIM brings more than a decade of commercial real estate experience, specializing in industrial and investment properties. Prior to his real estate career, he served 15 years with the Baton Rouge Fire Department. Thornton currently serves as Chairman of the St. George Chamber of Commerce and is on the St. George Planning and Zoning Commission in Baton Rouge, LA.

Alexis Davis joins Stirling as an Advisor, assisting clients across a variety of commercial real estate transactions and property types. A Louisiana-licensed real estate professional, she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Arkansas and brings a client-focused approach centered on organization, responsiveness, and communication.

Spencer Trussell joins Stirling as an Advisor specializing in industrial properties and investment sales. Prior to joining Stirling, he spent eight years with CMC Corporate Solutions, gaining experience in client relations and business operations. Trussell earned his business degree from Louisiana State University in 2021.

“Travis, Alexis, and Spencer each bring valuable experience, strong relationships, and a commitment to exceptional client service,” said Will Barrois, Sr. Vice President – Advisory Division. “Their addition strengthens our Baton Rouge Advisory Team and enhances our ability to serve clients throughout the market. We’re excited to welcome them to Stirling.”

The addition of Travis, Alexis and Spencer reflects Stirling’s continued investment in its Baton Rouge presence and commitment to providing clients with knowledgeable, locally focused commercial real estate professionals.

 

Pensacola, FL is supported by beaches and strong major institutional employers. Some of the market’s anchors include Navy Federal Credit Union, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Baptist Health Care, Ascension Sacred Heart, Andrews Institute, and the University of West Florida. These employers drive demand across office, medical office, retail, multifamily, hospitality, and service-oriented commercial properties. Most current activity is concentrated in downtown’s Bayfront and in north Pensacola along the Nine Mile Road corridor.

Downtown Pensacola

Hotel development, infrastructure investment, and new residential density keep demand strong for experiential retail, restaurants, and entertainment uses downtown.

• Downtown infrastructure improvements —including stormwater upgrades, ADA improvements, wider sidewalks, upgraded intersections, and better pedestrian connections along Palafox Street —continue to support retail, restaurant, hospitality, and mixed-use investment.
• The Port of Pensacola is drawing major industrial and maritime investment, including Birdon America’s advanced shipbuilding and manufacturing facility and American Magic’s High Performance Center. Together, these projects represent roughly $300 million in investment and will bring more than 2,200 high-wage jobs. American Magic’s presence establishes a permanent base for elite sailing and strengthens Pensacola’s profile as a maritime innovation hub.
• Downtown Pensacola’s hotel pipeline reflects continued growth in tourism, conventions, and business travel. Projects include two Hilton-branded concepts and Hotel Tristan, a seven-story, 122-room upscale boutique hotel in the East Garden District expected to open this year.
• The former ECUA Main Street sewage treatment plant site, commonly known as “Old Stinky,” is one of downtown Pensacola’s most significant multifamily redevelopment opportunities. The eastern and western parcels are expected to deliver more than 600 residential units near Community Maritime Park and the downtown waterfront.
• Community Maritime Park is emerging as a major waterfront mixed-use district to be anchored by the planned REVERB by Hard Rock Hotel Pensacola, expected to break ground in 2026 and open in 2029. Located near Blue Wahoos Stadium and Pensacola Bay, the project is expected to include more than 125 tech-enabled hotel rooms and multiple food and beverage offerings. Maritime Park plans also include Rhythm Luxury Lofts, a 24-unit residential tower, structured parking, a public plaza, open-air gathering space, and destination dining.

 

Nine Mile Road Corridor

• Navy Federal Credit Union’s 10,000-employee campus anchors commercial activity in northwest Pensacola. Immediately adjacent, the former Navy Outlying Landing Field 8 site is moving toward redevelopment across approximately 540 acres. Branded Outlying Fields, the project is planned as a mixed-use district with employment, housing, retail, restaurants, civic space, and neighborhood services.
• Cordova remains the market’s key retail trade area. Raising Cane’s opened in June 2026, backfilling the former Red Lobster site next to Cordova Mall. Nine Mile Road continues to grow from Pace in the east toward Pine Forest Road, in the west. Central Nine Mile is now home to Pensacola’s first Costco.

Executive Summary

Pensacola Beach remains one of the area’s strongest tourism drivers, attracting roughly 2.5 million visitors. Pensacola’s commercial real estate market is benefiting from port-related industrial investment, downtown revitalization, beach tourism, hospitality growth, and new multifamily development.

The best opportunities are in industrial/logistics, mixed-use redevelopment, hospitality, multifamily, suburban town center concepts, and retail serving downtown, the waterfront, Pensacola Beach, and the Beulah/Nine Mile Road corridor.

Darryl Bonner, CSM, CLS, CCIM

Senior Advisor – Pensacola/Tallahassee Market Leader

Stirling is proud to recognize our advisors who have earned the CoStar Q2 2026 PowerBroker Award, a distinguished honor recognizing top-performing commercial real estate professionals across the country.

Presented quarterly, the CoStar PowerBroker Award recognizes brokers responsible for some of the highest-performing sales and lease transactions within their respective markets. Award recipients are determined using transaction data independently verified by CoStar, highlighting professionals who continue to demonstrate excellence in commercial real estate.

Congratulations to Stirling’s Q2 2026 PowerBroker Award recipients:

• Debbie Anglin, SIOR – Broker Associate
• Jeff Barnes, CCIM
• Steadman Bethea
• Lee de la Houssaye
• Justin Elliott
• Angela McArthur
• Scott Macdonald, SIOR
• Shawn Maxey
• Jill Meeks
• Carly Plotkin
• Alec Purser

Congratulations to each of our recipients on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud of their continued commitment to delivering exceptional results for their clients and strengthening Stirling’s presence across the Gulf South.