Four years ago, a Northshore developer bought the former Coca-Cola Bottling plant on Norman C. Francis Parkway, planning to turn the nearly 80-year-old building into a 220-unit apartment complex and help revive the area.
Those plans have stalled, leaving a deteriorating complex that neighbors say is turning into another piece of blight — though developer Timothy Baudier now says he’s hopeful that progress is coming soon.
So far, it’s not clear how Baudier intends to tackle rising construction costs, higher interest rates and other challenges that have plagued many projects in recent years. In an email last week, he said he “remains committed” to the project and “expects to have more information to share in early 2027.”
“We have certainly experienced some bumps in the road over the years, including COVID, material shortages, Hurricane Ida, and the challenging lending environment,” Baudier said. “Despite these obstacles, we continue to move forward and believe the redevelopment will provide a meaningful boost to the area.”…