Shreveport Proposal to add 70 homes to King Oaks Faces Backlash

In an era of sky-high rents, hundreds of Shreveport residents have been displaced due to increasing utility bills and deteriorating properties. For them, the proposal by Standard Enterprises Inc. (SEI) to add 70 affordable homes to King Oaks was a welcome solution. However, the plan has met with opposition from various quarters including District 2 Caddo Commissioner Greg Young and some community members. The main concern is a push for more homeownership rather than rented properties in the area.

The Opposition’s Main Concerns

“As long as I am privileged to represent them as their commissioner, I will stand up with them for this just cause, which is long overdue,” Young expressed his staunch stance against the growth of rental properties. The commissioner and a few residents suggest that a community is more likely to stabilize when there’s homeownership. By buying the home, the owners contribute more to the community through their taxes, which is more than what tenants can do with their transient status. This argument is nothing new but is gaining traction with the proposed addition to King Oaks.

A Battle for Housing and Dignity

On the other side of the fence is Carol Smith, a member of the MLK Community Development Corp., who points out, “Nowadays, they want $1,000 a month for rent. If I can afford to pay $1,000 a month for rent, surely I can buy my own home.” Such sentiments echo around the Shreveport community as an increasing number of residents face displacement due to the surge in utility bills and the worsening condition of dilapidated properties.

SEI’s Perspective

James Freeman of SEI exclaims, “Supposedly, some constituents do not want rental properties in the area when there’s an overwhelming need,” Stories of families unable to stay in their homes due to unpaid utility bills and the crumbling state of their buildings are all too common in Shreveport. Yet, SEI’s Mark Turrentine asserts that their proposal is based on various market studies indicating a need for affordable and rental housing in the area. He underlines the fact that unfortunately, not everyone can be a homeowner in the current scenario.

The Crux of the Matter

At the heart of this issue is a tug of war between the need for affordable housing and a desire for homeownership. While SEI and others argue that a home, owned or rented, would lift the spirits of the poor, others focus on the long-term benefits of homeownership for the community. The debate rages on as Shreveport awaits the outcome, with the hopes and dreams of numerous inhabitants at stake.