Shreveport Dishes Out Nearly $800,000 for Uninhabitable Apartment Demolition Project

Demolition Approved: Shreveport Commits Close to One Million Dollars

Situated in the northern part of Louisiana, Shreveport just approved close to $800,000 to demolish uninhabitable apartment buildings seen as blight and threat to safety. Shreveport City Council members expressed unanimous support for the demolition project, voting 7-0. These crumbling and neglected apartments are not only considered unsafe but also potential havens for criminal activities.

Action against Unsafe Structures

Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor, a prominent supporter of the initiative, voiced her concerns about the impending risks posed by these buildings.”We’re not trying to create gateways to crime for this,” she states firmly in a recent council meeting.

She fears these buildings could potentially be used for illicit activities such as drug use and human trafficking. “I don’t want these buildings to be used for trafficking. I don’t want these buildings to be used for drug use.” She also noted concern for potential squatters in these buildings as they lack even the most basic amenities like water, electricity, or gas.

Taylor also emphasizes the high expense of the planned demolition. She noted that the approved amount of nearly $800,000 is just the tip of the iceberg. Far more funds will be needed to clear all dilapidated structures, reminding all that demolition is always a last resort. For her, creating more safe and affordable housing is a priority. She expressed interest in rehabilitating any structure that still has potential for refurbishment.

A Call for Revitalization

Citizenry support for this significant move was also strong. Shreveport resident Kenny Gordon expressed his enthusiasm for the structural revitalization and the need to hold the property owners accountable.

“I would take that money that’s owed and put it at the end of what they’re going to try and charge the owners and make them pay it,” says Gordon. “If they don’t pay, take the property, sell the property, get their money out of it and everybody’s happy.”

Gordon isn’t alone in his thinking. Many Shreveport residents want the city to pursue the offending landlords of these neglected structures aggressively.

Looking Ahead

The demolition process is expected to commence in the forthcoming weeks. This move will change the city’s landscape and residents are hopeful for the better. With eyes set on a safer and cleaner future, Shreveport embarks on this expensive but necessary step. The demolition of these uninhabitable apartments marks just the first phase in a much larger plan of urban revitalization, development, and improved safeties.