JOHN E. SETTLE JR.
Editor
At its next meeting on Oct. 12, the Shreveport City Council will consider a donation of the historic old downtown library building on Edwards Street to the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber has occupied the building as a tenant since 1980 on a triple-net lease. The building is in need of major repairs to its outer shell and infrastructure.
The Chamber wants title to be transferred to it before it conducts a major fund-raising effort for needed repairs.
A beefed-up Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) has been proposed for this transfer. The latest revision has much-needed safeguards to ensure that the building will be properly maintained and utilized by the Chamber.
These key provisions of the CEA include:
a. the Chamber will maintain the historical exterior and structural integrity of the building in accordance with its place on the National Registry of Historic Places.
b. the Chamber will comply with all the rules and regulations of the Historic Preservation Commission.
c. the city may deem the Chamber in default after a 30-day notice of non-compliance and failure to cure by the Chamber and terminate the CEA, which will require the Chamber to transfer the building back to the city.
The donation, subject to the revised CEA, will benefit both the Chamber and the city. It is expected to be approved.