PROSPECTS FOR COMPLETION OF OLD SHERATON ON 70TH STREET NOT GOOD

At yesterday's Shreveport city council work session Council Grayon Boucher questioned the construction supervisor on status of completion of remodeling of the old Sheraton on east 70th Street. This building has been an eyesore  for over six years.

The latest problem on completion is discovery of mold on several floors. The supervisor said financing was a challenge for mold remediation and completion of the remodeling.

In 2023 the building was sold at a city tax sale for over $30,000 in unpaid city taxes. The owner redeemed the property a month later.

A new issue--along with the mold and financing identified yesterday, is unpaid construction workers and construction materials suppliers. Boucher has identified over $300,000 in active unpaid construction worker/materialmen's liens.

Needless to say those who are owed  money will not be doing more work at this location until paid.  And the word on the liens will most likely deter other workers/materialmen from going on the job site.

Boucher identified other buildings with recent owners that need substantial work to comply with property standards and/demotion. These include properties on Monkhouse and the old Holidome.

These commercial properties are similar in nature to the issues of apartment complexes throughout the city that have been neglected by owners who often purchased at bargain prices. The council is united in their concerns on these out of state owners who are allowing their real estate purchased here to deteriorate, become eye stores, lower property values of adjacent and nearby by property and public health hazards.

There are no easy answers to this problem which is not isolated to Shreveport.