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John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.

He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.

John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.

John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.

He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.

 

WANT TO BUY OLD PIERRE AVENUE YMCA AND/OR FIVE VACANT ACRES ON EXPOSITION AVENUE

It may be your lucky day.

The old Pierre Avenue YMCA is now owned by the Shreveport Implementation and Redevelopment Authority (SIRA). The long delayed purchase was recently completed. SIRA has not forumulated any plans for development of this old structure.

The large size and the dilapidated condition of the building provide limited opportunities for rehabilitation. The neighborhood, which has been basically abandoned, also limits economic development opportunities.

No "For Sale" sign has been posted on the building.

And if you are looking for five acres of vacant land surrounded by modest well-kept houses, check out this parcel on Exposition Avenue. This street is accessible from Greenwood Road and Lakeshore, but it dead ends and does not traverse between these arteries. Go from Greenwood Road to view this parcel.

SIRA was donated this tract, along with $10,000, in mid-January of this year. No plans have been formulated for this property which is prime for a housing development. The tract has frontage on two streets.

Like the Pierre Avenue building, no "For Sale" sign has been posted.

SIRA's legislative mission is to return vacant land and buildings back into commerce. A primary focus should be the 7000 city-owned adjudicated properties. But in the meantime SIRA is doing nothing with these two properties.

SIRA plans to schedule public engagement meetings to receive community input regarding the disposition of these two holdings. Additionally the SIRA Board will develop eligibility criteria and application materials for pilot projects to be initiated under SIRA's authority.

SIRA needs funds to really go after its intended goals of attacking adjudicated properties. Who knows one or both of these properties may be a pot of gold really needed to identify contiguous properties, bundle them and transfer them to private developers with strict redevelopment guidelines and deadlines.

Getting public /private funds will certainly be more obtainable if SIRA has a track record of activity other than warehousing properties while going through institutional bureaucratic steps. Posting "For Sale" signs would show visible Board activity.

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