It’s a question that is being quietly asked by many downtown stakeholders, and especially those that own buildings in the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) tax district who pay an additional ad valorem tax to support the DDA.
Getting an email newsletter midafternoon each Friday detailing events happening that weekend—as in starting that Friday evening—is certainly not a plus.
Having a poorly attended ArtWalk does not justify the tax millage.
The downtown cleanup contract awarded by the city to DDA can be let to a third-party vendor.
Cosponsoring an information session on the proposed Providence House expansion AFTER the MPC hearing is a DDA afterthought that should have been on the front-end before the MPC hearing.
Having a former mayor who has a questionable work ethic and no experience in urban development as a highly paid executive director does not add value to the organization.
Having a well-paid staff of four (or more) employees that have no visibility much less outreach to downtown retailers, office workers, building owners or service providers does not merit the DDA tax.
DDA has not brought forth any legislation for the Shreveport Council to consider in many years and rarely if every make a public statement on downtown issues including homeless persons/panhandlers or zoning before the city council.
Yes, the DDA has held a few cheerleading events in the last couple of years that amount to nothing more than window dressing.
Sophisticated real estate brokers can educate real estate investors on any remaining tax incentives for downtown building renovation. Projects like the proposed residential housing conversion of the Petroleum Tower do not need DDA for tax bond financing, MPC variances, or building permits.
The initiation by the city’s economic development director Bill Sabo of a strategic retail plan for the downtown area headed up by a consulting group further diminishes any meaningful role for the DDA.
This city effort along with the downtown development plans of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will certainly shape the future economic viability of the downtown area. This will also be influenced by the completion of the state office building on Fannin Street which did not involve the DDA and DDA will not be needed to manage the expected economic impact of 600 state workers in the downtown area.
The DDA is now on its second cheerleader executive director with little to show for real downtown progress in the past 15 plus years as the number of vacant buildings has increased, the number of downtown workers has substantially decreased and the number of downtown businesses has waned with many openings and closings.
DDA has become to be more known as Downtown Dead on Arrival versus downtown development. So the question will be in November why continue to fund DDA with tax dollars.
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.