Maybe because it involves homeless kids and their parents, the overwhelming majority of whom are black.
Maybe it's because SB Advocate Business Editor Liz Swaine, who is white, objected at the MPC hearing.
Maybe it’s because Caddo Commissioner Victor Thomas, who is black, also objected to the MPC hearing.
Maybe it’s because most KEEL listeners are white MAGA folks.
Maybe it’s because Shreveport Regional Art Council’s (SRAC) Executive Director Rebecca Bonnevier, who is white, objected at the ZBA hearing and the subsequent informational forum.
Maybe it’s because Caddo Common Executive Director Wendy Benscooter, who is white, objected at the ZBA hearing and the subsequent information forum.
Maybe it's because these media outlets and folks don't really believe in the mission of The Providence House, or if they do, as long as it's not NIMBY (Not in my Back Yard.)
The major downtown news is that The Providence House has been approved by the Shreveport City Council at its Tuesday meeting to construct a new facility on Crockett Street for homeless children and their parents as they transition them to safe housing that will be between the SRAC Central ARTSTATION and Caddo Common.
The Providence House needs a larger, modern facility to replace its aging building on Cotton Street to continue the vital services it provides to the least fortunate in Shreveport.
The SB Advocate, KEEL, KTAL, KTBS, KSLA failed to report ANY news on this project, starting with the MPC hearing and concluding with the council meeting. During that timeframe, these media outlets reported practically every sneeze of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and many more mindless stories that were forgotten as soon as read or heard.
Other than the remodeling/renovation of the Fannin Street state office building and 1234 Texas Ave, there has not been any new construction in the downtown area for many years which is major news in itself, regardless of the fact that the planned facility will greatly expand a most worthy charitable organization downtown.
One can only hope that these media outlets will provide ample publicity for this project once the fund-raising campaign is initiated and then provide coverage equal to that given to 50 Cent, who has yet to hire local staff or even film a commercial in Expo Hall or Millennium Studios but has had time to send out a cryptic unexplained Instagram post expressing displeasure about Shreveport.
Thankfully The Center Square published this copy which is shared below.
Providence House expansion wins final City Council approval
A scale model depicts Providence House's proposed four-story multifamily apartment building and four single-family homes in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. Photo: Darren Svan / The Center Square
By Darren Svan | The Center Square
The Shreveport City Council on Thursday gave final approval to Providence House's plan to expand its downtown campus, clearing the way for a project expected to more than double the nonprofit's capacity to serve homeless families.
The council approved an ordinance to rezone property Providence owns that serves homeless families, located on the south side of Crockett Street, to an “arts and culture conditional zoning district.”
That means it stays a downtown arts and cultural area with approval for special development standards to address things like building design, parking and types of family housing.
Unlike previous meetings that drew plenty of critics of the development plan, no one attending the meeting offered public comments.
Councilman Gary Brooks said, “I've spoken with the director of Shreveport Common and they are working with the director of the Providence House. They had some parking concerns, but I believe that was the only real opposition that was expressed in our meetings.”
The Center Square was unable to reach Providence House Director Sharpel Welch prior to publication.
“There was some expression at the (Zoning Board of Appeals) meeting concerning the height of the buildings and things of that nature, but I believe there's ongoing discussions about that,” Brooks said.
The expansion is estimated to cost up to $7 million, which will be raised through donations, and will more than double the facility’s capacity. The plan involves construction of a four-story, multi-family apartment building fronted by four single-family homes, according to the site plan.
Stephen Jean, executive director of the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission, said the final step is to submit plans through the permit office. To date, there have been no formal changes to the plan originally submitted to the MPC, he said.
Providence provides support services and shelter for approximately 20 families. They help find permanent housing, provide education support, connect parents with job training and host childcare services.
Last year, the nonprofit’s shelter served 400 families, with another 200 people participating in their community education program and homelessness prevention programs, Welch told The Center Square in an earlier interview.