Government Plaza in Shreveport, La. Photo: Emilee Calametti / The Center Square
By Darren Svan | The Center Square
Shreveport officials say a lack of funding continues to delay demolition of several abandoned apartment complexes, with demolition expected to cost as much as $1 million, while the city also waits for results from a recent auction of those complexes.
City-funded demolition would cost taxpayers $700,000 - $1 million, money the city does not have, said Terrance Green, the city’s director of property standards.
“That doesn't include how much the asbestos abatement would cost,” Green said. “Right now, we're still having an issue with funding, so we'll need additional cash flow to proceed with demolition.”
The city is focused on four apartment complexes: The Pines, The Oaks, Villa Norte and Linwood Apartments. Officials said repeated fires at the blighted properties remain a public safety concern
Each was offered for auction in June but the results have not been made available to city officials.
“He did not know whether or not there were bids, so I really don’t have anything to report to you,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux said at this week’s property standards committee meeting.
Property standards officials said they continue sending notices because they have not received documentation showing ownership transfers. Once something is filed at the courthouse, they said, the city will know more about ownership status.
The committee discussed whether zoning regulations could provide additional enforcement tools.
“Maybe I need to clearly understand what (zoning’s) role is before it reaches the point of where we are,” Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor said, adding that a meeting is warranted between city, zoning and property standards officials.
“Because you don’t want to see these eyesore buildings that have become a problem for you all and the people that live around them,” Taylor said. “This is horrendous. It gets on our nerves.”
Concerns were also raised about another vacant apartment complex on Lakeshore Drive.