The owner of six downtown buildings, which he has now listed for sale, slammed the city of Shreveport in a recent media interview, citing parking and crime for ending his plans for revocation.
Hakim has now listed the Slattery Building, the Johnson Building, the Panos Diner building, the downtown tent, the Lane Building and the old First National Bank building for sale.
Goodness, what a joke!
The Slattery Building has never had parking other than street parking.
The Panos Diner building has street parking and a parking lot across the street.
The Johnson Building has street parking, a parking lot adjacent to it as well as the parking lot across the street.
The downtown tent has parking.
The Lane Building has street parking, an adjacent parking lot and a parking lot across the street.
The old First National Bank building on Texas Street has a parking garage.
So, the excuses of parking are frivolous.
As far as crime as crime is concerned, there has been very little crime near ANY of his buildings.
Yes, there is a perception by many of a downtown crime problem.
However, this has not stopped the multiple purchases of downtown building by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson or the planned apartment conversion of the Petroleum Tower which is next to the former First National Bank building.
Reportedly Liz Swaine of the SB Advocate did not challenge Hakim on his excuses.
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.