Shreveport/Bossier City Development

[dimebag1980]

Yeah, the Starbucks and the 12th level fitness center are unexpected perks. I have to say I'm impressed. And I know I keep saying this, but I'm expecting other projects in that part of downtownto come online soon. It seems to be just a hotbed for development.

Right around the corner, in recent months, a barber shop and a jazz club have opened. I, too, expect more development in that area in the near future. It would be stupid for people NOT to open businesses in that area once the center really gets to be booming and the people staying in the hotel need places to shop and dine within a reasonable walking distance.

[fridayinla]

Right around the corner, in recent months, a barber shop and a jazz club have opened. I, too, expect more development in that area in the near future. It would be stupid for people NOT to open businesses in that area once the center really gets to be booming and the people staying in the hotel need places to shop and dine within a reasonable walking distance.

Ah ha...where are the barbor shop and jazz club? Not new construction, right?

[dimebag1980]

Ah ha...where are the barbor shop and jazz club? Not new construction, right?

Nope, they're making use of existing space. The jazz club is on Spring Street, just around the corner from the convention center parking deck and the barber shop is right around the corner from Larry Flynt's Club, about 2-3 blocks from the convention center pakring deck.

[bigboyz05]

ANOTHER Starbucks!?!? This will be great for downtown, though, as there's not a Starbucks down there right now. Anything... even this kiosk... will be great. And the fitness center will be on the 12th floor, with a view of the river. Very nice!

Thanks for finding that, man... I'd never even thought to look for it on Hilton's website since it's not yet open.

How many stories is the Hilton Hotel?

[dimebag1980]

How many stories is the Hilton Hotel?

12 I believe.

Here's the link to it on Emporis. Keep in mind that in the rendering shown, it was closer to 20 floors at the time. The project was scaled back over time to a 313-room hotel, even though the city was specifically told by a research team that they should build at least 500 rooms. I believe the +/- 20-story rendering was from the time when they were considering 500+ rooms.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=201208

[fridayinla]

12 I believe.

Here's the link to it on Emporis. Keep in mind that in the rendering shown, it was closer to 20 floors at the time. The project was scaled back over time to a 313-room hotel, even though the city was specifically told by a research team that they should build at least 500 rooms. I believe the +/- 20-story rendering was from the time when they were considering 500+ rooms.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=201208

Yeah 12. And as we decided, a very short 12!

[imaterry78247]

Yeah 12. And as we decided, a very short 12!

Is Shreveport always coming up short. Develop hi rise in the N Market areas. When is a 40 story bldg on the horizon?

Cross Lake for my money is the best real estate investment in the area along with the lake in Benton

[dimebag1980]

Yeah 12. And as we decided, a very short 12!

Yep. Unfortunately nothing like the rendering. The convention center is only 2 floors, but they're two extremely tall floors, so it makes the hotel look even shorter.

[dimebag1980]

Five organizations helping to revitalize the troubled Allendale area of Shreveport will receive city funding to assist.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...70317/1002/NEWS

[fridayinla]

Yep. Unfortunately nothing like the rendering. The convention center is only 2 floors, but they're two extremely tall floors, so it makes the hotel look even shorter.

That face makes me laugh.

[fridayinla]

Five organizations helping to revitalize the troubled Allendale area of Shreveport will receive city funding to assist.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...70317/1002/NEWS

Sounds like great progress for Allendale. I'm impressed with all of the inner-city neighorborhood redevelopment I've been reading about lately. There doesn't seem to be an area of Shreveport (or Bossier!) that isn't getting some kind of attention at the moment.

Edited July 27, 2006 by fridayinla

[fridayinla]

Hilton topping-out ceremony:

Hotel marks construction progress

Exciting stuff!

[dimebag1980]

Sounds like great progress for Allendale. I'm impressed with all of the inner-city neighorborhood redevelopment I've been reading about lately. There doesn't seem to be an area of Shreveport (or Bossier!) that isn't getting some kind of attention at the moment.

Agreed, and it's good to see. Nothing can kill a city like troubled neighborhoods spreading; but in this case it looks like people are trying to clean up the troubled areas so that doesn't happen again.

[dimebag1980]

Hilton topping-out ceremony:

Hotel marks construction progress

Exciting stuff!

That's awesome, too. Check out what the new general manager said in the following excerpt:

“I’ve been very pleased with the strength of this (Shreveport) tourism market,” said Bob Gansfuss, general manager for the Hilton Shreveport.

The best thing about that is that he came here as an outsider. He's not from Shreveport... he was hired for this position after 10 years of managing two hotels in Albuquerque. The fact that a man can come in from outside, begin to work in this market, and immediately see the tremendous strength of tourism in this market, is outstanding!

Edited July 27, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[dimebag1980]

Living in Haughton, of course I realized it's growing (otherwise I wouldn't have invested in a home out here,) but apparently its growth has also overcrowded its high school. Schools in Bossier City, Benton, and Haughton are the ones mostly affected by new growth, and the Bossier Parish School Board is trying to come up with ways of helping to relieve the problem. In the case of Haughton High School, Board members are supposed to vote on a proposal to add 24 new classrooms and a new gym to the school.

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local/3436541.html

[dimebag1980]

There is a video at KSLA.com of this morning's newscast about the convention center hotel. I can't get the link to the video, so here's the link to KSLA.com. The link to the video is in the little box at the center top of the page.

http://www.ksla.com/

[bigboyz05]

Hey there Brian! If the original hotel was built then it would really look nice with the skyline.

[dimebag1980]

Hey there Brian! If the original hotel was built then it would really look nice with the skyline.

Definitely. The one they are building will look nice as well, especially when driving into downtown from the north. People coming into downtown from Texarkana, for instance, will be greeted by that hotel... and at the base of the hotel looking up, it does seem quite tall. It's only 2 floors shorter than the Hollywood (now El Dorado) Casino Hotel over in the riverfront district.

[dimebag1980]

Port of Shreveport-Bossier's newest tenant, Steelscape, has received its first shipment of steel coils from Thailand. Construction on Steelscape's Shreveport plant is ongoing.

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local/3449426.html

[richyb83]

Thanks for posting that. That's really cool the shipment travels all the way thru Louisiana to SBC ! I would like to be on the banks of the Mississippi watching that going up the river ! Impressive.

[dimebag1980]

Thanks for posting that. That's really cool the shipment travels all the way thru Louisiana to SBC ! I would like to be on the banks of the Mississippi watching that going up the river ! Impressive.

Well, since it has to go through the Port of New Orleans, I know Nate could see it! But since the Mississippi goes through Baton Rouge, you could see it as well, which is cool. I just think it's cool that inland ports, as far inland as Shreveport, can get in on international trade and shipping.

[fridayinla]

Some research analysts say Shreveport's new convention center may ultimately turn out to be a disappointment. I agree with Hightower.

Shreveport officials pleased with convention center, hotel projections; opponents preach caution

[dimebag1980]

Caution is always necessary with a huge investment like this, especially when it's a capital investment. However I took issue with what Ron Utt had to say from his disconnected office way up in Washington, D.C.: "

"No disrespect to your community, but a great place to live isn't necessarily a great place to visit. Cities like Shreveport are lovely places to live and raise a family, but they're not anybody's idea of a tourist destination."

He's obviously completely disconnected and feeling high-and-mighty in his office in D.C., because he clearly doesn't realize that Shreveport-Bossier boosts an annual visitation of around 14 million people. Shreveport-Bossier may not be Las Vegas, and it certainly isn't Miami, but it's obviously drawing a huge amount of people into this area with its own brand of tourism.

I also tend to agree with Hightower on this one. I've been a proponent of the convention center all along, and I will continue to speak positively of it because I know it is going to be a great benefit to this area.

[fridayinla]

Caution is always necessary with a huge investment like this, especially when it's a capital investment. However I took issue with what Ron Utt had to say from his disconnected office way up in Washington, D.C.: "

"No disrespect to your community, but a great place to live isn't necessarily a great place to visit. Cities like Shreveport are lovely places to live and raise a family, but they're not anybody's idea of a tourist destination."

He's obviously completely disconnected and feeling high-and-mighty in his office in D.C., because he clearly doesn't realize that Shreveport-Bossier boosts an annual visitation of around 14 million people. Shreveport-Bossier may not be Las Vegas, and it certainly isn't Miami, but it's obviously drawing a huge amount of people into this area with its own brand of tourism.

I also tend to agree with Hightower on this one. I've been a proponent of the convention center all along, and I will continue to speak positively of it because I know it is going to be a great benefit to this area.

Yeah, that comment also struck me as curt - and ignorant. Who is Utt again? Oh, a research fellow at the Heritage Fountain.

I don't put ANY stock in his comment. He obviously knows nothing about SBC, and is just candidly commenting on a mid-size market trying to compete in the convention arena. I don't think Hightower or anyone ever expected that Shreveport could compete with the big players. I also don't think anyone is viewing the convention center as the sole driving force to revitalize downtown. Yes, they're expecting to increase the pedestrian traffic (and the article said hotel occupancy rates already up), but it's just being coupled with the other amenities in downtown (casinos, boardwalk, etc).

[imaterry78247]

shreveport is taking a step in the right direction with the Allendale area. Believe it or not some of the best real estate in the city is in that area from a historical standpoint to Cross Lake. I wish someone in that city hasd some vision for the Cross Lake area , even the part that I 220 goes over. How long can they stay a hick town