Shreveport/Bossier City Development

[dimebag1980]

How many strip bars are in SBC?

I'd answer that, but I don't know why it matters.

[dimebag1980]

Mayoral hopefuls in Shreveport met with young professionals tonight to discuss their plans.

I particularly liked Cedric Glover's quote:

"It's the 'no-nut' syndrome. That is when you have a round circle of all the suburbs and a dark hole in the center that's our central city. As mayor we will address that problem and bring the city forward," said Cedric Glover.

I certainly hope he meant "donut" syndrome. But either way, he did hit the nail on the head with this. I'm not saying his points were any better than the others, but this is exactly what is happening. Thankfully, new projects are ongoing to try and curtail this problem.

Liz Swaine seems to be focused on making people "happy." The Mayor can't please everyone, Ms. Swaine. Are you planning on passing out "happy drugs" to the whole city and making them your own mindless drones, or are you truly going to work to keep this city growing safely, rapidly, and EVENLY?

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local/3488826.html

Edited August 4, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[imaterry78247]

I'd answer that, but I don't know why it matters.

Os there a cooelation between strip bars m adult entertainment and a progressive city versus a conservative town that see gambling as it savior. Is SBC the next Las Vegas

[dimebag1980]

Os there a cooelation between strip bars m adult entertainment and a progressive city versus a conservative town that see gambling as it savior. Is SBC the next Las Vegas

Gambling is already dying off here, and heavy manufacturing is beginning to take its place in the local economy.

We have quite a few strip clubs, 4 of which I can name right off. One of them is a very well-known national chain, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club.

Edited August 4, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[dimebag1980]

Does anyone else live in the Haughton area? I've heard a rumor (and I stress the word rumor) that Wal-Mart has been looking at property on Hwy 157 near the Pilot truck stop and Waffle House. As much as I'd love to have a Wal-Mart in Haughton again, if one were built where the rumor mentions, Haughton wouldn't progress but rather would come to a stand-still.

See, I live in that area, which is the actual town of Haughton. During the Summer, we literally have weekly power outages due to the strain from all the new residents in that area. In addition, we just have 2-lane roads in that area. Homes would have to be relocated and Hwy 157 would have to be widened to at least 3, but preferably 5 lanes. The Hwy. 157 bridge over I-20 would have to be widened as well, so you're looking at a multi-million dollar project. Also, the entire power system servicing Haughton would have to be reworked and expanded in order to support a store of that size. Otherwise, the weekly power outages would become steady, hourly power outages. A Wal-Mart store would literally zap the city of Haughton of all its electrical power.

[dimebag1980]

Okay, so Target isn't completely out of its mind with the coming Bossier City store. I found this article about the Bossier shopping center, and there's a piece of information about Target that verifies what I already thought:

The Target will eventually expand to a Super Target, that will include a grocery store.

Anyway, here's the article for more good reading...

http://www.commercialpropertynews.com/cpn/...t_id=1002502904

[dimebag1980]

As expected, the Bossier City Council rejected the proposed curb cuts along the ART Parkway.

"Editor

[dimebag1980]

Bossier's unemployment rate sits at a low 4.5% and is one of the lowest in Louisiana.

FYI: Lafayette's unemployment rate is currenly the lowest in Louisiana at 4.1%.

http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?opti...2&Itemid=66

[richyb83]

Thanks for the stats. That's good news for Bossier and Lafayette.

[dimebag1980]

Thanks for the stats. That's good news for Bossier and Lafayette.

Certainly. Have you gotten any for Baton Rouge, Richy? I'm curious how Katrina has affected the rate in Baton Rouge. I hope it's low, but with the unprecedented, overnight population change, I'm curious how that might have affected it.

[bigboyz05]

Thanks for the stats. That's good news for Bossier and Lafayette.

Hey Richy! I know that the traffic in BR had gotten unbearable after Hurricane Katrina but is it still bad?

[bigboyz05]

Bossier's unemployment rate sits at a low 4.5% and is one of the lowest in Louisiana.

FYI: Lafayette's unemployment rate is currenly the lowest in Louisiana at 4.1%.

http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?opti...2&Itemid=66

That's great about Bossier! Is Shreveport's unemployment rate really high or is it in the middle?

[richyb83]

Hey Richy! I know that the traffic in BR had gotten unbearable after Hurricane Katrina but is it still bad?

bigboyz05, The traffic has gone down alot since Katrina. City officials say traffic counts are still up 20% from what they were pre-Katrina. So it's no picnic, but it was bad around here even before. Baton Rouge has finally started to do a better job widening the roads recently. But there is plenty more work left to be done.

Sorry Brian I did not know whether to answer ths on SBC's forum.

[imaterry78247]

bigboyz05, The traffic has gone down alot since Katrina. City officials say traffic counts are still up 20% from what they were pre-Katrina. So it's no picnic, but it was bad around here even before. Baton Rouge has finally started to do a better job widening the roads recently. But there is plenty more work left to be done.

Sorry Brian I did not know whether to answer ths on SBC's forum.

Not to bash or be contrary' based on the Shreveport Times artivle to today-why in the world is Shreveport a shrinking city. With every metro area in the South gaining populuation - Is it jobs, lack of vision, or what is going on there

[dimebag1980]

Not to bash or be contrary' based on the Shreveport Times artivle to today-why in the world is Shreveport a shrinking city. With every metro area in the South gaining populuation - Is it jobs, lack of vision, or what is going on there

The city of Shreveport is losing population, very much like many other cities in the south. It's the same problem everywhere... urban flight. The metro is not losing population, but rather is gaining. Bossier City and the suburbs are where everyone is moving.

The only place here that is actually losing population is Shreveport. It's obvious that Shreveport is no longer the big center of the metro, as that has shifted to Bossier City. These are issues that Shreveport's next mayor must try and address if the trend is to be reversed.

[Mudbugger]

You hit the nail on the head.

Lack of vision.

Shreveport has been miopic in the last 8 years and when the city leaders like to claim growth, they only point to downtown and Youree drive.

They fail to mention the decline and fall of Southern Hills.

Any leader who would allow one part of town to die just to build up their former city council district is reckless and should be investigated.

Never mind the fact that Shreveport's debt has doubled in the Hightower years.

But that is a rant for another day.

Mudbugger

[bigboyz05]

bigboyz05, The traffic has gone down alot since Katrina. City officials say traffic counts are still up 20% from what they were pre-Katrina. So it's no picnic, but it was bad around here even before. Baton Rouge has finally started to do a better job widening the roads recently. But there is plenty more work left to be done.

Sorry Brian I did not know whether to answer ths on SBC's forum.

Oh, I knew BR's traffic was bad before Katrina because when I went down there to visit family in Amite the raffic was crazy!

[dimebag1980]

Here's something cool I just stumbled upon... renderings for the skate plaza that Shreveport built recently along the riverfront.

http://www.skateplaza.com/shreveport/renderings.asp

[richyb83]

Impressive. Thanks for posting the renderings. Great location too. Another positive for SBC ! Our city has made request for a skatepark.

Edited August 7, 2006 by richyb83

[imaterry78247]

The city of Shreveport is losing population, very much like many other cities in the south. It's the same problem everywhere... urban flight. The metro is not losing population, but rather is gaining. Bossier City and the suburbs are where everyone is moving.

The only place here that is actually losing population is Shreveport. It's obvious that Shreveport is no longer the big center of the metro, as that has shifted to Bossier City. These are issues that Shreveport's next mayor must try and address if the trend is to be reversed.

I disagree with you -shreveport is still the center of the metro area. I think Shreveport population has been static for 30years. I remember hitting 200K in the late 1970's. Something is wrong there because contrary to what you say most Southern city are gaining population and huge multi story developments. Shreveport hasn't a hi-rise condo built since the Fountain Tower on Fairfield 45 years ago. With the cost of gas there is a trend for the center city to boom right now. Who is leading the polls to be the next mayor. I hope he does something. This is a war -Shreveport has to realize that every city is competing against them and that they have to go to war.

[imaterry78247]

You hit the nail on the head.

Lack of vision.

Shreveport has been miopic in the last 8 years and when the city leaders like to claim growth, they only point to downtown and Youree drive.

They fail to mention the decline and fall of Southern Hills.

Any leader who would allow one part of town to die just to build up their former city council district is reckless and should be investigated.

Never mind the fact that Shreveport's debt has doubled in the Hightower years.

But that is a rant for another day.

Mudbugger

I hope that we can get some industry that would attract our sharp college grads and blue collar who now live in Dalss, Houstob and Atlanta back home. then the city will grow

[dimebag1980]

I disagree with you -shreveport is still the center of the metro area. I think Shreveport population has been static for 30years. I remember hitting 200K in the late 1970's. Something is wrong there because contrary to what you say most Southern city are gaining population and huge multi story developments. Shreveport hasn't a hi-rise condo built since the Fountain Tower on Fairfield 45 years ago. With the cost of gas there is a trend for the center city to boom right now. Who is leading the polls to be the next mayor. I hope he does something. This is a war -Shreveport has to realize that every city is competing against them and that they have to go to war.

You may disagree, but it's becoming fact. Shreveport is rapidly losing its position to Bossier City, and that's something the city's next mayor will have to address. As Bossier City is today, if you drive from its southern city limits at Sligo Road, to its northern limits at Brownlee Road, it takes a long time. Traffic is one thing, but the city has just grown substantially. As more and more people and companies cross the Red River into Bossier City, Shreveport continues to fall further behind as the center of the region. The city can only hope that trend shifts back in its favor.

[richyb83]

^With the people and companies moving there, do you think Bossier City's CBD will get some new multi-storied office buildings ?

[imaterry78247]

^With the people and companies moving there, do you think Bossier City's CBD will get some new multi-storied office buildings ?

FYI- San Antonio had gained 185,000 people just in the city limits since 2000, not counting the huge gains in the metro area. What is happening there. Where other city brag about getting big developemnts you are just satisfied getting a Super Target store.

shreveport is three times the size of Bossier, I think that Shreveporter are starting to get jealous of Bossier.

[dimebag1980]

FYI- San Antonio had gained 185,000 people just in the city limits since 2000, not counting the huge gains in the metro area. What is happening there. Where other city brag about getting big developemnts you are just satisfied getting a Super Target store.

shreveport is three times the size of Bossier, I think that Shreveporter are starting to get jealous of Bossier.

No one here is satisfied just getting a SuperTarget store. I don't know what even gave you such a silly idea. :huh:

Shreveport-Bossier have been satisfied with many huge projects, like 6 large casinos and hotels, a new convention center and hotel, Louisiana Boardwalk, numerous large shopping areas, new schools, hospitals, and subdivisions, etc.

By the way, this isn't the San Antonio thread.