Shreveport/Bossier City Development

[dimebag1980]

Awesome! I hope it is sooner rather than later. I hate most of the posters on the Times, they are so negative. I would like to see a donor drive started for a general construction fund if Shreveport is serious about this. I would donate to an aquarium fund. Have all the casinos and big businesses in town donate, it would be in their interest to bring in more family friendly venues. I know when we are out of town and in a larger city we are looking for an aquarium to take the kids to. It would be great for kids and it would compliment SciPort. My daughter is in kindergarten and they have taken, I think, four field trips to SciPort this year. By the way, I think we had this Bryan and you said no. Sneaky, sneaky.

Of course. I couldn't have said YES when I was trying to keep it quiet.

But agreed, I would donate as well.

FWIW the negative jerks will always be on The Times forums. Instead of making their forums MORE visible and MORE interactive, I had actually thought they would get rid of them altogether. But they have to do what Gannett says.

Edited May 6, 2008 by SBCmetroguy

[jcasey]

Of course. I couldn't have said YES when I was trying to keep it quiet.

But agreed, I would donate as well.

FWIW the negative jerks will always be on The Times forums. Instead of making their forums MORE visible and MORE interactive, I had actually thought they would get rid of them altogether. But they have to do what Gannett says.

Wellllll, I guess I'll let it slide. It would be a great attraction. You never know, while Shreveport does their "studies" Bossier may build it! Just think how far ahead Shreveport would be if they had spent all the money they spent on the Red River Entertainment District on an aquarium instead. I hope they follow through and do it soon.

Richy, what you said is exactly the reason Shreveport needs to do this. If you were in town, you would go across the river to an aquarium. Shreveport needs to draw some of those LB visitors to their side of the river. Some restaurants and bars are not going to do it, LB has that and they did a better job too. I think Shreveport is on the right track with this. They just need to follow through and do it right.

[dimebag1980]

Wellllll, I guess I'll let it slide. It would be a great attraction. You never know, while Shreveport does their "studies" Bossier may build it! Just think how far ahead Shreveport would be if they had spent all the money they spent on the Red River Entertainment District on an aquarium instead. I hope they follow through and do it soon.

Richy, what you said is exactly the reason Shreveport needs to do this. If you were in town, you would go across the river to an aquarium. Shreveport needs to draw some of those LB visitors to their side of the river. Some restaurants and bars are not going to do it, LB has that and they did a better job too. I think Shreveport is on the right track with this. They just need to follow through and do it right.

Yes, following through has always been Shreveport's problem. This is why I still applaud Hightower for the way he handled the convention center/hotel. I know people hated that whole thing... and the same people still make a big deal about it on The Times forums whenever they can. For instance, how they managed to spin the aquarium discussion into a Hilton discussion immediately. Those guys never cease to amaze me...

But anyway, perhaps Glover will use a similar approach in getting something done. Had Shreveport done that with an arena rather than wait for some ridiculous, expensive "study" then we would have an arena downtown. Don't get me wrong, I really love CenturyTel Center... but whenever I'm in downtown Little Rock/North Little Rock, like I was last Tuesday, the Alltel Arena impresses the heck out of me right on the riverfront in downtown.

And if something like this were to take off downtown, this would certainly add to the need for a pedestrian bridge. And now that I know the guy who submitted the winning design in that contest, I know he would love to see his vision constructed along the riverfront.

[jcasey]

Yes, following through has always been Shreveport's problem. This is why I still applaud Hightower for the way he handled the convention center/hotel. I know people hated that whole thing... and the same people still make a big deal about it on The Times forums whenever they can. For instance, how they managed to spin the aquarium discussion into a Hilton discussion immediately. Those guys never cease to amaze me...

But anyway, perhaps Glover will use a similar approach in getting something done. Had Shreveport done that with an arena rather than wait for some ridiculous, expensive "study" then we would have an arena downtown. Don't get me wrong, I really love CenturyTel Center... but whenever I'm in downtown Little Rock/North Little Rock, like I was last Tuesday, the Alltel Arena impresses the heck out of me right on the riverfront in downtown.

And if something like this were to take off downtown, this would certainly add to the need for a pedestrian bridge. And now that I know the guy who submitted the winning design in that contest, I know he would love to see his vision constructed along the riverfront.

Though some in Shreveport may not like it, it seems being heavy handed is the only way to get things done over there. It's just unbelieveable there is so much resistance when good things happen or are proposed. Those that complain how much Shreveport spends are the same ones that probably not paying any taxes. They either rent or do not own property of sufficient value to be taxed on. Even though they make so much noise about these things, I believe they are in the minority. Could you imagine Lo Walker proposing this in Bossier? I doubt you would hear many complaining. Yes, there were some that complained about the LB parking garage and the Benton Rd overpass, but certainly not the uproar the Hilton caused in Shreveport.

Could you imagine if the CTC was built on the other side of Bass Pro? That would have been amazing. If the LB and CTC came in reverse order, you never know, you may have seen that. Mayber Bossier could jump on Shreveport's idea of an aquarium and build it over by Bass Pro. It would be a good match! It would not be the first time Bossier ran with one of Shreveport's ideas!

The pedestrian bridge would be awesome, but here's an idea....Gondolas Over the Red! That would be a cool ride. Maybe see through bottoms on the gondolas?

Edited May 6, 2008 by jcasey

[dimebag1980]

Though some in Shreveport may not like it, it seems being heavy handed is the only way to get things done over there. It's just unbelieveable there is so much resistance when good things happen or are proposed. Those that complain how much Shreveport spends are the same ones that probably not paying any taxes. They either rent or do not own property of sufficient value to be taxed on. Even though they make so much noise about these things, I believe they are in the minority. Could you imagine Lo Walker proposing this in Bossier? I doubt you would hear many complaining. Yes, there were some that complained about the LB parking garage and the Benton Rd overpass, but certainly not the uproar the Hilton caused in Shreveport.

Could you imagine if the CTC was built on the other side of Bass Pro? That would have been amazing. If the LB and CTC came in reverse order, you never know, you may have seen that. Mayber Bossier could jump on Shreveport's idea of an aquarium and build it over by Bass Pro. It would be a good match! It would not be the first time Bossier ran with one of Shreveport's ideas!

The pedestrian bridge would be awesome, but here's an idea....Gondolas Over the Red! That would be a cool ride. Maybe see through bottoms on the gondolas?

Hey, don't get crazy now. lol Am I the only one who would be afraid to see what is beneath the surface of that river, with all the homicide and suicide victims they seem to find in there on a routine basis? I like the idea... if the water were clear and we could see that there was nothing bad in the depths below. The only other thing is, I'm not sure how well gondolas would fare when the river is high like it is now and rushing. A bridge would keep people moving back and forth across the river regardless of the rushing waters below. I wish the water taxis they used to have would have taken off. But back then the only things on the river were the casinos. Also, though, I'm not sure how those would have fared when the water gets treacherous. I don't think they do tours when the water is like it is, so I doubt they could run the taxis either.

Best idea yet: trolleys... real trolleys on rail. Let Little Rock be our example on how to do it right.

Oh has anyone noticed the progress on the parkway's northern extension? I've been watching the progress as I pass by there on I-20 in the evenings. Looking good! Looks like they have the utilities mostly in place and are doing the dirt work for what will be the 2 northbound lanes.

[jcasey]

Hey, don't get crazy now. lol Am I the only one who would be afraid to see what is beneath the surface of that river, with all the homicide and suicide victims they seem to find in there on a routine basis? I like the idea... if the water were clear and we could see that there was nothing bad in the depths below. The only other thing is, I'm not sure how well gondolas would fare when the river is high like it is now and rushing. A bridge would keep people moving back and forth across the river regardless of the rushing waters below. I wish the water taxis they used to have would have taken off. But back then the only things on the river were the casinos. Also, though, I'm not sure how those would have fared when the water gets treacherous. I don't think they do tours when the water is like it is, so I doubt they could run the taxis either.

Best idea yet: trolleys... real trolleys on rail. Let Little Rock be our example on how to do it right.

Oh has anyone noticed the progress on the parkway's northern extension? I've been watching the progress as I pass by there on I-20 in the evenings. Looking good! Looks like they have the utilities mostly in place and are doing the dirt work for what will be the 2 northbound lanes.

I wasn't talking about gondola boats, I was speaking of the type of gondolas that they use on mountains! Probably the same thing as the trolleys you are speaking of. That would be psycho to have those boats on that river. That would be freakin' hilarious though! I also wonder what is at the bottom of that river, but I don't want to be the one to find it! Are gondolas/trolleys what they have in Little Rock? I haven't seen them. I think that it would be cool here.

I have not seen the work, but I did see a story about it on the news today. I think they said it should be complete in like 9 months. I think this is access for the parkway to I-20. Is that right?

[dimebag1980]

I wasn't talking about gondola boats, I was speaking of the type of gondolas that they use on mountains! Probably the same thing as the trolleys you are speaking of. That would be psycho to have those boats on that river. That would be freakin' hilarious though! I also wonder what is at the bottom of that river, but I don't want to be the one to find it! Are gondolas/trolleys what they have in Little Rock? I haven't seen them. I think that it would be cool here.

I have not seen the work, but I did see a story about it on the news today. I think they said it should be complete in like 9 months. I think this is access for the parkway to I-20. Is that right?

Oh, my fault! I have never heard mountain trams called gondolas so I thought you meant boats! Did you know that a few years ago (late 90s) there was a proposal for this exact same thing? Someone wanted to connect both sides of the river with them. I think they realized it would be hard to do to cover such a short distance, and extremely expensive. It was definitely a unique idea. Back then there were tons of "big" ideas for the Red River, including floating islands with shopping and dining places (basically the boardwalk, but on floating islands.)

I believe this is access to the parkway from I-20, but they really need to work on the connecting portion down Traffic Street to the Boardwalk. Man, talk about a traffic nightmare on the weekends!! But this is a big start. I'm sure on nights with big concerts you have noticed the traffic jams. The traffic backs up from CenturyTel Center, 5 miles down the parkway, past the casinos, up the cloverleaf ramp, and onto I-20 where it creates a disaster waiting to happen on the interstate during rush hour. When I see that I think to myself "I'm SO glad I'm not in that mess!!" This should be a HUGE improvement.

As far as the Little Rock thing... it's trolleys I'm talking about, as in streetcars... like New Orleans. But they're all yellow and they really stand out. They look cool. They have put track down all over the place along the roads, and the streetcars run through the downtown area like the trains do in Dallas and the streetcars in New Orleans. It's quite impressive! I spoke with Hightower once through email about the trolley plan he had for downtown Shreveport, but when I mentioned how they would work he said they would be built on bus frames like the ones the limo companies currently run here. I thought "well it's neat, but still not a great idea."

[Mudbugger]

I think this aquarium is going to go the way of CTC.

Shreveport will spend huge sums of money to fund a study to find out if we need one and Bossier will simply build it.

That's how Shreveport lost the Mudbugs.

Shreveport will never do anything in a top-shelf way, the city council is full of people i wouldn't trust to boil water.

We tried with the Red River District and it flopped, horribly.

Bossier tried with the Boardwalk and it is a runaway hit.

Shreveport tried with a convention center and hotel that we had to find someone to run.

Bossier seems to realize that the convention center industry is at capacity nationwide, Texarkana needs to hear this.

Bossier is building the Cyber Innovation Center as a lure to help land the Cyber Command.

Shreveport is doing, um ... umm..... give me a minute on this one.

Shreveport has tried to get a zoo done in the past but it has met with resistance to the tune of people wearing "Screw the Zoo!"

Now Shreveport wants to build an aquarium, i hope we have enough money to bribe all of the necessary people up front so it's cost

doesn't soar like the convention center did.

Sorry about the rant but when you consider the dichotomy of Shreveport and Bossier City you have to just laugh at the inefficiency of one city versus the other.

Mudbugger

[Metlife]

2nd article regarding the aforementioned aquarium. Hopefully, this project has some legs to it...

http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=1...mp;siteIdType=2

[woob]

2nd article regarding the aforementioned aquarium. Hopefully, this project has some legs to it...

http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=1...mp;siteIdType=2

I think that it could work! It should just be built on the Bossier side haha

[Metlife]

I think that it could work! It should just be built on the Bossier side haha

Here we go...

Edited May 11, 2008 by Metlife

[Metlife]

Longhorn confirmed by the Times...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=2008805200319

[Metlife]

Another interesting tidbit...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...ONTPAGECAROUSEL

[dimebag1980]

Another interesting tidbit...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...ONTPAGECAROUSEL

Yes, this could be huge. We'll have to see how this turns out.

[Metlife]

Cambria Suites in holding patttern...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...NEWS01/80520014

[dimebag1980]

Longhorn confirmed by the Times...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=2008805200319

That's great. I can't wait to have another option in Bossier. By the way we were over in that shopping development a couple weeks ago and I see that Phase II construction is beginning. Just FYI Academy is supposed to be in this phase.

[Metlife]

One hurdle down, one more to go...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...NEWS04/80521031

[Metlife]

Check out some of the names that were dropped in this article regarding the retail convention in Vegas...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...EWS01/805220331

[dimebag1980]

Check out some of the names that were dropped in this article regarding the retail convention in Vegas...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...EWS01/805220331

Really only two names mentioned that don't already have a presence here: Whole Foods and Panera Bread. And while I'd like to have both here based simply on brand recognition, neither really excites me. I've eaten at Panera Bread in Dallas on a few occasions, and each time I tried a different sandwich. Yet with each sandwich I was highly disappointed. Bonefish Grill is one chain I actually like, and would love to see here. And we know they have had plans to build here before, along with PF Chang's and LaMadeleine, but we've yet to see them. I would be more impressed with Glover if he could entice all three of these chains to locate here over Panera Bread and Whole Foods Market. If Cyber Command comes here and the Cyber Innovation Center draws more tech-savvy people to the area, Whole Foods is pretty much a given.

We have a lot of big things working in our favor, but if they don't happen and bring more people in, we will never see many of the restaurants, stores, etc that we still want to see here.

And we've got to be the largest city in the nation that still doesn't even have a Macy's. I mean, COME ON, what is the problem? Why can Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Jackson, and other similar cities have all this stuff that we don't? It makes no sense, except that all three of those cities are capital cities and Shreveport isn't. But Lafayette isn't a capital city, and it's finding itself in the same league as those cities.

[Metlife]

And we've got to be the largest city in the nation that still doesn't even have a Macy's. I mean, COME ON, what is the problem? Why can Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Jackson, and other similar cities have all this stuff that we don't? It makes no sense, except that all three of those cities are capital cities and Shreveport isn't. But Lafayette isn't a capital city, and it's finding itself in the same league as those cities.

You have to remember, a ton of Macy's (like Lake Charles, Tyler, and Lafayette) were created thru the buy-out of Foley's.

[dimebag1980]

You have to remember, a ton of Macy's (like Lake Charles, Tyler, and Lafayette) were created thru the buy-out of Foley's.

I know, and that is why it ticks me off. It reminds me that we never even had any of the chains that Macy's bought out. A couple weeks ago when I was in Peoria I was mentioning that to my father-in-law. Their older, more rundown mall seems to have EVERYTHING that we don't including a Macy's. It was created through the purchase of another chain (I can't remember the name) and that sent me into one of my rants like ... well, like this one. Just to not have a Macy's would be one thing, but knowing all the chains they have purchased and converted makes it worse that we still don't have one.

[buckett5425]

Actually, the Macy's in Lake Charles closed a year ago. It couldn't generate enough money, and it was even a small store at that. Also, don't feel so left out for not having a Macy's. Mobile's CSA is over 500,000, and they dont even have a Macy's, nor even a decent mall, or, well, any decent shopping for that matter(and I have said that in the Mobile forum, and most of Mobilian's agree).

Shreveport-Bossier is WAY ahead of the curve with the number and type of retailers for a city of its size, especially with the Boardwalk.

[woob]

Actually, the Macy's in Lake Charles closed a year ago. It couldn't generate enough money, and it was even a small store at that. Also, don't feel so left out for not having a Macy's. Mobile's CSA is over 500,000, and they dont even have a Macy's, nor even a decent mall, or, well, any decent shopping for that matter(and I have said that in the Mobile forum, and most of Mobilian's agree).

Shreveport-Bossier is WAY ahead of the curve with the number and type of retailers for a city of its size, especially with the Boardwalk.

Does anyone know anymore about the Chesapeake Energy Corporation.. My brother told me yesterday about how they are buying everyones mineral rights around the Shreve area.. says the area is about to prosper big time from natural gas.. I heard the 2nd largest deposit in the country perhaps has been discoverd right under shreveport!

[dimebag1980]

Does anyone know anymore about the Chesapeake Energy Corporation.. My brother told me yesterday about how they are buying everyones mineral rights around the Shreve area.. says the area is about to prosper big time from natural gas.. I heard the 2nd largest deposit in the country perhaps has been discoverd right under shreveport!

No... perhaps the largest. They are saying the Haynesville Shale could be the single largest natural gas field ever discovered.

I don't know much about Chesapeake, but I know their local base of operations is a fairly new building on Sligo Road. I've passed it almost every day this week. Not sure how much Chesapeake, but one company is paying $10,000 per acre with 25% royalty, which is by far the highest at the moment.

By the way, Craig, are you in town yet? Give me a call on my cell whenever you want to shoot. I'm busy today and some of tomorrow, but will be free part of the day tomorrow and probably all of Monday.

Edited May 24, 2008 by SBCmetroguy

[woob]

No... perhaps the largest. They are saying the Haynesville Shale could be the single largest natural gas field ever discovered.

I don't know much about Chesapeake, but I know their local base of operations is a fairly new building on Sligo Road. I've passed it almost every day this week. Not sure how much Chesapeake, but one company is paying $10,000 per acre with 25% royalty, which is by far the highest at the moment.

By the way, Craig, are you in town yet? Give me a call on my cell whenever you want to shoot. I'm busy today and some of tomorrow, but will be free part of the day tomorrow and probably all of Monday.

yeah Im home! perhaps tomorrow afternoon we can go shoot a little?