Shreveport-Bossier City Photo of the Day

[Mith242]

Anyway, this got me to thinking... maybe tomorrow I'll post my photos of the big Victorians from that street. One is in serious disrepair and saddens me just to see it, but it does appear that it's been purchased and is finally being restored... slowly.

One city in this area with an impressive amount of true Victorian homes is Marshall, TX. They advertise them for sale in the Shreveport-Bossier home sales guides, so I see them all the time. I've even had the opportunity to take a "ghost" tour of one, although I saw no ghosts.

After seeing all the Victorian houses on my recent trip to Eureka Springs, I"m certainly up to seeing more. I had an old friend move to the Marshall area. Never heard that mentioned before.

[NCB]

Houston also reminds me of great urban greeenspace. They have a winding parkway that runs-along Buffalo Bayou for miles with the Skyline in the background. I think thats one of the coolest places.

I love that spot as well! And I-10 goes through quite a bit of forest before reaching downtown headed westbound. This shot shows some of it, but there is much more a bit further outside of downtown.

And I've always liked how New Orleans' skyline kind of pops out of some greenery when your looking at it from the SW. Especially from Uptown. Though it's not the same as cities like Houston and Atlanta as it is already extremely dense and compact.

[dimebag1980]

I love that spot as well! And I-10 goes through quite a bit of forest before reaching downtown headed westbound. This shot shows some of it, but there is much more a bit further outside of downtown.

.image snipped for reply.

Not to downplay New Orleans here, but that photo of Houston is remarkably beautiful. And as much as I hate to admit it, for some reason all that traffic looks very inviting to me. Don't ask... I don't know... maybe because it shows Houston as a place many people just want to be.

[richyb83]

Nice job once again Nate. I was a bit suprised with NOLA's greenspace. It's more than I realized !

Houston is one HUGE place ! It's got just about everything.

To think, before the Great Hurricane of 1901? Galveston was on it's way to becoming the "Southern Manhattan". After all the devesatation they decided to go 40 miles further inland to the swamp, which is now Houston. Can you imagine today's Skyline of Houston on Galveston Island ? That's just crazy !

Edited April 28, 2006 by richyb83

[NCB]

Not to downplay New Orleans here, but that photo of Houston is remarkably beautiful. And as much as I hate to admit it, for some reason all that traffic looks very inviting to me. Don't ask... I don't know... maybe because it shows Houston as a place many people just want to be.

Oh don't worry about New Orleans, I just wanted to show that N.O. had some greenery too. I love that photo of Houston, and yea, the traffic looks inviting to me too. For some reason, pictures of Houston with traffic in them all look inviting to me. I love Houston, if I had to leave New Orleans for any other city in the country, you better believe my first choice would be Houston. I love Texas in general actually. I don't know why, it might be because it's where half of my family has been from since the early 1800's, the hospitality, the people in general, I don't know. I just love the place.

Houston is one HUGE place ! It's got just about everything.

Houston is gigantic! Coming from New Orleans, which has always been plenty big for me, and driving around Houston, you can just see how massive everything about the city is. I always feel a sense of power coming from the city, whether it's the skyline, businesses, freeways(they're giant and literally endless) people, etc. And driving around suburbs like The Woodlands, the growth taking place there is just amazing. Some of Houston's outer exurbs have business towers that make some of the buildings in any skyline in Louisiana look like nothing.

[dimebag1980]

Oh don't worry about New Orleans, I just wanted to show that N.O. had some greenery too. I love that photo of Houston, and yea, the traffic looks inviting to me too. For some reason, pictures of Houston with traffic in them all look inviting to me. I love Houston, if I had to leave New Orleans for any other city in the country, you better believe my first choice would be Houston. I love Texas in general actually. I don't know why, it might be because it's where half of my family has been from since the early 1800's, the hospitality, the people in general, I don't know. I just love the place.

No doubt, if I had to leave Shreveport for another city outside of Louisiana, either Houston or Chicago would be my first choice. I know the weather in Houston, and it's rarely ever cold... Chicago is cold. The only reasons I would move to Chicago would be (1) to live in the same city as the Sears Tower, and (2) to get my wife closer to her father. Aside from that, I'd have to go with Houston.

Houston is gigantic! Coming from New Orleans, which has always been plenty big for me, and driving around Houston, you can just see how massive everything about the city is. I always feel a sense of power coming from the city, whether it's the skyline, businesses, freeways(they're giant and literally endless) people, etc. And driving around suburbs like The Woodlands, the growth taking place there is just amazing. Some of Houston's outer exurbs have business towers that make some of the buildings in any skyline in Louisiana look like nothing.

Houston, Dallas, and Chicago all exude "power" to me. You just know there's something special about a city that's gotten that large. There's got to be... otherwise I can't see those cities being so large.

[dimebag1980]

April 28, 2006 contribution

Victorian homes near downtown Shreveport

These are the Victorian homes just down the block from the smaller homes I posted previously.

This first one would be absolutely gorgeous if (1) the porches hadn't been enclosed and (2) it were in better shape:

.

.

This second one is a little different, and I don't really think I'd consider it a Victorian, but here it is anyway:

.

.

This third one is gorgeous, and this photo does it no justice. I took it from the side of the house, but you can see the front as well. I believe this one is being used as an upscale restaurant right now, but it's been everything from a home, to a music club, to a gay club, to restaurants. It was even a rundown crack house at one time. As a matter of fact, all the homes on this same street were crack houses at one time. It's nice to see that they're being put to better use.

Mabry House

And by the way, the home in the first photo, I believe someone is actually working to fix it up. I don't remember why, but something on the property when I took the photos made me think that.

All the homes in this series are one block over from the Municipal Auditorium, where Elvis spent much of his time in his earlier years.

I need to get over to the Jordan Street/Olive Street area and take some photos of some of the Victorians in that area. Some of those are rundown and being used as crack houses as well, but others have been purchased and remodeled and are in remarkable shape.

Edited April 29, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[Mith242]

Hmmm...I only see two pictures, not three. But the two I do see are very nice. I really love that first house, beautiful.

[dimebag1980]

Hmmm...I only see two pictures, not three. But the two I do see are very nice. I really love that first house, beautiful.

Sorry... fixed!

[dimebag1980]

Since I'm here...

April 29, 2006 contribution

This set of tracks, running between the lower downtown and riverfront/casino districts is now only used to hook up and switch tracks, as well as extremely light-duty moving. If the city of Shreveport were to implement a light rail system in the downtown area, to shuttle people between the convention center/CBD area and the riverfront area, which has been discussed, this is likely the track that would be used. It begins at the rail yard next to Festival Plaza and loops around behind the new convention center. It would also provide access for visitors basically to the front door of Larry Flynt's Hustler Club.

.

.

Larry Flynt's Hustler Club with gigantic digital billboard on roof

Edited April 29, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[NCB]

Houston, Dallas, and Chicago all exude "power" to me. You just know there's something special about a city that's gotten that large. There's got to be... otherwise I can't see those cities being so large.

Definately Dallas and Chicago too. And in Chicago, driving up and seeing the endless and massive skyline, you just know that the city means business.

And those are all great pictures, Brian!

I really thought the first house in your pictures from last night looks fantastic!

[dimebag1980]

And those are all great pictures, Brian!

I really thought the first house in your pictures from last night looks fantastic!

Thanks, man. I agree that house is gorgeous, but I hate to see the condition it's in. I hope whoever owns it now will get it fixed up. That large hole in the turret is a disappointing sight. If you're not ready to replace the window, cover the hole or something... the inside can be easily ruined by rain. Not to mention, in that area, I'd be worried about vandals getting in.

[NCB]

That large hole in the turret is a disappointing sight.

I noticed that as well. Like you said, I hope the current owner is albe to fix up and do something with the house. It's to nice of a structure to just let sit there and rot away.

[Mith242]

Okay I can see the third house as well which is also quite nice. I was curious what else is around these houses. Hearing you guys talking about them being a bit run down reminds me of some of the old houses in Pine Bluff. But what really struck me is how many of them aren't in historical neighborhoods or anything. Many of them seem to be the last remnant of an old neighborhood. I saw one really beautiful one, although it really did need renovating, but it was surrounded by a car wash, hardware store, and a liquor store. Just seemed odd to see it by itself there basically. I was curious if something like this has happened down there as well. Almost all the older homes here in Fayetteville are all together in historical districts and such.

[dimebag1980]

Okay I can see the third house as well which is also quite nice. I was curious what else is around these houses.

The street these houses is on is a very short, one-block street that runs north and south. One block to the east is the Municipal Auditorium. Other than that, the immediate area is extremely blighted but there are plans for a huge music village to build upon the history of the Municipal. The only thing keeping the music village from being constructed right now is the $300 million price tag. Quite a few big stars are helping to raise money for the event, like Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Wayne Shepherd for example.

One block to the south of this street is Shreveport's infamous Sprague Street, which is nothing but a pickup area for hookers. Also, at the end of this street is a homeless shelter, and just a couple blocks away is another shelter. 1/4 mile down the road is the Shreveport Police Department. Isn't that sad... the area surrounding the police department is literally one of the worst areas in the entire city! I was checking out caddo911.com's realtime call ticker the other night when I saw a call come in about a carjacking at the intersection of Texas and Murphy. That floored me, because the police department complex is located at the Texas and Murphy intersection!

Hearing you guys talking about them being a bit run down reminds me of some of the old houses in Pine Bluff. But what really struck me is how many of them aren't in historical neighborhoods or anything. Many of them seem to be the last remnant of an old neighborhood. I saw one really beautiful one, although it really did need renovating, but it was surrounded by a car wash, hardware store, and a liquor store. Just seemed odd to see it by itself there basically. I was curious if something like this has happened down there as well. Almost all the older homes here in Fayetteville are all together in historical districts and such.

Very weird. I would have to say probably so. There are quite a few empty lots on that same street, showing that the street once was completely built up.

[richyb83]

Wow, Brian . I have a whole new perspective on Shreveport ! Some crazy things happening there and everywhere else it seems. But Shreveport has alot going for it. Music District's have transformed Nashville and now Austin. And Shreveport is located in between !

Nice pics by the way !

Edited April 30, 2006 by richyb83

[dimebag1980]

Music District's have transformed Nashville and now Nashville. And Shreveport is located in between !

Just going out on a limb here and assuming you meant Nashville and Austin...

Just busting your chops. I know what you meant.

Nice pics by the way !

Thanks, man.

[byrde]

Centenary College

They have a beutiful campus right in the heart of the city.

[dimebag1980]

Centenary College

.photos snipped for reply.

They have a beutiful campus right in the heart of the city.

Thanks for posting those, byrde! You know, I drove right past there when I met my wife for lunch today and thought, "someday I should stop and take some pictures." I did take some pictures of a beautiful church just down the road from that college today, though.

Those are really good shots of the campus.

[Mith242]

Nice shots Byrde.

[NCB]

Great shots, bryde!

[dimebag1980]

April 30, 2006 contribution

.

Where suburban Bossier City meets rural Bossier Parish...

I've been told that this is the home of yet another local oilman who's flaunting his wealth in a huge way. It's been under construction for about a year now and isn't finished yet. Not knowing for certain, if I had to guess I'd say this is between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet under roof. There is so much more to this place, as one could see by driving all around it.

This house is in a great area. It's an area that has been rural for as long as I can remember, but over the past 5 years has been becoming more suburban. The catalysts for growth in this area are (1) suburban growth in Benton, (2) Stonebridge golf community, and (3) the 600+ acre Tiburan development which is currently under construction and was just recently annexed by Bossier City.

See you guys next month!

Edited May 1, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[NCB]

^That's one hell of a house, Brian! Nice shot!

[dimebag1980]

^That's one hell of a house, Brian! Nice shot!

Thanks, Nate. It's located on Modica-Lott Road, just off Swan Lake Road. Swan Lake road is being extended to Benton and may be widened to 4 or 5 lanes in the coming years. This house sits just about 3 miles north of where I grew up. The city stops immediately about 2 miles north of my old neighborhood, but picks back up again in the area where this house is being built. Then it's rural again for a while, and then you're in suburbs like Benton again. It's kind of an odd area, but it's growing.

[richyb83]

Nice pic ! What a place ! I bet it takes 15 minutes to walk from one side of the house to the other.