By now, most everyone reading this eBlast knows that the former Dees Building (Dripp Donuts) at the corner of Market and Texas Streets has been determined to be structurally unstable, unsafe, and a danger to the public. DSDC2, Inc. owns the building at 421 Market and has had to make the difficult decision to demolish the building. Demolition goes against the mission of the DSDC2, Inc. and its sister organization – Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation (DSDC) as it has taken ownership, purchased, and acquired several downtown properties and renovated those buildings putting them back into commerce in the Downtown Development District. 708 Texas, home of Artspace, 617-619 Texas – Robinson Film Center’s home, and 416 Cotton Street – home to the DDA – are examples of renovation and preservation spearheaded and funded by DSDC2, Inc., DSDC and the Downtown Development Authority. DSDC2, Inc. made all recommended repairs to the building after taking ownership of the property.
Even though several civil and structural engineers recommended demolition and a number of general licensed contractors rejected consideration of renovation of the building, agreeing to demolish the building was still a very difficult decision for DSDC2, Inc. The building, which had been vacant for years since Dees Photo moved out, has been the home of Dripp Donuts for the past 19 months. The safety of Dripp owners, employees, customers, and the general public was the reason DSDC2, Inc. was forced to heed the recommendation of the experts and have Dripp vacate the building. It was a decision that was not made lightly.
