Downtown is Important to us All

The City’s B-4 Zoning Code calls Downtown the “symbolic, managerial, and cultural focal point of the community.” The DDA’s Mission Statement closely aligns with that as we “actively pursue, support, facilitate and welcome initiatives that aid and encourage private development, and promote and coordinate public development within the Downtown Development District of Shreveport.”

In order to get more people, development and interest in our downtown, it must be given the attention it needs to stay clean, neat and inviting.

The perception continues to be that a clean downtown is a safe and welcoming downtown.

The DDA has paid Streetscape crews to provide this attention since 1990. It is apparent to us, with the amount of litter blowing through the streets after just one big night at the downtown clubs, how quickly downtown could become a trashy, unattractive environment. It is an environment that demands daily attention.

In 1996, the city and DDA entered into a Professional Services Contract overseen by the Department of Public Works. In the ensuing years, the partnership has created valuable returns for both sides. Having DDA Streetscape crews removes the burden of assigning full-time city crews downtown. DDA also underwrites overages in the Streetscape division, which allows the investment from both sides to go farther. Since 1990, DDA has invested $860,724 into Streetscape over and above the amount of the city’s Professional Services Contracts.

In 2009, the (Louisiana Legislature at the City of Shreveport’s request) increased the physical size of the Downtown Development District by approximately 50%. While the bulk of that property does not currently fall under our Professional Services Contract, we did see an increase in calls for services along the Texas Avenue to Murphy Street corridor. We strive to meet those needs as we can work them in