Press Release
April 17, 2016
Contact: Liz Swaine, Executive Director
Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation
318-222-7403
Two Downtown Buildings Given New Lives: Open House
#CoolDowntown
In the world of historic preservation, giving new life to an old building is called “Adaptive Reuse”. Monday, April 18 from 4:30-7:00 pm, the public is invited to see this process up close and personal at two old buildings that have been made beautiful and useful again.
The 100-year-old 416 Cotton Street building was once a battery shop, later it was used for indoor parking and most recently, a storage building for equipment used by the Downtown Development Authority’s Streetscape division. The Grayson Foundation donated the structure to the Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation and the DSDC and DDA partnered to create a much-needed storefront location for the two entities. The ‘vision’ team of architect Kevin Bryan, General Contractor Daren Bailey of DBI Construction and designer Myron Griffing worked with DDA staff to create a modern, artistic and functional space that looks right at home in a century-old building.
Just around the corner at 716/718 Edwards Street, Greg Solomon purchased another historic building and has just put the finishing touches on two upscale loft apartments, complete with catwalks, barn doors, reclaimed wood and indoor parking spaces with Shreveport-themed signage. Solomon, a General Contractor himself, did the work and he and his wife chose the finishes and materials throughout the fun and functional spaces.
Louisiana Historic Tax Credits helped make both rehabs possible!
Both buildings will be open to the public on Monday, April 18 from 4:30-7:00. The Open House is free, parking is available on lots nearby (refer to attached parking map) and all on-street meter parking is free after 5 pm.
