In downtown Shreveport, few properties carry the layered legacy of 525 Milam Street. Now listed for auction, this 14-story structure presents an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine one of the city’s most iconic towers, by finally fulfilling its original purpose.
In the late 1940s, plans emerged for a striking new residential building to replace the old Shreveport City Jail. Developers envisioned The Caddo Arms, a high-rise apartment complex designed to bring modern urban living to the south side of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. With a proposed investment of over $3 million—a significant figure at the time—the project was to include commercial spaces on the lower levels and residential apartments above, complete with then-cutting-edge features like telephonic intercoms, radio service, and high-speed elevators.
But the postwar building boom had its own challenges. Like many projects of the era, construction of the Caddo Arms faced repeated delays due to material shortages, especially steel. Those delays changed the course of downtown development. In 1951, Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation, a rising player in the natural gas industry, seized the moment and acquired the site. Within months, the structure was completed—not as apartments, but as corporate office space for a company that would employ hundreds and strengthen downtown Shreveport’s role in the energy economy.
For decades, 525 Milam stood as a regional hub of oil and gas operations. The building’s sleek mid-century architecture, steel frame construction, and location just steps from legal, civic, and cultural institutions made it a landmark of business and progress.
Today, however, the building is once again at a turning point.
Now up for auction, 525 Milam offers a rare blend of historic structure, architectural integrity, and strategic location with proximity to government, cultural, and entertainment sites. The tower is uniquely positioned for a return to its residential roots. The Shreveport DDA believes this site could be one catalyst for high-quality downtown housing, appealing to young professionals, entrepreneurs, and empty nesters alike.
As cities across the country reimagine urban cores, adaptive reuse of office space for residential living is not only practical—it’s forward-thinking. The Milam Street tower stands ready for such vision.
Downtown Shreveport is ready to welcome its next wave of residents. Could this landmark be their future address?
More about 525 Milam Street:
525 Milam, an historic 14-story office tower in the heart of downtown Shreveport will be available by auction through Ten-X, July 7-9, 2025. The starting bid is $250,000. This 287,444 sq. ft. property was the long-time home of Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company (ARKLA). The building is well-maintained, has 24/7 security access, and a data center among other amenities. The property, originally constructed on a 5.74-acre lot in 1950 and being delivered vacant and allowing for multiple growth opportunities and uses, is in a prime downtown location.
The building features steel and concrete construction across 14 floors and is equipped with six passenger elevators and a freight elevator. Other desirable features include ADA restrooms on each floor, an in-place generator, basement and surface parking, a data center with Liebert units, UPS backup, and a Halon fire suppression system.
Sitting directly across the street from the Parish Courthouse, 525 Milam Street positions businesses at the heart of downtown Shreveport, within walking distance of top-rated restaurants, museums, art galleries, the convention center, and numerous nightlife and event spaces including the Red River District and downtown’s popular casino resorts. The property qualifies for state and federal historic tax credits. To bid on 525 Milam or to learn more information, visit: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/525-Milam-St-Shreveport-LA/35593138/
For additional information or to arrange a tour of this property, contact: Beth King, SIOR, Beth King Real Estate LLC, 318-453-6066, beth@bethkingrealestate.com or Derek Rudd, Ten-X, 949-208-9770. We would welcome your investment in downtown Shreveport!
