Shreveport officials restart demolition process for multiple abandoned apartment complexes
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Summary
City staff told the Shreveport Property Standards Committee they have reissued demolition actions covering all structures at several abandoned apartment complexes, with work underway at at least one site and questions remaining about reimbursement and future ownership.
Shreveport City property standards staff told the Property Standards Committee on an afternoon meeting that the city has restarted the demolition process for several long-vacant apartment complexes and has expanded demolition notices to include all structures at each site.
The staff member said legal letters were reissued this week and that, "everything has been cited" under Property Standards Demolition procedures (PSDs). He added that one contractor, identified in the discussion as David Raines, has already demolished two structures and was removing debris at the time of the meeting.
Committee members asked where citations and notices are directed. Staff clarified these are PSD actions for demolition rather than city-court citations and said appeals would go to environmental court if filed. On reimbursement, staff said the city will rebid demolition work and only knows costs after bids return. "At this point, I can't tell you," the staff member said when asked about demolition costs.
Committee members pressed how the city will recover demolition costs. A committee member described existing liens as difficult to collect because properties are not sold and said the city is exploring legal options to prevent prior owners from profiting from future reuse. "We're trying to work on legal ways to get back at the property owners," the same committee member said, adding that discussions have taken place with the mayor and staff about working with lenders or acquiring control of properties to return them to commerce.
Committee members asked about a cluster of four buildings owned by one owner, Amor Holdings, which the meeting identified as David Raines, Villanarte, Old Pines Apartments and Livewood Home (formerly Kings Manor). Staff confirmed those complexes were included in the new demolition group. Members also asked whether state law provides priority for local developers or a mechanism to prevent previous owners from rebidding for cleared parcels; staff said state legislation might be required and that the city is exploring what it could ask the state to do.
A committee member requested a 30-day follow-up report. Staff agreed to return with an update.
Ending: The committee did not adopt new ordinance language at the meeting; members directed staff and legal to return with more information on costs, collection mechanisms and possible state-level remedies. No final decisions on property acquisition or developer assignment were made during the session.
