Highland residents press Shreveport leaders on squatters, blight after repeated fires

Members of the Highland neighborhood pressed the Shreveport City Public Safety Committee on persistent squatting, drug activity and repeated fires that residents say are destroying historic homes and threatening neighbors.

Speakers from Highland told the committee that absentee ownership, difficulty locating lawful owners and slow enforcement allow squatters to occupy vacant houses and increase fire and crime risk. City Attorney Edwards and Shreveport Police Chief Smith described legal constraints and a new 2024 state statute that gives police an additional criminal tool but requires cooperation from property possessors to activate it.

The issues matter because residents say vacant, blighted properties have caused fires that damaged neighboring homes and left at least one longtime resident homeless. Neighbors urged the city to speed up demolition and enforcement, compile lists of adjudicated properties for redevelopment and pursue both short-term enforcement and long-term redevelopment strategies.

“They, in 2 years, they cleared up 70% of the blight in Mobile, Alabama. It works,” Janie Lipscomb told the committee, citing an Alabama program she has shared with local legislators. Charlotte Russell, president of the Haven Neighborhood Association, said neighbors often cannot act because they are not the property owners: “What do we do as neighbors when we know that someone is occupying a property illegally, but we are not the owners of that property?”

Jeffrey Bazzook described multiple fires and alleged drug-related activity at vacant houses in Highland, saying the neighborhood is “burning down” and asking why police and code enforcement have not done more to hold owners or occupants accountable. William Hartman, executive director of Revitalize Historic Highland, said his group’s research shows many problematic properties are held by LLCs or out‑of‑town investors who pay taxes yet allow structures to deteriorate.

City Attorney Edwards briefed the committee on the 2024 law commonly called the Squatter Prevention Act, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2024. He said the statute expanded definitions used in simple burglary to cover “the unauthorized entering of a dwelling or other structure with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner, lessee, or tenant of full use” and therefore gives SPD a clearer criminal tool to address squatting. Edwards said the law is not a cure-all and that enforcement is easier when a “lawful possessor” (owner, property manager, tenant or lessee) can be identified and provide contact information and signage so officers can confirm no permission was given.

Police Chief Smith told the committee officers can investigate reports from neighbors but that formal action is limited unless someone with lawful possession of the property can confirm ownership or authorization. Inspector Hayes, with Property Standards, said the house on Columbia Street had been cited previously (Jan. 7) for demolition and later for care‑of‑premises violations; the property was posted and the department is pursuing the appeal timeline set by ordinance.

Committee members and residents discussed a range of responses: stepped‑up “hot spot” patrols and periodic officer presence, stronger and quicker use of existing city code including criminal charges for permitting a disorderly or dangerous place, compiling lists of adjudicated properties to make them available for purchase and redevelopment, and studying changes to state law modeled on Alabama’s program. Revitalize Historic Highland said it plans to pursue purchases and rehabilitation of vacant properties.

The committee agreed to continue work with the city attorney, police, fire and property standards staff, and to hold another Highland neighborhood meeting within the next 30 days to coordinate follow‑up. City leaders said they will study both ordinance changes and state‑level fixes.

The public safety committee meeting included dozens of public comments on this topic drawn largely from Highland residents and neighborhood associations.