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Residents praise the artwork’s tourism potential while acknowledging permit lapse
Summary
Several residents said the installation at 123 Saint Denis has drawn visitors and could aid downtown tourism; some urged the commission to consider exceptions or an ordinance change, though many agreed the permit process should be followed.
Multiple public commenters told the commission the installation has attracted visitors and that the artwork celebrates Natchitoches history. Michael Wayne Graves and others described the sign as a community asset; one commenter said the piece could be adjusted to fit the historic period the commission seeks to preserve.
Mary Striegel, a retired National Park Service employee, acknowledged the permit requirement while recommending options other than immediate removal: "They should have come for permission," she said, but she also suggested the commission consider whether a special exception or a city-council-reviewed ordinance might allow the display to remain under specific conditions. Speakers supporting the installation said the artists and owners acted to highlight local history and attract tourism to downtown.
The commission repeatedly emphasized that public opinion about the art’s merit does not replace the permitting process: staff and commissioners asked owners to submit full documentation and reminded the public that the commission enforces rules set by city council.
