(The Center Square) – The Shreveport City Council on Thursday gave final approval to Providence House’s plan to expand its downtown campus, clearing the way for a project expected to more than double the nonprofit’s capacity to serve homeless families.
The council approved an ordinance to rezone property Providence owns that serves homeless families, located on the south side of Crockett Street, to an “arts and culture conditional zoning district.”
That means it stays a downtown arts and cultural area with approval for special development standards to address things like building design, parking and types of family housing.
Unlike previous meetings that drew plenty of critics of the development plan, no one attending the meeting offered public comments.
Councilman Gary Brooks said, “I’ve spoken with the director of Shreveport Common and they are working with the director of the Providence House. They had some parking concerns, but I believe that was the only real opposition that was expressed in our meetings.”
The Center Square was unable to reach Providence House Director Sharpel Welch prior to publication.
“There was some expression at the (Zoning Board of Appeals) meeting concerning the height of the buildings and things of that nature, but I believe there’s ongoing discussions about that,” Brooks said.
The expansion is estimated to cost up to $7 million, which will be raised through donations, and will more than double the facility’s capacity. The plan involves construction of a four-story, multi-family apartment building fronted by four single-family homes, according to the site plan.
Stephen Jean, executive director of the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission, said the final step is to submit plans through the permit office. To date, there have been no formal changes to the plan originally submitted to the MPC, he said.
Providence provides support services and shelter for approximately 20 families. They help find permanent housing, provide education support, connect parents with job training and host childcare services.
Last year, the nonprofit’s shelter served 400 families, with another 200 people participating in their community education program and homelessness prevention programs, Welch told The Center Square in an earlier interview.
