(The Center Square) — The Shreveport City Council passed an ordinance concerning blight this week that was introduced last June and tabled.
Despite Mayor Tom Arceneaux suggesting the council postpone passing during Tuesday’s council meeting, the council voted in favor after moving it from tabled legislation.
According to Mayor Arceneaux, the ordinance has been tabled so comments received can be considered. However, those comments have not been transmitted to the council since the ordinance was tabled. The council was also considering the ordinance back in April after the introduction of the “Addressing Squatters Knowledgably” with “Bold Legal Unified Efforts” initiative by Mayor Arceneaux and Police Chief Wayne Smith.
The council decided to pass the ordinance now and add amendments as needed. The ordinance’s original introduction date was June 11, 2024.
“I was hoping that we passed this a few months ago,” said Councilwoman Ursula Bowman. “It’s so many of us that have property owners that own these properties that just leave them blighted, and then you have neighboring companies coming and adding things.”
The city council addressed two tabled legislation items on Tuesday. One concerned blight and the other concerned a public health and safety emergency due to property conditions. Ordinance 70 amends Chapter 38 of the Shreveport Code of Ordinances relating to vacant structures. Resolution 144 approves the Mayor’s decision to extend declarations of public health and safety emergency number 24-0001 and 24-0002 due to property conditions.
Ordinance 70 addresses the downtown area in Shreveport and states that vacant properties may pose threats to public health, general welfare, and safety of those in the area. The ordinance requires owners, creditors, and others to provide the city with contact information for whoever is responsible for getting the property up to standards with the Vacant Property Regulation Ordinance.
The city has had continuous issues with blighted structures in many areas, especially the Highland neighborhood. Three bills in the Louisiana Legislature would also assist Shreveport with blight concerns.
“It is the property owner’s responsibility to keep up with their property,” longtime Highland resident Genevieve Capalia said in April.
Capalia lives across the street from a vacant property that has been set on fire twice by trespassers.
