LIZ SWAINE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
About a month ago I was interviewed by a local reporter mad at both me and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
She was upset that I had “allowed” people she was also angry at to physically be downtown, and that I had “allowed” them to have and keep a business downtown. I think I looked at her with the same expression that one might look at a cocker spaniel wearing a hat and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance: dumbfounded.
There were a lot of responses that flew through my mind, but I finally settled on, “You are trying to give us too much power. We don’t have the authority to deny people access to downtown or to take away their business because we don’t like them.”
What the interview questions showed was a depth of misunderstanding about that the DDA is and does — and that misunderstanding is something that I take seriously, because what we do is important work to our city and community.
The Downtown Development Authority, or DDA, was set up in 1975 by a City of Shreveport ordinance and an act of the Louisiana Legislature. Prior to the DDA, there was no one organization tasked with overseeing the Downtown Development District (DDD), which the legislature correctly labeled “the center of commercial, civic and cultural activities in the metropolitan area.”
Downtown is important for many reasons, and it has rightly been said that “there is no great city without a great downtown.” The city and legislature rightly saw that there needed to be a single organization to work to revitalize and support downtown.
Because we are a governmental entity, the DDA is governed by strict ethics and financial rules. Our main funding comes from a small property tax millage on just those properties within the DDD, the properties that our work and marketing help benefit. We have a volunteer governing board that was set up by the Louisiana Legislature and a small paid staff that does a lot of work on behalf of downtown Shreveport.
In the nearly 11 years that I have been with the DDA, I can tell you that our workload has not lessened nor would we want it to. When things are popping, it means there is action afoot, and that has most definitely been the case.
From the repurposing of the vacant Ogilvie Hardware building to lofts, to the rehab of more than 100,000 square feet on Texas Street to restaurants, retail and apartments, to the conversion of an 11-story bank building to apartments and commercial space, the DDA works each day to make downtown the place that developers, businesses and new residents want to be.
Our list of jobs is a long one. We are the voice for property owners in the DDD and advocate for them to elected officials, the State Fire Marshal, MPC and others. You may remember that DDA has been forceful in concerns about two Cross Bayou initiatives that we believe would burden local taxpayers for years to come by providing newly constructed buildings for which there is no proven need. This overbuilding would also create hardships for our current inventory of office, residential and commercial space.
We work to attract developers to invest in projects that will be a benefit to downtown and city taxpayers. Rehabbing and repurposing downtown’s existing vacant and under-utilized buildings will not only strengthen the city tax rolls but will improve property values for everyone.
When we discovered the extended family that owned the old Sears Department Store building in the 600 block of Texas Street was ready to finally part with it, we began reaching out to developers who had the experience, ability and working capital to convert the vacant space into something remarkable.
Along the way, we were also able to encourage the owners of two adjacent buildings, one of them on the city’s demolition list, to donate their properties to the project. Now instead of a mostly blighted block, the 600 block of Texas is teeming with residential, commercial and entertainment opportunities.
We are strong proponents of small and local businesses and work to promote and market them, have provided grants and social media training, and try to strengthen them with partnerships and events. All during the governor’s stay-at-home orders during our COVID-19 spring, DDA employees were in the office, holding Zoom meeting and sharing information with downtown businesses and running ads and articles asking customers for their continued patronage. That marketing continues as you read this.
When businesses and other of our partner organizations wanted downtown Shreveport to have a monthly Artwalk but did not want to be the one to coordinate and run it, the DDA stepped in and has handled it since.
We also organize and manage other events, from Small Business Saturday and business pop-ups to historical and residential tours to fundraisers at the Shreveport Water Works Museum to providing monetary support from organizations that range from the Shreveport Farmers’ Market to Louisiana Film Prize. We work each day to save our important historic downtown buildings. We have directly rehabbed four historic properties, partnered on many more and with our sister organization Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation, and have provided grants and low interest loans to multiple businesses and property owners. Our role in the extension of state historic tax credits was considered vital.
When I first came to the DDA, a quick Google search of “Downtown Shreveport” was not flattering. There were very few positive story links or sites and links generally focused on crime and the lack of things to do. Our aggressive promotion of downtown’s places and spaces has paid off with more positive links and stories, which help to promote our community as a whole; to both visitors and those who live here.
We love our downtown and want it to be a wonderful, vibrant place filled with opportunities and things to do. We want it to be great to help our city realize its potential, and we want all those who wish to invest, support, live and play here to feel welcome. We’re looking forward to seeing you downtown!
To find out more, please go to www.downtownshreveport.com and “like” ShreveportDDA on Facebook.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE July 31 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.