Shreveport/Bossier City Development

[NCB]

What can I say, it's been an interesting night... er morning... er whatever it is now. But yes, Max and I were good friends for a few years.

Yea, it's actually Monday morning right now. Turns out we posted right through Sunday.

[dimebag1980]

Yea, it's actually Monday morning right now. Turns out we posted right through Sunday.

Yes, that does seem as though it could be possible, but with one little error... my wife would have come in here and killed me by now if I posted all the way through Sunday.

By the way, these frogs jumping on my window every couple of minutes are really freaking me out.

I think I'm going to bed finally....

[NCB]

I think I'm going to bed finally....

What!? It's only 3:14 in the morning!

[bigboyz05]

Yep I've seen you over there as "bigboyz2004" in a few different threads. And yea the versus threads are rediculous and just never ending. The moderation there is almost non-existent, and trolls are everywhere that just ruin the forum-going experience. UP is my haven.

And I'm actually not a member at Dallas Metropolis. The first forum anyone has named that I'm not a member of. But I do read over it every so often.

Yeah, I love UP as well. The Dallas/Ft. Worth area just amazes me with the volume of growth they're experiencing.

[fridayinla]

Thanks for posting this, Stephen! I've been to the River Bluff site many times and spoken to the realtors about it. I'm very well acquainted with one of the realtors. This site is on the fringe of north Bossier City where it meets Benton. The only problem I have with it is that the views stink. From one angle you can even make out the Shreveport skyline but it barely protrudes above the trees way out there. Maybe during the Fall and Winter months you could have a skyline view.

Regardless, I hope this project is a huge success and that this type of development catches on in the area. The Red River is a beautiful natural resource, and many people would love to live on it. As a matter of fact, one of the realtors I was speaking with said the developer was allowing 8 MONTHS to sell the first section, but all the lots sold in 6 WEEKS. He had to hurry to get going on the second phase of lots just to keep the momentum going.

EDIT: Wow, a blast from the past! I actually know the guy in the photo cutting the lumber! I went to school with him for a couple of years when he'd temporarily moved to Bossier City from the rural north Bossier Parish area. Wow, small world.

I'm interested in the mixed-use development UL Coleman Companies is planning in the CenturyTel Center. I vaguely remember reading about that sometime last year, if it's the same one I'm thinking about. Any details you guys can share?

[NCB]

Yeah, I love UP as well. The Dallas/Ft. Worth area just amazes me with the volume of growth they're experiencing.

Yea, from what I've seen, the only thing more impressive than the major development and infrastructure growth, is the population growth.

BTW, how does the growth taking place in D/FW affect you guys up in the rest of the Ark-La-Tex? I know Dallas technically isn't part of that region, but is growth in the metroplex starting to grow more towards Louisiana-Arkansas?

[dimebag1980]

Yea, from what I've seen, the only thing more impressive than the major development and infrastructure growth, is the population growth.

BTW, how does the growth taking place in D/FW affect you guys up in the rest of the Ark-La-Tex? I know Dallas technically isn't part of that region, but is growth in the metroplex starting to grow more towards Louisiana-Arkansas?

Not really. Dallas is actually growing more to the north, toward Oklahoma, than any other direction.

[NCB]

Not really. Dallas is actually growing more to the north, toward Oklahoma, than any other direction.

Gotcha. That was just something I was wondering.

[richyb83]

Yeah Plano and Frisco are really exploding in development.

[dimebag1980]

Yeah Plano and Frisco are really exploding in development.

Yep. From Dallas (city) all the way up through Frisco, it's booming. Frisco is absolutely amazing.

And Nate... you should look up Frisco's stats on census.gov sometime!

I first learned about Frisco when they stole our baseball franchise away. But Frisco is an awesome place, no doubt. I've been there twice now. Love it.

Edited July 3, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[bigboyz05]

I think D/FW currently is at 6.7 million or something like that making it the largest urban area in the south and 6th in the nation. At it's current growth rate it should be #4 by 2020!

[richyb83]

Brian , Shreveport still has a team now, right ? Did Frisco steal the franchise, and Shreveport get another ? Huh... I know Frisco has a nice sports complex.

My uncle lives in Frisco. I was impressed with all the development along the North Dallas Tollway. And the rows and rows of houses along the prairie land too.

Edited July 3, 2006 by richyb83

[NCB]

I think D/FW currently is at 6.7 million or something like that making it the largest urban area in the south and 6th in the nation. At it's current growth rate it should be #4 by 2020!

That's just crazy. I sware it seems like just yesterday the D/FW metroplex has passed the 5 million mark.

[NCB]

And Nate... you should look up Frisco's stats on census.gov sometime!

Way ahead of you...

Population of Frisco, TX

2004- 62,372

2000- 33,714

1990- 6,141

That's just insane!

[richyb83]

Yeah your right ! That's insane. That even dwarfs The Woodlands population increase. Further back in 79' they had around 8,000 ; and now have around 82,000 ?

[NCB]

^I'm not sure about the stats back to 1970, but the population just about doubled from 1990-2000:

1990- 29,205

2000- 55,649

And I've been there many times as I have family that live in the Woodlands, and the development going on is extremely impressive. It's a beautiful area as well.

Sorry to lead this thread off-topic guys!

[dimebag1980]

Brian , Shreveport still has a team now, right ? Did Frisco steal the franchise, and Shreveport get another ? Huh... I know Frisco has a nice sports complex.

My uncle lives in Frisco. I was impressed with all the development along the North Dallas Tollway. And the rows and rows of houses along the prairie land too.

Shreveport has a team again, but it's a minor-minor league and isn't affiliated with the Major Leaguges like the old team was. The Captains were a AA club team of the San Francisco Giants. We had the Captains since the 60s and 70s, but attendance had slacked off to the point that only a few hundred people would show up for games. And to be honest, Shreveport has a very decent baseball stadium out next to Independence Stadium. It's a little old, but not a bad stadium at all.

[dimebag1980]

Again the main reason Shreveport pop has not match other cities is becasue a lack of oportunities there. Shreveport should have at least 300k in the city plus a good Chamber promoting the city. One of the best meals I ever eaten was at the Ernest Restaurant and Freeman and Harris there.

This is in reference to the above-quoted statement, as well as the rude statement that was deleted yesterday by a moderator.

To be quite honest with you, the reason Shreveport never reached 300,000, or even 250,000 is actually due completely to the deep economic depression it had slipped into for a full decade. Let that happen to San Antonio for a full decade and see what that city is like afterward. The oil industry was once king in Shreveport, and the city had everything going for it. It didn't choose to not reach 300,000. And you're correct, it is partially due to lack of opportunity, which was caused entirely by the economic depression this area suffered. That decade was, by far, the deepest, darkest time in Shreveport's history and it really still hurts everyone to think about it even today. To think of all the opportunities that were missed for this city really bothers me. But there are many opportunities around here today, most of which have been brought about since the casino industry came to our fair city. But the economy here doesn't depend solely on the casino industry like it did a decade ago. It's diversified a lot in the last few years, no doubt.

I don't know when you were up here last, but I invite you to visit sometime and change your opinion of my beautiful city. If you look beyond the casinos, there is still a lot to do. Maybe not as much as in San Antonio or New Orleans (obviously,) but there is just as much to do here as there is in Little Rock or any other comparable city. The Bossier City riverfront is so developed now, you can spend a full day down there just taking everything in. Not to mention, the Sci-Port Discovery Center which has an IMAX theater... and a soon-to-open space center with a laser planetarium (the first in the world, by the way.) Downtown is alive again, with the West Edge arts district being a very liberal part of this community, for those interested in that kind of thing. There are a lot more attractions, but I'll let you discover them for yourself.

The city of Shreveport is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful cities of its size... and I say that with certainty, having visited many cities of similar size.

You can't compare Shreveport to New Orleans, San Antonio, or Austin, so please don't try. But you can come and visit, and once again explore this booming metro.

[bigboyz05]

That's just crazy. I sware it seems like just yesterday the D/FW metroplex has passed the 5 million mark.

I know man. I could never see myself living somewhere that big. If the Dallas area keeps growing like that it may swallow Texarkana, lol!

[NCB]

I know man. I could never see myself living somewhere that big. If the Dallas area keeps growing like that it may swallow Texarkana, lol!

I could definately see myself living somehere that big. The area from Lafayette over to New Orleans in SE Louisiana has a population of about 2.5 million, and even that gets boring to me sometimes. But hey, like you said, one day commuting from Texarkana to Dallas might be an average daily task!

[dimebag1980]

I've mentioned many times before that, back in the 80s, Shreveport-Bossier dipped into an extreme state of economic depression. Then, with the arrival of the casino industry, things began to look up for the area. now, Shreveport-Bossier is the best it's ever been, and here's a source discussing just that today...

An excerpt:

The mid-1980s oil and gas bust resonated deeply in Shreveport for almost a decade, causing a depression that threatened to snuff out a city once considered one of the nation's oil capitals.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...CTION/607090316

Edited July 9, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[NCB]

^That's a great read and great news there. It really is great to hear that Shreveport is doing so well economically now, and the future is looking brighter and brighter every day, for the most part. Definately something for everyone in NW Louisiana to be proud of.

[richyb83]

Nice read Brian. Thanks for posting that. It's good to see the economic turnaround happening. I know at one time Shreveport was Louisiana's 2nd largest city(pop.) I didn't realize at the time Shreveport had sunk that deep due to the oil-bust. I am glad to see gambling revenue being put to good use for developments like Festival Plaza and Sci-Port Discovery Ctr. With SBC being the hub of the Ark-La-Tex and far enough from Dallas for major establishments to thrive, I believe the future is bright !

I believe the 1970-Census had Shreveport(2nd) with 182,000 and BR(3rd) with 165,000. I could be wrong ?

Edited July 10, 2006 by richyb83

[dimebag1980]

Nice read Brian. Thanks for posting that. It's good to see the economic turnaround happening. I know at one time Shreveport was Louisiana's 2nd largest city(pop.) I didn't realize at the time Shreveport had sunk that deep due to the oil-bust. I am glad to see gambling revenue being put to good use for developments like Festival Plaza and Sci-Port Discovery Ctr. With SBC being the hub of the Ark-La-Tex and far enough from Dallas for major establishments to thrive, I believe the future is bright !

I believe the 1970-Census had Shreveport(2nd) with 182,000 and BR(3rd) with 165,000. I could be wrong ?

I'm not sure, but yeah, Shreveport completely bottomed out and for whatever reason, Baton Rouge kept trucking along. That's a sentiment to the strength of the Baton Rouge economy, I believe. It's a wonder Shreveport's population didn't cut in half because so many people were ready to get the hell out of here to find better opportunities. More than a decade later, things are finally what I would consider "good" and "steady" here, and I'm proud to be a young adult during these good economic times.

[dimebag1980]

Wow, lots of news today... all updated later in the day on The Shreveport Times' website.

While I didn't expect to see Talbots closing their Mall St. Vincent store, I am glad to hear they're getting ready to open a store in Shoppes at Bellemead. Also, James Avery Craftsman (my wife almost died when I told her, because she loves James Avery,) and Cantina Laredo Mexican restaurant. Apparently other businesses are still planned for this growing southeast Shreveport lifestyle center. Apparently Cantina Laredo is mostly located in Oklahoma, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, with their nearest locations to Louisiana being in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston areas.

View the article here...

Shreveport City Councilman Calvin Lester has submitted a proposal that would force the city (Mayor Hightower, et al) to report to the City Council the status of the $5 million loan used to fund construction of the city's Red River District. As I found out in this article, which I didn't already realize, was that Eldorado Casino has purchased the Red River District property within the last month.

View the article here...

And finally, it's reported that a Banana Republic store has now joined the stellar lineup at the Louisiana Boardwalk. This is the second Banana Republic store in this area. The other store is located in Mall St. Vincent, and unlike Talbots, it doesn't appear that the company's Mall St. Vincent store is closing.

View the brief article here...