Shreveport Launches Block By Block To Revitalize Neighborhoods
Shreveport leaders are moving forward with an aggressive plan to deal with blight.
Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced the Block by Block initiative which is a neighborhood-based strategy to combat blight and revitalize distressed areas across Shreveport.
The mayor tells KEEL News this effort "is the result of an intensive planning and leadership effort led by a team of city and community leaders selected by Mayor Arceneaux to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative—a global program that helps cities design more effective public policy."
Only a select number of cities were chosen to take part in this initiative by Harvard.
The Shreveport team will include leaders from government, business and the private sector.
The Mayor says the first step is to get a survey out to residents to find out what are the top priorities in our neighborhoods. This effort is being rolled out in several neighborhoods over the next several Saturdays.
The following Shreveport neighborhood sweeps are scheduled:
• June 21 – Ingleside
• June 28 – Highland
• July 12 – Queensborough
• July 26 – MLK
• August 2 – Cedar Grove
• August 9 – Allendale
• August 16 – Pines Road
• August 23 – Stoner Hill
• September 6 – Southern Hills
• September 13 – Mooretown
• September 20 – Broadmoor
Mayor Arceneaux says “this isn’t just a short-term fix; it’s a fundamental change in how Shreveport addresses neglected and vacant properties. The work our team has done with Bloomberg Harvard has been extraordinary, and this initiative reflects the best of what’s possible when we align our people, our data, and our purpose.”
City Attorney Marcus Edwards is leading the charge in this initiative and if you want to help or have questions, you should contact his office at 318 673-5200.