Shreveport eyesores remain standing as city lacks funds for demolition

(The Center Square) – Shreveport officials say a lack of funding continues to delay demolition of several abandoned apartment complexes, with demolition expected to cost as much as $1 million, while the city also waits for results from a recent auction of those complexes.

City-funded demolition would cost taxpayers $700,000 – $1 million, money the city does not have, said Terrance Green, the city’s director of property standards.

“That doesn’t include how much the asbestos abatement would cost,” Green said. “Right now, we’re still having an issue with funding, so we’ll need additional cash flow to proceed with demolition.”

The city is focused on four apartment complexes: The Pines, The Oaks, Villa Norte and Linwood Apartments. Officials said repeated fires at the blighted properties remain a public safety concern

Each was offered for auction in June but the results have not been made available to city officials.

“He did not know whether or not there were bid...