Historic Building Gets New Life

A building that's part of Shreveport's history gets a new lease on life. The Ogilvie Hardware building -- built in 1926, included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, and vacant since 1999 -- has been purchased by Provident Realty Advisors of Dallas, Texas. According to the company's vice-president of multi-family development, the building is going to be turned into a gated community of 90 urban loft-style apartments in the style of popular warehouse conversions -- and will include exposed brickwork, concrete and other structural elements. They'll also come with lots of amenities, like full kitchen packages, high-speed internet access and washers and dryers. Provident plans to begin construction soon, and hopes to have the units ready by January 2012. The company will start taking names of interested renters by the end of this year.