Shreveport Mayor Wants to Extend Emergency Declaration

SHREVEPORT, LA - Shreveport leaders are expected to pass a measure to extend an emergency declaration at 3 dilapidated apartment complexes.

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Mayor Tom Arceneaux declared a state of public health and safety emergency this past summer to give the city more ammunition in the battle over abandoned apartment complexes.

That declaration included the Jolie Apartments on Quail Creek Road, the Villa Norte Apartments on Fullerton Street, Linwood Homes on Bernstein Avenue and the Pines Apartments on Line Avenue. The emergency action gave the city the ability to go onto these properties to "take immediate action to preserve the public peace, property, health, or safety within the properties."

These complexes have been in disrepair for many months and were attracting squatters. The owners and managers of these complexes stopped managing the properties and rightful tenants moved out once power and water was turned off.

This declaration allows the police to remove or arrest anyone on these properties when there is probable cause to suspect criminal activity.

Last month, the Mayor determined the emergency declaration was no longer needed at the Jolie Apartments since the owner gave police the authority to remove unauthorized people from the property and "no trespassing" signs are now displayed at the property.

But Mayor Arceneaux says the public health and safety emergency continues at Villa Norte Apartments, the Pines Apartments, and Linwood Homes.

He is asking the City Council to continue this emergency declaration:

From 12:00 a.m. on September 24, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. on December 24, 2024, or earlier if all the buildings on the properties named herein have been totally demolished.

This order gives Shreveport Police the authority to remove and, if necessary, to arrest any person found at the above listed apartments for whom there is probable cause to suspect of criminal activity; The Mayor has granted the Departments of Public Works and Property Standards the authority to address health and safety hazards and remove illegally dumped trash and garbage.