A Big Move Will Impact Downtown Shreveport

Big plans are starting to come together for downtown Shreveport.

The State Office Building is moving into the old Joe D. Waggoner Federal Building on Fannin Street for use as the home of state government in Shreveport.

That building is currently getting a complete makeover before the state complex moves from the current location on Jordan at Fairfield.

That building was purchased in 2011 by Louisiana Christian College for $400,000 to be used as a possible home for a law school in Shreveport. But the cost of renovating the building proved too much and the College abandoned that plan.

Louisiana leaders have stepped in to make an offer on the property. The state has paid about $1.75 million for the building.

This will be a game changer for downtown Shreveport bringing in hundreds of workers which will likely attract even more businesses to the area.

Find Out About the Progress During Community Meeting

If you want to get an update on the progress of this project, you might want to attend a meeting this afternoon. It's being held at 5:30 at the Central ARTSTATION on Common Street. Several state officials will be on hand to talk about the progress and the timeline for making the move.

Who Will Be at the Meeting?

I. Billy Wilson, Director of the Office of State Buildings
II. Mike Newman, Demolition Abatement Team Leader
III. Christopher Coe, Design Team Leader
IV. Scott Finch, Director of the Percent for Art Program

You will also have a chance to ask questions about the project and the timeline.

This meeting is open to the public and anyone who is interested in what's happening in downtown Shreveport.

All of the parties involved say there is no plan to tear down the current state building. It is historic and members of the Northwest Louisiana delegation are hopeful they can find a buyer who will come in and find a new use for this building.