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I'm sad to report this to you today, but it's worth revisiting. 2 years ago I asked you to let us know which of these projects you think would happen first. All of these have been on the back burner for a long time. One of the biggest complaints in our area is that nothing ever gets done.

I know you think some of these will never happen, but we can always dream.

The Caddo Commission has been involved in a lengthy legal battle with the Daughters of the Confederacy over the monument. So far, the Commission is winning the legal fight, but the monument is still there. The Parish has pledged $500,000 to move it. But they still face at least one legal hurdle.

How much longer will it take to settle this dispute and move on the Commission's vote to relocate the monument?

I started wondering will the monument be moved before other high profile projects are completed in our region? We narrowed the list down to the 5 biggest projects we could think of:

1. New Jimmie Davis Bridge
The state DOTD decided to stop plans to rehab the Jimmie Davis bridge in favor of building a new bridge next to the existing bridge. But this project will cost millions of dollars which the state does not have. We did have $25 million set aside to give the old bridge a facelift.

2. I-49 Through the Inner City
The NLCOG Board voted to build the I-49 extension through the Allendale Neighborhood. The state has set aside $100 million for this 3.6 mile stretch which  would connect the interstate to the section that is now complete north of town. The Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Committee of 100 and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership supports this path. The big question is how long will it take?

3. Elio Cars Being Built
Elio Motors has announced delay after delay in the plan to build its 3-wheeled-cars at the old GM plant. A deadline to get moving this year has come and gone. In an SEC filing, the company said they would have cars built by 2019. Well we all know that didn't happen.

4. Cross Bayou Park
In 1996, Shreveport voters passed a $5 million dollar bond issue for Cross Bayou development. But what were we promised and what has been delivered since that election. Here's the verbiage that was on the ballot: "Authority to issue not exceeding $5 million in General Obligation Bonds for acquiring and/or improving lands for a public park." We have no public park at Cross Bayou and that's been more than 20 years.

5. Confederate Monument Moved
The Caddo Commission voted 7-5 to move the Confederate Monument from the grounds of the Courthouse, but the legal fight is just starting.

We want your opinion. Put these projects in the order you think they will happen (we know you probably think a couple of them may never happen). We're curious to see what you think.

In our poll 2 years ago, here's the order of what you thought would happen first:

  • Confederate Monument moved
  • New Jimmie Davis Bridge built
  • I-49 through the innercity
  • Cross Bayou Park
  • Elio Motors will start building cars.

 

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