SHREVEPORT, La. — The City of Shreveport is moving into the next phase of its Block by Block initiative, focusing on major improvements in the Highland and Mooretown neighborhoods. The program, launched more than a year ago by Mayor Tom Arceneaux, aims to address blight, improve infrastructure and revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time. During phase one, the city conducted cleanup sweeps, held community meetings and collected data to identify neighborhood priorities. City Attorney Marcus Edwards told the Shreveport City Council the effort removed more than 810 tons of litter, collected more than 5,000 discarded tires and included more than 300 volunteers. Now, the city is shifting its focus to targeted improvements in Highland and Mooretown. Arceneaux said the neighborhoods were selected as a pilot program to help the city learn what works before expanding the effort. "There are some tougher areas of the city. We didn't really want to start with areas where we might actually not succeed," Arceneaux said. "It's best to have a pilot program so that you have a place to make your mistakes and have your successes." The city plans to invest between $2.5 million and $3 million into projects in the two neighborhoods. In Mooretown, the city plans to renovate the former Mooretown Elementary School, turning the cafeteria into an event space and classrooms into affordable senior housing. Work is also underway to improve the Mooretown Community Faith Garden. Highland improvements include sidewalk repairs, additional crosswalks, new street signs and upgraded lighting. Arceneaux said resident input helped determine the projects, which will be funded through existing city resources. "The funding is kind of cobbled together from funds that were available in other places," Arceneaux said. "These are things that were already allocated in the budget, but they may be going in a slightly different place than they were allocated initially." While Highland and Mooretown are the first neighborhoods to receive larger investments, city leaders said the long-term goal is to expand Block by Block across Shreveport. Arceneaux said future cleanup sweeps will continue citywide, but property owners could now face citations for violations of city property standards.City leaders are encouraging residents to maintain their properties as the initiative continues.

SHREVEPORT, La. — Residents from across Shreveport gathered Thursday evening at Airport Park Community Center to learn how nearly $3 million in federal housing funds could be spent and to share what they believe should be the city's top priorities. The City of Shreveport's Department of Community Development hosted its annual public meeting on the 2026 Action Plan, which outlines how funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be allocated. The meeting began with an update from Community Development Director Verni Howard, who said the department currently has 47 community-based projects underway serving 19 low- to moderate-income neighborhoods throughout the city. Howard said the annual meeting is an opportunity to report on completed and ongoing projects while giving residents a chance to help shape future investments. "Today is so important because citizens begin to understand that their voices are important, that we are hearing, that we're listening, and that we are responding accordingly," Howard said. "We get to report back to our citizens what we've already done, and then we get to hear what more do you want us to do?" City officials also presented the 2026 HUD funding allocations. Under the proposal, Shreveport expects to receive approximately $1.9 million through the Community Development Block Grant program, about $822,000 through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and roughly $171,000 through the Emergency Solutions Grant program. According to the presentation, the funding would support efforts to reduce blight, address homelessness and help establish an emergency support center. Nearly $500,000 of the total allocation is designated for administrative costs.Following the presentation, residents participated in a question-and-answer session, asking city officials about grant opportunities and how funding could address concerns in their neighborhoods. Ruby Small, a Shreveport resident, said she was encouraged by the turnout and appreciated the opportunity for residents to speak directly with city leaders. "I saw so many of my neighbors out tonight," Small said. My neighborhood needs overhauling...we wanted to make sure they know what our concerns are because we live there." Attendees were also asked to complete a survey ranking community needs and priorities. Howard said the feedback will be used as the city finalizes its 2026 Action Plan. The Department of Community Development will host another public meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Bill Cockrell Community Center to gather additional public input before the plan is finalized.

SHREVEPORT, La. - Several long-troubled apartment complexes in Shreveport are now up for auction, marking a significant development in the city's ongoing efforts to address blighted properties.