City shifts from cleanups to construction in Highland and Mooretown
SHREVEPORT — The city is beginning Phase 2 of its Block by Block Initiative, stepping beyond neighborhood cleanups and into targeted infrastructure upgrades in the Highland and Mooretown neighborhoods. City officials estimate the two projects will represent roughly $2.5 million to $3 million in local investment.
The announcement marks a change in emphasis for a program that started as a series of “Clean Sweeps” aimed at removing blight and trash. City leaders say Phase 2 responds to priorities residents raised during those efforts — primarily walkability, pedestrian safety and improved lighting.
“The Clean Sweeps gave us a way to work directly in neighborhoods, listen to residents, and identify the kinds of improvements that matter in daily life,” the mayor said, adding Phase 2 is meant to build confidence that progress is continuing.
Planned work in Highland
Construction is already under way in Highland with crews focusing on sidewalks, streetlights and measures to improve safety along several corridors. The initial scope lists work on Highland Avenue, Creswell Avenue, Gilbert Drive and Centenary Boulevard between Olive Street and Kings Highway. City officials say that schedule will be staggered so crews work one street at a time to limit disruption.
- Repairing and extending sidewalks to improve connectivity
- Adding ADA-compliant curb cuts
- Restriping intersections and bicycle lanes
- Coordinating with SWEPCO to upgrade and repair streetlights
Plans for Mooretown: reuse and housing possibilities
In Mooretown, the city is negotiating a lease with Caddo Parish Schools to renovate a vacant school building. Short-term plans emphasize community uses; long-term planning includes the possibility of converting the site to senior housing to help bring residents back to the neighborhood.
City officials framed the project as an effort to strengthen neighborhood services and safety while creating places residents can use daily. That mirrors a statewide focus on leveraging public assets to address housing and community needs.
| Neighborhood | Main Actions | Intended Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Highland | Sidewalks, lighting, curb cuts, restriping, bike lanes | Improved walkability and safety |
| Mooretown | Renovate vacant school; short-term community space; possible senior housing | Community resources; long-term housing and population return |
City leaders said the Block by Block approach was never meant as a single event but as a continuing, resident-driven program. The move to concrete improvements — sidewalks, lights and building reuse — signals that the administration is attempting to convert neighborhood feedback into visible, lasting projects.
While detailed timelines and final budgets for each street segment have not been released, the city’s plan to phase work and coordinate with utilities aims to reduce construction impacts. Residents who raised concerns about sidewalk conditions and pedestrian safety in public meetings will now see crews addressing those specific issues.
For Shreveport, the challenge will be sustaining both the funding and community engagement necessary to see projects through from construction to maintenance. The Block by Block model couples cleanup with infrastructure investment; how the city follows through will influence perceptions of whether localized efforts can produce broader neighborhood renewal.
