Shreveport Steps Up Efforts to Tear Down Blighted Properties
Shreveport has spent $1,320,000 dollars tearing down blighted and abandoned properties. Mayor Tom Arceneaux says the city is taking a more aggressive approach to cleaning up neighborhoods.
Arceneaux made fighting blight a priority when he took office, signing demolition orders for more than 35 properties in 2023. The mayor argued that abandoned buildings can attract additional blight and contribute to neighborhood crime.
The Mayor says he has doubled the budget for demolitions and he has moved forward with twice as many demolitions from the past two years.
Mayor pushes Block by Block strategy
Arceneaux's administration has expanded its efforts through the Block by Block initiative, which targets troubled neighborhoods with coordinated cleanup, code enforcement, demolitions and redevelopment efforts.
The city's 2026 budget identifies blight reduction and neighborhood redevelopment as major priorities, with Mooretown and Highland serving as initial areas for expanded work.
The strategy is designed to concentrate resources instead of tackling properties individually across the entire city.
READ MORE: Details of Block By Block Initiative
Finding money to tear down abandoned buildings
One of the biggest obstacles is the cost of demolition. In 2025, Arceneaux proposed a temporary 2% surcharge on water and sewer bills to raise approximately $3 million for demolishing some of Shreveport's worst abandoned properties. The proposal faced public opposition and was withdrawn.
The Mayor says efforts to demolish dilapidated properties is continuing in 2026.
In 2026, city leaders continue searching for other ways to deal with major abandoned properties, including pursuing property owners, grants and potential partnerships.
For Shreveport residents, the goal is straightforward: remove dangerous structures, clean up neighborhoods and put abandoned properties back into productive use.
You can check out this list to see how many homes were torn down in each Council district and see how much was spent in each district in 2025.
