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BY ELIZABETH DEAL
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ld Bossier, the city’s historic downtown neighborhood, had struggled for decades. Like most communities in the US, the city had looked for ways to revitalize its downtown area but had always been faced with the challenge of how to go about the process and how to finance the project. Since knowing that a re-energized downtown would aid in the success of the new high technical jobs that were coming to the area, Bossier City took action.
18
MAY 2022
| SBMAG.NET
The Role of Rebranding and Infrastructure Improvements Recognizing that Old Bossier lacked the charm and polish of newer developments, the Bossier City Council began the process in 2014 with public input forums with young professionals in the area and asked what they would like to see in a downtown area. These forums led the city to the design of a downtown area to be built with a modern, clean, and contemporary feel and style about it. The city did not want to simply copy the styles of typical architecture of a Southern community but wanted a unique look and vibe to the area. The goal was to create a vibrant arts and entertainment district, rebranding Old Bossier’s identity to attract new visitors, shoppers, and businesses. The city council believed that upgrading the public infrastructure would spur private investment, attract businesses to the area, and ultimately help create the desired arts and entertainment district.
