RESTRAINING ORDER - The $1.5 Billion dollar proposed mixed-use development for Cross Bayou Point near downtown Shreveport has hit a snag. A temporary restraining order was filed in a lawsuit Monday by former attorney and political watcher John Settle. The proposal was to be brought up before the city council under legislation by councilman Willie Bradford who proposed a binding memorandum of understanding between the city and the developers: Gateway Consortium. The development group wants the city to acquire approximately 88 acres of land along Cross Bayou and in nearby areas to facilitate the project.
Upon learning of the lawsuit, council members were advised by the city attorney to not comment on it. Howeve, during open session Councilman Bradford shared some frustrations.
"Somebody come along and say 'we want to try to help this city' and then we get resistance,"Bradford said. "Because everything that has been said and e-mailed to us is malarkey, it's misguided."
Bradford was responding to public criticism about the proposal including using unspent bond funds to purchase property that is not part of Cross Bayou and then enter some type of arrangement with the Gateway group so the project could proceed. The council would vote on Bradford's proposed agreement at its next agenda session on January 28 but Settle wants a judge to decide if it’s legal for the city to use unspent bond money to buy properties for the project that are not along Cross Bayou before any further council action could be taken.
