Introduction

This striking four story building with impressive stonework bears the name of its builder: Allen — inscribed on its Texas Street facade just below the roof line. The name, however, does not reflect the name of the building’s principal tenant for much of its history: The Baird Company.

The Baird Company was a long time Shreveport dry goods and clothing store which, by the early part of the century had grown into one of the city’s important department stores. In 1908, the northwest corner of Texas and McNeil Streets was cleared, the First Baptist Church with its clock tower and high Neo-Gothic spire having occupied the site since 1879. A year later, in 1909, the Allen Building was erected on the same spot.

In 1936 the Allen Building became home to downtown Shreveport’s Walgreen’s Drug and variety store. Walgreen’s occupied the location until 1971. In 1972 another variety store, Valu Mart, moved into the Allen Building. At this time the mezzanine level windows, formerly nearly identical to those on the two uppermost levels of the building, were bricked-in. Valu Mart closed its doors in 1978.

From 1978 to 1986, Holly Discount Women’s Wear occupied the Allen Building. Since 1990 it has been occupied by Neil’s Reproductions, a printing company.

With the exception of the enclosure of the mezzanine level windows and some minor changes to the street level facade along Texas Street and at the corner of McNeil Street, the exterior alterations to the Allen Building are minimal. Most of the original exterior features are still in place and those that are not visible appear to have been obscured by cosmetic alterations, rather than destroyed by structural ones. In any case, the mezzanine windows could easily be re-opened and the street-level facade on Texas Street restored or adaptively remodeled to fit with the character and balance of the structure.

The Product

The proposed floor plans for the Allen Building show eight apartments ranging in size from 1100 to 1269 square feet. These eight apartments consist of four two bedroom/one bath apartments and four one bedroom/one bath apartments. All of the floor plans are open and spacious. All have views to McNeil Street with two of the apartments overlooking McNeil Street as well as Texas Street. Tall ceilings and “industrial” materials will make these apartments different from the typical product available in the Shreveport residential market. Click here for a spreadsheet detailing this building.

Allen Building

Introduction | Existing Floor Plans | Proposed Floor Plans | Fact Sheet |