Saving Alex

Alexandria, Louisiana is NOT a ghost town by a long stretch, but the downtown business district is blighted and in ruins.  The once prestigious Bentley Hotel sits in questionable disarray.  The current owner has some exceptional ideas to bring back the grand lady by splitting the building into lofts and hotel space.  But reality is, that's a lot of money and the current building is nothing more than a hulk.  The former Weiss & Goldring Department Store sits boarded up with broken windows.  A great space, but nothing in it.  Behind the W&G store sits a rusty water tower.  As Neil Young sings, "Rust Never Sleeps."  This water tower definitely defines what Neil Young is saying.  Were it not for attorney offices and churches, there would be little activity happening in Alexandria with big, empty holes everywhere.   Outside of downtown, Alexandria and adjoining Pineville contains a series of strip malls and stores that appear to be thriving.  As you head into downtown, prosperity leaves.  There are a lot of things happening by various civic groups to change things, and downtown does hold promise.  Now is the time to act.  I took pictures of Alexandria late on a January afternoon.  The images came out pretty well.  Here are some of the best ones.