An owner's perspective

Louisiana's developers, owners weigh pros, cons before investing
The market remains strong for owners and developers, according to national real estate market analysts. Commercial construction is in an expansion cycle; there was a boost in job creation in 2005; industrial construction is increasing, particularly in the Southwestern and Southeastern U.S.; and vacancy rates are lowering for office property; all of which points to a healthy market for developers over the next year.

In the storm's wake

Harrah's Poydras Street Hotel relies on ready-mix, precast to erect structure
The $100 million Harrah's Poydras Street Hotel in New Orleans was on the fast track to be completed by March.

Dixie reborn

Lights go up on Ruston theatre
Since the early 1990s the Dixie Theatre in downtown Ruston has been "dark," as they say in theater lingo.

Acadia Parish prison

New jail, sheriff's offices likely to open in November
Though delayed a month by Hurricane Rita, work is now underway on the Acadia Parish Prision facility in Crowley, and is expected to be completed by November.

Counting the costs

Hurricane's impact on insurance still a mystery
Preliminary estimates indicate that insured losses from Hurricane Katrina are $34.4 billion, according to information compiled by the Hurricane Insurance Information Center, a service of the Insurance Information Institute.

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