Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson (photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
The Shreveport City Council has approved a 30-year lease of the Stageworks of Louisiana building to Curtis “50 cent” Jackson. The former expo hall will serve as a studio for film and television production G-Unite Films and Television. Council member Jim Taliaferro says the now vacant building will be a hub for entertainment and sports.
“By bringing in family-oriented tourism, exposing our out-of-town guests to other attractions within walking distance of the expo, such as the (Shreveport) Aquarium, Sci-Port, RiverView, and numerous area restaurants,” Taliaferro said.
The media mogul and rapper has said he also wants to bring basketball, boxing, MMA fights, car shows and concerts to the Stageworks building in downtown Shreveport. Following the vote, Jackson told the council he will not let them down.
“I have programming planned for the facilities, so you’ll be able to look at the things that are happening throughout the year where it will be actively used in a different way,” Jackson explained.
The lease proposal was before the council for nearly a year as a few council members had concerns. Mayor Tom Arceneaux said there were issues that needed to be addressed. The vote to approve the lease was 7-0 and Taliaferro is excited to see what happens next.
“While some of our ideas may be different, and we differ, I believe both of us want the best use of this asset to serve the citizens of Shreveport, and to provide a mechanism for continued growth in our downtown district,” Taliaferro said.
Rent will start at $200 dollars a month and Jackson’s company will assume all operational expenses, which will save the city about $50,000 dollars a year.
Comments