Renovation giving building new life for local Red Cross

Reposted from the Town Talk’s website.  Renovation work continues on the Cotton Brothers Building — soon to be the new location of the Central Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross.  The organization began renovations earlier this year to the building located at 425 Bolton Ave. in Alexandria. But just recently workers with Petron tore [...]

Cotton Brothers Bakery BECOMING Red Cross Headquarters

I was excited to receive an email and pictures today from Melinda Anderson, Director of the City of Alexandria’s Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC), of work that’s being started on the old Cotton Brothers Bakery/Trailways building on Bolton Avenue.  Ever since the news that the American Red Cross bought the building and obtained grants to rehabilitate it, I have passed [...]

425 Bolton Avenue

Yay!  Tuesday, a wall breaking ceremony was conducted at 425 Bolton Avenue which signified a turning point in this building’s history.  Instead of a date with the wrecking ball, this building will be given new life and new purpose by being rehabilitated into the local American Red Cross’ headquarters.  It is a monument on Bolton [...]

The trade: Marshall for Lavardain — is anything different?

Sigh….  I was optimistically hoping that Alexandria was going to see a new day in politics following our recent council elections. I even congratulated Mr. Lavardain for a race well run.  However, after reading council minutes and watching that ridiculous display by Bridgett Brown in the recent council meeting, all I can say is that a race [...]

Old Empty Building To Become Useful Again

Nothing warms my heart more than to see an old historic building being renovated and turned into useful real estate.  Unfortunately, we have many old buildings languishing here in Cenla.  The American Red Cross purchased a building just a couple blocks from my house and will start construction next month to return this building to [...]

Trailways Bus Building to Take on New Life

I heard that the environmental studies came back favorable for the American Red Cross and that they were going to be able to move forward soon and rehabilitate the old bus building on Bolton Avenue.  At long last that news is confirmed.  In today’s Legal Recorder it is noted that Gene Sanders sold the building [...]

Historic Designations Explained

In answer to my question: Thank you for your comments. They are always welcome. I am not trying to put all of the blame on the commission for failure to act, I am just asking why some properties are advocated for and some are not. Shouldn’t it be fair? Lamar White, Jr. answers and explains as [...]

Town Talk Article 7-19-08

Wow….I am completely blown away by the article in the Town Talk http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/NEWS01/807190348/1002 this morning.  It appears that the TT was just trying to fill space and either cut this article down quite a bit, or just threw out a couple random tidbits in this house moving saga.  I am completely disappointed that there were not [...]