Paul Pratt of Gateway Development Consortium talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about the Shreveport City Council making amendments to the proposed Memorandum of Understanding and how that might affect the proposed billion dollar development of the city's Cross Bayou area.

Pratt tells KEEL listeners that a 4-3 vote by the council to set a number of milestones for GDC to meet is "a step in the right direction."

Pratt thanked those on the council who voted in favor, saying, "This starts the engagement process. We are positive about the outcome and we are looking forward to making this a reality." Pratt added that none of the qualifications set forth by the City Council should present a problem, saying "Everything that the initial MOU entailed was already there. This just helps us streamline and make things more specific.The process has begun.In order to raise the financing, we needed a commitment from the city." Despite the fact that the council shied away from the term "MOU" in their resolution, Pratt says GDC is not deterred. "Whatever they want to call it, we accept it."

More From 1130 The Tiger