Former Mayor Cedric Glover: Why 50 Cent’s Shreveport Play Still Matters

Perception shapes everything. Former Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover put it plainly: “Perception is reality… perception is changing.” He reminded locals that earlier film projects were given time to mature. “The level of impatience that people have with regard to what’s happening here doesn’t line up with the level of patience that was shown… for StageWorks as well as for Millennium,” he said.

Production at the old Millennium site has had hurdles, including reports most recently that the area “presently apparently floods,” plus months of uncertainty while lawmakers reworked film tax credits.

Real Money, Real Intent for Shreveport Growth

Despite headwinds, Glover points to receipts. “A month after that special session, he spent over a million dollars buying 510 Commerce Street,” he said, calling the purchase “indicative of someone who obviously sees some potential here that many other people don’t.”

Glover recently told KEEL News that he believes Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is chasing a proven blueprint. “If you want to understand what the potential is here, I would challenge you: Tyler Perry and Atlanta,” he said.

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The vision is not a copy-and-paste film lot. It is an ecosystem. “Someone who can bring in a consistent source of new production… creates jobs, creates value, creates quality of life,” Glover said.

He added that Jackson’s reach matters: “You’re talking about someone who has a combined hundred plus million social media [followers]… who wants to come here and produce content.”

The New State Building: Momentum for Downtown Shreveport

The state office tower redevelopment is another sign of traction. “Wonderful progress,” Glover said, noting the budget grew from 75 million to 110 million to match the architectural vision. “The project is fully funded,” he said, and it is “expecting at least five hundred” jobs downtown.

That wave could position the soon-to-be-vacated Mary Allen State Office Building for a live-work conversion. “You can end up converting that into a live work in place space and literally have hundreds of people living within that area,” Glover said, a shift that would lift restaurants, retail, and street life around Texas Street.

What's Next to Help Shreveport Succeed?

Skepticism is natural. Glover’s caution is sharper. “Whether or not this happens… is still something yet to be determined,” he said. “Things are progressing.” The city’s role is clear: build crews, train carpenters, electricians, and set constructors so opportunities can be filled locally.

The opportunity is equally clear. As Glover put it, “I see the potential there to do in Shreveport what’s happening in Atlanta.”