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When Tanasia Lattin moved into the Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts, she was not just looking for a place to live. She was searching for a community where creativity could take root and grow.
A visionary artist and fashion designer, Tanasia founded her brand, Rico Raro, in 2021. The name means “rich and rare,” a reflection of her commitment to originality and creative excellence. What she needed next was an environment that supported both her work and her growth as an artist. That search eventually led her to the Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts in Shreveport.
The Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts occupy a former biscuit manufacturing building constructed in 1902 in the Shreveport Common neighborhood. Vacant for years, the structure was rehabilitated and converted into affordable apartments with shared studio and gallery space. The project preserved much of the building’s industrial character while adapting it for residential and working use. For Tanasia, that environment proved transformative.
Before moving in, she struggled to find a network of like-minded creatives and meaningful opportunities to present her work. At Uneeda Biscuit, she found a platform to refine her portfolio, connect with other artists, and share her talents more widely. The building became a place where creativity is supported by community, stability, and access to opportunity.
The redevelopment also fulfilled a long-standing vision for downtown Shreveport. “The Uneeda Biscuit building has been a goal for several years, and in order for the project to make sense, the developers needed affordable housing tax credits,” said Liz Swaine, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority.* “The people that this building will bring downtown will add more foot traffic, more vibrancy, and will be more of the folks that are participating in all downtown has to offer. It’s residential that creates the downtown that people want to come to. The residential powers everything else. It creates the market for the restaurants, the market for the film centers and the art galleries and the retail stores.”**
Projects like Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts are made possible through the work of developer members of the Louisiana Association of Affordable Housing Partners. By investing in adaptive reuse and thoughtful redevelopment, these partners help turn historic structures into assets that serve today’s communities. In Shreveport, that meant removing long-standing blight, preserving architectural heritage, and contributing to the renewal of the Shreveport Common neighborhood.
The impact extends well beyond the building itself. The redevelopment helped reverse decades of decline in nearby property values and generated new jobs across construction, architecture, engineering, and project management. It also strengthened the local arts economy by attracting creative professionals and encouraging public engagement with the neighborhood.
At its core, Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts demonstrates how affordable housing can be a catalyst for broader community investment. It supports individual residents like Tanasia while reinforcing cultural identity and economic vitality across the city.
That transformation reflects the mission behind projects like this. Marjorianna Willman, Interim Executive Director at LHC, noted, “Being able to take a once uninhabitable building and bring it back to life into its community where it can serve a purpose for the people, and all at an affordable price is what we strive for.”***
However, stories like this remain far too rare in Louisiana. The state faces a severe shortage of affordable rental housing, particularly for extremely low-income households. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Louisiana needs more than 100,000 additional affordable and available rental homes to meet current demand. Without intentional investment and supportive housing policy, many families remain cost-burdened and at risk of instability.
Addressing this gap is essential to creating more success stories like Tanasia’s. Stable, affordable housing provides the foundation people need to pursue education, careers, creative work, and community leadership.
To learn more about Louisiana’s housing needs and why developments like Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts matter, explore the latest state data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Affordable housing does more than provide shelter. It creates space for talent, culture, and opportunity to thrive.
Sources
* Shreveport Times — Uneeda Biscuit building approved for mixed-income development
** The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate — Local artists will have a new home this summer in a renovated downtown building
*** Louisiana Housing Corporation — The Grand Opening of Uneeda Biscuit Artist Lofts Calls for Celebration Amongst LHC and Partners
LAAHP was founded in 2006 for the purpose of encouraging affordable housing in Louisiana on behalf of its members by advocating sustainable policies and regulations, providing educational opportunities and events, and promoting its members interests.
