SHREVEPORT, La. (KTBS) – Shreveport’s newest apartment complex, Coates Bluff at Wright Island, held its grand opening Thursday evening. The facility is located off Clyde Fant Parkway, north of Shreveport-Barksdale Highway.
It promises resort style living with southern flair. U.L. Coleman, the property manager, said the development offers several benefits, including being a smoke free community. U.L. Coleman wanted to promote a healthier lifestyle at the new development and was rewarded for its efforts.
“This is how people are living today,” said Cole Guthrie, the development manager. “We are long term developers of our community, and we want to make sure this is sustainable for the community as we as ourselves for a long time to come.”
Other companies and facilities work to establish a smoke free culture as well.
All Louisiana universities and colleges went tobacco free at the beginning of this semester, including LSU-S and BPCC.
Then earlier this month, CVS Pharmacy announced it would no longer sell tobacco products in its stores. Larry Merlo, the CEO, said by eliminating the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products, “We can make a difference in the health of all Americans.”
“When businesses start to look at the costs associated with allowing smoking in their facilities as well as the productivity and making sure their employees are safe and well and healthy, many of them are starting to take a look at it and say, ‘You know, we want to be a part of the healthy community,’” said Feamula Bradley, regional representative for Louisiana’s Campaign for Tobacco Free Living.
Coates Bluff was honored by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living at its grand opening, receiving a community distinguish award. “It’s spectacular,” said Guthrie. “We wanted to be able to bring that lifestyle and those health conscious choices with our fitness and our smoke free community to the Shreveport Bossier area.”
Guthrie said they have no problem selling the smoke free community. He said people seek them out and that occupancy is at 74 percent of the buildings that are complete.
The smoke free trend has caught on in other places in Louisiana. Read KTBS’s related article on who’s participating.
