While I like a lot of the things that the DMN is talking about, I disagree with this idea.
I figured I would post my comment from their blog and find out what my readers thought about this issue.
My comment:
We do not need another layer of government to fix this issue. Development can occur without creating any more committees or ad hoc business corporations.Your thoughts?
What you need are a Mayor and City Councilpeople that are adamant about things getting done. The current set is more focused on such issues. We have had multiple northern City Councilpeople that have visited District Four (Sheffie Kadane, Linda Koop, Pauline Medrano, Ron Natinsky, Jerry Allen). They have seen the problem first hand, and support our efforts.
In District Four, for example, we have multiple developments coming. These developments include:
*New medical center in Piedmont with $30+ million investment with no TIF and no city funding, 150-200 jobs.
*Quality TOD such as senior housing with over 20,000 SF of retail.
*Job training center with additional office space where two hot-sheet motels used to foster all types of mayhem in the community (actually this is a 1/2 block outside the district but we closed the motels and Dwaine got the deal done).
*Three other major developments to be announced.
*Dozens of rundown houses have been closed, and more will be closed with new urban nuisance laws.
This was done simply by having an engaged Councilperson in less than one year.
We must also realize that federal help is needed because the degree of neglect is quite high and will require a higher level of investment that the city can support in the near term. Also, the 2006 bond package is particularly focused on the issues in southern Dallas. Let's see where we are in a couple of years as that takes shape.
4 comments:
There needs to be an increase in the number of owner occupied houses. That means less Rosemont style apartment housing (like the development on Simpson Stuart just east of I35, the one at Meadow and Hatcher in South D, the one near Hampton and Illinois, ect.) These types of developments today will become the tomorrows slumps, just like the garden apartments of the 70's.
Bring HEB to Dallas. Anybody who has been to a poor neighborhood in San Antonio can tell you that an HEB in the SA hood is light years better than a Minyard, Tom Thumb or Fiesta in Oak Cliff.
Spend a disproportionate amount of capital improvement money south of downtown. It is the right thing to do.
Don't build the Trinity Toll Road.
Nathan, I'm with you on the first three. The last one, we voted on and it's happening. The HEB's in Houston and McAllen are miles ahead of any grocery in southern Dallas except for the new Target.
Apts wouldn't get so rough if the owners spent a dime on security and fixed the gate once in a while.
You forgot about the apts at 35 & Ann Arbor where retail land was changed to multifamily a few years back.
Changing the attitudes of those that live outside of our district is the key. The problem is when the people from up north of I-30 drive through and all they see is boarded up buildings and bums pushing stolen shopping carts to the scrap metal yards. We have to create neighborhood hubs, where neighbors interact and keep the money from flowing out to the suburbs and the northern districts. We need more people involved with neighborhood groups (thumbs up to Piedmont and Buckner Terrace) and crimewatch meetings.
We have to encourage our children to do better in school; and when the ISD is failing our kids, we need to demand accountability. Complaints only go so far, so when your kid is struggling, you better be tutoring and helping with homework. If you need help, find it. Use the system before the system leaves you and your family (and our neighborhoods) behind.
BTW, HEB is looking very strongly at the Dallas market. Everybody in South Dallas needs to let HEB know that we are willing to invest in them if they will take a chance on us. Don't let the Super Wal-mart scare good community oriented grocery chains away. Most of my neighborhood avoids the Super W and shops up north. It is a shame we can't have a clean, safe, and quality grocery store because of bad DMN press and a few ne'er do wells.
What is the Southern Dallas Development Corporation
http://www.sddc.org/ about? It would seem that there are tools already in place to address South Dallas development from the public sector perspective.
The groundswell of support for lessening the gap between North and South Dallas must make sound economic sense supported by demographics, market rates, AND good returns on investment for investors as recent development in South Dallas and South Oak Cliff indicate.
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