City's Now Taking Bids For Transit-Oriented 'Area Plans' and 'Catalyst Project Concepts'

City's Now Taking Bids For Transit-Oriented "Area Plans" and "Catalyst Project Concepts"

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Aug. 16 2011 at 5:45 PM

From A New Paradigm: Strategies for Revitalizing Dallas' Distressed Neighborhoods

In November of '09 we were introduced to St. Louis-based housing developer McCormack Baron Salazar, which was hired by The Real Estate Council to take a long, hard look at potential for development along the DART Green Line in Fair Park-South Dallas and the piece of the Blue Line that runs along Ledbetter. In January of this year, the city council got its first look at the report, which cost TREC $275,000. Long story short: The company's veep told the council we're going to need to spend more than $275,000 to develop South Dallas.

Here's the whole report. It's titled A New Paradigm: Strategies for Revitalizing Dallas' Distressed Neighborhoods and has been posted on the city's Office of Economic Development website. I probably should read the whole thing. Till then, this is from the intro:

There are a number of conditions that currently exist which create real challenges for the revitalization of Southern Dallas. The lack of infrastructure, including inadequate or non-existent power-, water-, and sewer-lines, and storm drainage have hindered real estate development. Businesses which prefer southern Dallas County have opted to settle in southern suburbs, such as Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Desoto and Lancaster, rather than in the city. The larger percentage of adults with lower incomes and education levels in Southern Dallas, as compared with the city as a whole, contributes to the lack of incentive for retail development and less need for office development.

Reason I mention it is because the city is, at this very moment, asking for proposals from consultants interested in creating "area plans" and "catalyst project concepts" for the five areas highlighted in the MBS study, identified as The Lancaster Corridor Area, the DART Green Line Hatcher Station-Spring Avenue area, the DART Green Line MLK Station Area, the DART Green Line Buckner Station Area and the Vickery Meadows/Five Points Area.

The work will be funded in part by a Housing and Urban Development Community Challenge Grant, which will "assist in the transformation of these areas, leveraging existing planning efforts and significant rail investment to create safe, attractive community centers." That's from a detailed 39-page doc posted yesterday to the city's bids website, outlining what the city wants from prospective bidders. It's on the other side. #2 - Revised 135RFP for HUD-ToD Redevelopment-072711

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alfredo

The Five Points area should be leased to the Air Force for a bombing and gunnery range

scottindallas

I don't know if you've been through there recently, but the area is improving. They've demolished a few of the largest and most downtrodden complexes for schools, and have demolished another large complex to simply get rid of it at the end of Shady Grove. Then they demolished one of the better apts to build the Sam's/Walmart complex at Timbercreek. But, that area is improving.

HolySheets

really?

so TREC hired a guy based from STL. FAIL!

The METRO & McCormack Baron Salazar, have done nothing to spur any developemenst in ESL/"south dallas" or for that matter anywhere along the lines in STL.

The only BONUS of the METRO in STL is it really goes to the airport!!much better than Dumb Asses Running Transit here.

Next stop....Love Field....BUT...step outside and wait for a bus to get you to the terminal.

Livable Perspective

I will agree that the Love Field connections are currently very poor. However, if the City and DART were willing to invest in the right infrastructure, it could be fixed. Boston also has the subway station located about a mile from the terminals. Yet they feature free, frequent bus service with dedicated lanes to quickly move passengers back and forth between the subway station and the terminals. The issue at Love Field is that nobody even knows where the bus stop is at the terminal or even which light rail station to use. It would be best for the city to partner with DART to create a free shuttle service from either Burbank station or Inwood station to the terminals. This proposed people mover would be lovely but probably not worth the cost.

AlexAdam90209

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cynical old bastard

Maybe part of the reason South Dallas lacks development is smart business people won't part with equity to shake down artists. Did the out of town consultant not study the political situation?

Mister_Mean

The only way the city can find is ass from a hole in the ground is with a consultant study. Funded by tax dollars of course.

replay

More consultants and another study...........makes you wonder how many "studies" are lying around collecting dust.........

scottindallas

I've long thought that an open air market would be cool in the Vickery area. I'm thinking of something with stalls that would allow refrigeration, interior space, with a larger convertible open area in front. In Algeria permanent store fronts explode into the street like bodegas with outside stalls demonstrating their wares. In Algeria the narrow streets are filled with these tables and stands allowing only foot traffic.

But, if there's a Fellaheen part of Dallas it's the Vickery area. (Jack Kerouac compared Nogales, Mexico to Egypt) But, a sprawling market might be neat in the area, could be inexpensive, and full of variety. There are MANY different ethnicities in the area, and I can imagine many different restaurants, ethnic groceries, fruiterias, taquerias, and the like. The city is looking for apt complexes to condemn, unless I'm not mistaken and this could be the sort of development to do it.

That area is in a much better situation than the other neighborhoods identified, as it is surrounded by North Dallas. It would be nice if this development was focused on being very affordable as to rents, and if much of the store space were essentially open air, it should cost less for electricity. Even better would be if they could zone this so that one could drink a beer, a margarita/daqueri while shopping in the mercado.