At White Rock Lake, Developer Wants to Build a 350-Unit Apartment Complex

By Eric Nicholson Fri., Sep. 28 2012 at 3:18 PM

For as long as I can remember -- which admittedly is only about 20 years -- Duncan's Liquor has held down the northwest corner of Northwest Highway and Lawther Lane a stone's throw from White Rock Lake. That won't be the case for much longer.

The property still belongs to the Duncans, according to Dallas Central Appraisal District, but a developer, Winston Acquisition Corp., plans to build a 350-unit apartment complex on the property, right next to the White Rock DART station. The Advocate has been covering the project for a while now -- it seems that some folks in Lake Highlands are wary -- but the proposal is only now making its way to the City Plan Commission.

Winston, per the commission's agenda, wants to change the zoning on the property from single-family to multifamily residential to accommodate the apartments. A site plan shows a narrow building sandwiched between Lawther and the DART rail, with a small tree conservation area on the north end of the property and a pedestrian link to the DART station.

Doug Mahy, vice president of the Merriman Park/University Manor Neighborhood, said surrounding homeowners mostly support the project, which will cater to higher-income renters.

"We're feeling pretty happy about," Mahy said. "We're not concerned about it becoming an eyesore or a problem."

That said, there are still some potential deal-breakers for neighbors. Mahy will oppose the building if it's too tall or if the entrance and exits are designed in a manner that increases traffic congestion. So far, though, the developer has been cooperative, performing noise and traffic studies at neighbors' requests.

Mahy is even hopeful that people who move into the apartments for the DART station and access to the lake will decide they want to buy a house in the area. That's as good an outcome as can be expected if something's going to be built there.

"Frankly, it would have been fabulous if that could have been turned into green space, but ... realistically, there's too much money going in there for that."

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ThePosterFormerlyKnownasPaul topcommenter

I wonder if the tree conservation zone will be similar to the tree conservation efforts at the development for Sam's, Penney's et al in the the northwest corner of Skillman and Northwest Highway?

Bulldoze a forest, plant a few twigs and call it even ...

cehmann1

Why does your Advocate link take you to Canadian Business?

clipper

Not mentioned is the limited ground space will require this stucco/brick complex to be built over its parking structure, much of which will be in the flood plain. With 325 units proposed of which 111 will be 2 bedroom, it allows 1 parking space per bedroom. Proposed tenants will probably want one space for their car and the other for an airboat to make that run to the grocery, drug store or emergency run to higher ground.

Reality questions how the developers can find the money to move this forward..

scottindallas topcommenter

@clipper It is specifically designed to cater to cyclists. At least that's what they've said. It's not far fetched that with modest elevation that area would stay dry all the time; particularly with the new NW Hwy, which could be a spillway, yet you could get into Duncans.

Times

Seems like a small area for a large development, grew up in the field that had a swimming pool in the summer KC, times change and yeah the pool move down the street...but the area is not used well....I don't think apts are the answer the beer store will move across the street the apts will become junk in 10 yrs maybe 20... depends on the buyer and how they keep it up once it changes hands 10 times. I know many apts have been lost with the Lake Highlands, maybe it will the area developments....

Tim.Covington

I'm hoping that most of the people who move there will use the rail. Otherwise, traffic will qickly become horrendous on the north side of White Rock lake.

Guest

2 Like

I wish it was a mixture of apartments and condominiums. Large apartment complexes tend to get outdated and turn to crap in 20 years or so...

scottindallas topcommenter

@Guest I was under the impression that that was the idea.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

1 Like

"Cater to higher-income renters". Hmm. As if a higher income is a guarantee of a higher class of tenant.

anon

1 Like

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz it has nothing to do with higher class. it has to do with renting a 2 bedroom apartment to a low income family of 6. the density, wear and tear, and sadly, crime, associated with that living situation is the fear. not the "class" of tenant.

Rix1

Another monument to my teenage debauchery bites the dust. Bought my very first six-pack at Duncans at the tender age of 16 in 1970 (I looked a lot older). I'm not sure why anyone would oppose such a developement. I thought that high desity housing was a benefit of light rail.

ThePosterFormerlyKnownasPaul topcommenter

2 Like

@Rix1 One of their specials on Friday afternoons at that time was a cold six pack of Pearl Beer for $0.99 including tax.

Back in the days when it was legal to drink and drive (so long as the beer was in a brown bag) it sure did taste good in July after a week working at the garage ...