Urban revitalization

Arlington-based Dodson Companies Revitalizes the Urban Union District on Front Street

By Brandi Addison / February 29, 2020 /

Dodson Companies has revitalized Arlington’s Urban Union on Front Street, transforming old auto shops and warehouses into top-notch breweries and bakeries — and the company has more in store for phase two. Just on the edge of Arlington’s historic downtown, the Urban Union District is a walkable block of restaurants, breweries, and entertainment that’s been touted…

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Encore Park Brings the Music Back to Historic Art Deco Building in Downtown

By Leah Shafer / August 29, 2015 /

You probably never noticed the boarded-up tan brick building near Park and Young streets in downtown Dallas. It sat abandoned for two decades, its sidewalks littered with trash and walls vandalized with graffiti. But behind the grime and neglect, there was a story of intersecting histories waiting to be told. This Art Deco structure, called 508 Park,…

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Jason Roberts Builds Better Neighborhoods, One Block at a Time

By Leah Shafer / January 1, 2015 /

Much has been written about community activist, urban planning enthusiast, and Oak Cliff resident Jason Roberts. His energy is infectious as he spreads the gospel of urban revitalization around the world: building better neighborhoods by transforming vacant and underused properties into vibrant, thriving blocks abuzz with business, activity, and local participation. His Better Block concept started…

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