Mariana Griggs: New Year, New Focus, And She’s Running For Dallas City Council

By Mariana Griggs
Special Contributor

[Editor’s Note: Mariana Griggs is the former wife of Dallas City Councilman and mayoral candidate Scott Griggs. She recently moved to Polk Vernon from Winnetka Heights.]

As the sun comes up in my backyard, I can see through the chain link fences into the neat backyards of my neighbors. I live in a neighborhood in full bloom. Some of those blooms are my own Cosmos shooting up from a front yard garden full of carrots, kale, and arugula. 

Most days I take walks on streets with patchy sidewalks and cars parked everywhere. But seeing the mix of cultures as I cross from one block to the next is a treat. Each block has its own dose of neatness, chaos, and reconstruction. We have affordable housing, from neat, tidy renovations of circa 1930 bungalows to others that need some attention to bring out the inner charm.

This is Polk Vernon, and I love it. And I’m running for Dallas City Council to preserve and enhance neighborhoods like mine.

Reasons to Love Polk Vernon

We have proximity: With three young children to keep entertained, walks to the playground at Henderson Elementary or Wynnewood Shopping Center (to eat at Topps Café or shop at the Five Below) are weekly occurrences. Activities are burgeoning in this historic shopping center and rumor has it that plans for redevelopment include a popular big-box retailer.

The amenities in this area, the northwest inside corner of Illinois and Vernon, are endless. A little bit of fast food, a fire station, and two grocery stores offer security and supplies to last for weeks. There is a congestion price those north of the Trinity pay for dense development and all that retail — whereas I used to “cross the river” more often to shop, this enclave is proving to be a haven from the traffic.

On sunny days, I ride my bike and visit Bike Synergy or my friends at Wax Space, both housed inside Tyler Station. This retooled factory is quickly becoming the meeting place of choice for the surrounding neighborhoods of Elmwood, Wynnewood, South Edgefield, and Polk Vernon. It isn’t uncommon to run into neighbors from all over Oak Cliff at the Oak Cliff Brewery because meetings of all kinds are hosted in the large open space. 

Tyler Station is a unique asset to the area. DART’s red line has a stop adjacent to the station. I can park, shop for local books, and then take the train to the Dallas Zoo and downtown Dallas in just two stops. The combination of retail and transit creates an exciting opportunity for real growth within this area that is zoned for single families.

Bringing More Voices to The Table

The recently passed WOCAP plan offers a roadmap for a large portion of Dallas City Council District 1, including my neighborhood. Proposals include increasing housing stock by supporting the existing homegrown culture.  Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a compromise to provide for economic justice and the growth of generational wealth. Multigenerational households are integral in the Hispanic culture and ADUs can be used for growing families by providing more housing and increasing density — all a benefit for existing families. 

Perhaps it was my recent move to this part of my district, District 1, that has provided me with a new perspective on the future of our city. It is exciting to consider the results that can come from continuing to increase the engagement of the community in the process of what is being planned for them. I feel more engaged in my city than ever, so I have also decided to run for Dallas City Council in District 1 this year. The majority-minority make-up of my district demands cultural representation and working with all my new neighbors is just as wonderful as working with all my North Oak Cliff friends!

So, come visit, we have some great properties and I’d be happy to show you around. And see you on the campaign trail!

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This is the first of many posts as the campaign season heats up. Announcing your candidacy? Ping us at [email protected]