Survey Offers Neighbors a Chance to Sound Off on Lakewood Conservation District Expansion
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Lakewood, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Dallas, has so much character — but that’s changing, neighbors say. While the area is full of historic homes ranging from quaint cottages to immense Tudors, some homes are being razed to make room for modern designs that risk changing the fabric of the East Dallas neighborhood.
However, expanding the Lakewood Conservation District to better preserve the character of the area has been a contentious topic since we first began reporting on the bid to bring more endangered architecture into the fold in March of 2022. And while we often get comments on our stories regarding the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District, it’s not exactly like the city staff members who are drafting the proposed ordinance for the expansion are combing through the comments — even though they’re on the insider’s source for Dallas-Fort Worth real estate news.
To get a clearer picture of the praise and objection surrounding the issue, city staff has created a survey form for Lakewood residents so they can sound off on the specific grievances people have with the expansion ordinance. While the aim of the proposed expansion ordinance is to promote development that is compatible with the neighborhood, many see the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District as an affront to private property rights.
You can read the draft ordinance for the Lakewood Conservation District expansion here.
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If I lived in this area and was opposed to having my property encumbered, this survey would absolutely infuriate me. It continues the railroading by presuming that there WILL BE an ordinance, and restricts those who don’t want an ordinance at all to describing how they want to edit the ordinance. For those who are fully supportive of historic preservation- as a choice, not a requirement- this continues the affront to property rights.
To your point Erin, the existing CD-2 was established in 1988. It’s been around for 36 years. Over that same 36 years, this expansion area right next door hasn’t been subject to any restrictions. That’s a pretty long test period. Proponents attribute the success within existing CD-2 to the restrictions. Opponents say there’s no way to know that preservation wouldn’t have occurred anyway. Proponents say neighbors can’t be trusted to make good choices. Opponents say that 36 years of at least equal success on both areas demonstrates that they can and are. Owners have recently poured millions of dollars into renovations of old homes in both areas. Both areas are great. If you’re going to claim the sky is falling, show us before and after pictures of every tear down in the last 15 years – there aren’t that many. And show the pictures of the homes that permits were pulled for to just do renovations over that period. Those are facts. One home vilified by the proponents on city submissions was actually a featured home on November’s Lakewood Home Tour. Unregulated Tokalon Drive was once named the prettiest street in Dallas by D Magazine. Those are facts.