Cara Mendelsohn

CandysDirt.com Picks Top Newsmakers of 2022

By April Towery / December 27, 2022 /

We can all agree that 2022 was jam-packed with real estate news. We saw big wins for neighborhoods, elected officials who spoke their minds, and influencers who showed up and showed out.  With some of these folks, there are too many stories to capture in one post. They are, after all, newsmakers. And one thing…

A Tale of 14 Districts: Equity in Infrastructure is Contentious Among Dallas City Council Members

By April Towery / December 21, 2022 /

As the Dallas City Council attempts to allocate funding based on racial equity and historically underserved areas, the city’s downtown is last on the list when it comes to pavement condition, council members pointed out during a recent briefing.  Maneuvering the roads in District 14 is like driving around in a third-world country, according to…

Dallas City Council Approves Four New Housing Developments Under Public Facility Corporation Finance Structure

By April Towery / December 14, 2022 /

Four housing developments were approved this week under the Public Facility Corporation financing structure, lauded by Dallas City Council members as a mechanism for providing affordable homes for the city’s workforce.  “Is there any other way we’re getting affordable housing? Are developers building it for free?” District 1 Councilman Chad West asked.  Assistant Director of…

Are Public Facility Corporation Projects Adding Value or Just Taking Assets Off The Tax Rolls?

By April Towery / December 5, 2022 /

It seems most everyone supports the idea of affordable housing, and more housing in general — although there’s always going to be an argument about where it should go and what it should look like. But are public facility corporations the answer to Dallas’ affordable housing crisis? Dallas has embarked on the relatively new public…

Dallas Spends Millions on Consulting Fees And Plans, But What do Taxpayers Get in Return? 

By April Towery / November 18, 2022 /

When you start doing the math it really adds up. The Dallas City Council authorized almost half a million dollars last month for legislative consultants. Another $306,704 was recently funneled to TDA Consulting Inc., to gather community input and draft a revised version of the city’s Comprehensive Housing Policy, and $100,000 to Community Equity Strategies, a…