ForwardDallas
My husband Walter and I paid $65,000 for our first home in northwest Dallas 45 years ago. Today that home is valued at $528,000. About 40% of this city is zoned for single-family housing, and less than 5% is zoned for multifamily. Single-family homes are the power engine for the Dallas economy. So why do…
Dallas plan commissioners spent four hours last week hearing resident commentary and discussing amendments to the city’s controversial ForwardDallas land use plan, but there were several meaningful conversations that weren’t reported in the local media. One such discussion was District 14 Commissioner Melissa Kingston’s support of updating the plan’s language to reflect the wishes of…
It’s become challenging to offer a fresh perspective on the myriad public hearings, town halls, and detailed discussions on Dallas’ comprehensive land use plan update. The arguments have been the same for months. Housing advocates want more housing. Some longtime residents are concerned that greater density will change the character of their single-family neighborhoods. Arguments…
Supporters of the Lakewood Conservation District expansion heard some good news last week. City staff “substantially completed” a revised draft ordinance and a neighborhood meeting will be held in August to review the changes. Conservation districts help preserve the physical character of a neighborhood, such as its architectural styles or building heights, and differ from…
An environmental justice organization that has made huge recent progress toward righting wrongs of the past just made another bold move: hiring its second executive director in 30 years. Downwinders at Risk was formed in 1994 to fight Midlothian cement plants. Since then the nonprofit has done tremendous work advocating against southern Dallas batch plants…
