Gay Donnell Willis

Preston Hollow Christmas Lights Fiasco Escalates With Neighborhood Blockade

By Charles Grand / December 22, 2025 /

In a twist to the Preston Hollow Christmas lights saga, a private group has taken out a special event permit limiting public access to part of the neighborhood. While pedestrians were allowed to check out the display Sunday evening, it seems a blockade of sorts was in effect the two nights prior. The move follows…

Viral Preston Hollow Mansion Dons Grinch-Themed Decor Before Thanksgiving

By Charles Grand / November 27, 2025 /

The age-old debate over whether Christmas decorations should go up before or after Thanksgiving might be settled in Preston Hollow after the mansion that’s gone viral for its extravagant holiday displays showcased its new getup earlier this month. Read what you will into the choice of theme this year, but the house has been decked…

Officials Mull Clampdown on Excessive Holiday Displays, Nuisance Properties

By Charles Grand / October 23, 2025 /

An upscale Preston Hollow home known for going over the top when it comes to holiday decorations is once again garnering significant attention, this time for its Halloween display. The decked-out house has officials mulling new code violations to clamp down on properties that become neighborhood nuisances. No doubt readers will remember the extravagant Christmas…

City Hall Roundup: Alley Trash Plan Fight, Eminent Domain, Fair Park Spat

By Charles Grand / September 15, 2025 /

The end of budget season is just around the corner at Dallas City Hall, with officials scheduled to adopt a spending package and property tax rate for FY 2025-2026 on Wednesday. We’ll get into what’s ultimately decided in our next roundup, and we’ll see if Mayor Eric Johnson’s budget challenge to council members gets taken…

There’s a New Dallas City Council on Deck

By Charles Grand / June 17, 2025 /

Dallas City Council members were sworn in on Monday to begin their two-year terms at the helm of the Lone Star State’s second-biggest city, and boy do they have a lot on their plate. Between a tough budget planning season, significant zoning reforms to navigate, a confounding city real estate portfolio bursting at the seams,…