Dallas, TX

Here’s a way Dallas might build more single-family homes

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2024

Press Room

Here’s a way Dallas might build more single-family homes

There are a lot of ideas being discussed now to help address the problem of home affordability in Dallas.

One that deserves strong consideration is lowering the minimum-required lot size for the construction of a new home.

The idea isn’t uncontroversial. In its early years of development, Dallas and surrounding cities had such abundant land that larger lots were much easier to afford. Now, the cost of land is a key driver in rising prices. Residents in many established neighborhoods worry that lowering lot sizes could lead to dramatic changes in the places they call home.

We agree that the city must be sensitive of longtime residents’ concerns. But we also think that reducing the amount of land needed to build a home could go a long way toward ensuring that Dallas continues to flourish as a city that is affordable to people at every income level, and especially to the middle class who too often are being priced out of life here.

In December, five Dallas City Council members signed a memo to initiate conversations related to reducing minimum lot sizes and allowing duplexes and quadplexes by right in single-family neighborhoods.

The discussions predictably devolved into chaos because complicated and potentially disruptive solutions were all lumped together. Different zoning and land use changes need to be considered separately. The idea to allow duplexes by right should be put on hold for now, but city officials should seriously explore the pragmatic solution of reducing the minimum lot size.

The minimum lot size varies in Dallas, but it ranges from around 5,000 to 7,500 square feet. Austin’s City Council recently adopted a resolution to reduce minimum lot size from 5,750 to 2,500 square feet. It’s expected that reducing minimum lot sizes allows developers in the market to build more single-family homes. Smaller lots would make the land, and therefore the homes, less expensive.

The move would introduce more housing while still incentivizing home ownership over renting. Lowering the minimum lot size does not mean that larger lots would be taken away; it just means that families who can only afford smaller homes would have options beyond renting.

Reducing minimum lot sizes has been embraced across the political aisle as commonsense policy. The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, recently published a report that found that less restrictive municipal regulations around lot sizes would allow the market to work better to close the housing affordability gap. At the state level, Sen. Paul Bettencourt had introduced a bill that would prohibit big Texas cities from mandating lots larger than 1,400 square feet. The city should work with residents now to gauge their interest in this kind of reform, before the state makes a law. City officials could consider piloting reduced lot sizes in certain neighborhoods where residents are open to more density.

For Dallas to remain the vibrant city it has always been, residents and city officials will have to come together and consider how to use our land most effectively. Reducing the minimum lot size could be that measured solution to support younger residents without impacting long-time homeowners.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Stars-San Jose Sharks preview: Dallas looks to stay hot on the road

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Dallas Stars-San Jose Sharks preview: Dallas looks to stay hot on the road

The Dallas Stars start up a brief two-game road trip on Thursday with a game against the San Jose Sharks.

Here’s everything to know about the matchup.

Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks

When: Thursday, 9 p.m.

Where: SAP Center, San Jose

TV/Streaming: Victory+

Radio: Sportsradio 96.7/1310 The Ticket

Bottom line

The San Jose Sharks host the Dallas Stars after Macklin Celebrini scored two goals in the Sharks’ 6-3 win over the Calgary Flames.

San Jose has a 10-5-3 record in home games and a 17-14-3 record overall. The Sharks have a 15-4-2 record when scoring at least three goals.

Dallas is 22-7-5 overall and 11-2-4 on the road. The Stars have a 12-1-2 record in games their opponents commit more penalties.

The teams meet Thursday for the second time this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 4-1.

Top performers

Jason Robertson has 20 goals and 20 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored five goals and added nine assists over the last 10 games.

Celebrini has 18 goals and 33 assists for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli has five goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

Last 10 games

Stars: 7-2-1, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.2 assists, 3.7 penalties and 8.9 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

Sharks: 6-4-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Dallas, TX

Why Senate hopeful Jasmine Crockett is appearing at a Dallas hip-hop concert

Published

14 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Why Senate hopeful Jasmine Crockett is appearing at a Dallas hip-hop concert

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett will introduce Dallas hip-hop collective Cure for Paranoia at its upcoming album release show in Deep Ellum, according to frontman Cameron McCloud. The Dallas Observer reported the news first.

“I just said I’d love for her to be at the show if she was in town,” McCloud said in a text message. “She didn’t even have to come up if she didn’t want to and she said ‘Oh no, I’m definitely getting on stage.’”

Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, catapulted into the national spotlight in 2024 after a tense exchange with fellow U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at a House committee meeting. She has since been regarded as a progressive firebrand, frequently in the headlines for heated back-and-forths with politicians across the aisle.

Crockett also recently launched a bid for the U.S. Senate, promoting her campaign in an Instagram video with McCloud, who wrote a verse about her. He has posted new raps every day this year.

“Who else willing to go toe to toe against the president?” he recited in Day No. 343’s verse, adding a later nod to Crockett’s viral remarks about Greene: “Texas tough don’t need no more bad built bleach blonde butch bodies moving forward.”

Crockett discovered McCloud through social media.

“I started listening and thought ‘Man, he’s a genius.’ I was impressed by his ability to sum up what’s going on in under a minute and with accuracy,” she said in a statement. “Especially at a time when people are not listening to traditional news and the easiest thing to do is keep scrolling, Cure captures people’s attention. I was floored to know that not only was he a Texan but a Dallasite.”

Crockett, who has a penchant for alliteration in her speeches, teased a potential performance during her introduction. “I’m known to drop some bars from time to time so you’ll just have to be there and see.”

Cure for Paranoia’s show will be on Dec. 26 at Trees. It will be pegged to the group’s new album, Work of A.R.T., which is slated for release on Dec. 22.

Details

Tickets cost $30.35. 7 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 26. 2709 Elm St., Dallas. For more information, visit treesdallas.com/shows/cure-for-paranoia.

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Dallas, TX

Utah hosts Los Angeles after overtime win against Dallas

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Utah hosts Los Angeles after overtime win against Dallas

Los Angeles Lakers (18-7, third in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (10-15, 10th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -6.5; over/under is 241.5

BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the Los Angeles Lakers after the Jazz took down the Dallas Mavericks 140-133 in overtime.

The Jazz are 6-11 in conference matchups. Utah allows the most points in the Western Conference, giving up 126.1 points and is allowing opponents to shoot 48.8%.

The Lakers have gone 13-5 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 5-0 record in one-possession games.

The Jazz are shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 48.1% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers are shooting 50.4% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 48.8% the Jazz’s opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Lakers won 108-106 in the last matchup on Nov. 24. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 33 points, and Keyonte George led the Jazz with 27 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Lauri Markkanen is scoring 27.8 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Jazz. George is averaging 37.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 55.0% over the past 10 games.

Doncic is averaging 34.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 26 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 5-5, averaging 119.1 points, 44.2 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.1 points per game.

Lakers: 7-3, averaging 118.8 points, 42.4 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.9 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Georges Niang: out (foot), Jusuf Nurkic: day to day (rest), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

Lakers: Maxi Kleber: day to day (back), Austin Reaves: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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