Dallas, TX

Dallas’ unrealized potential

Published

10 months ago

November 18, 2023

(Michael Hogue)

The great thing about a large city is that it has so much to offer and so much potential. It is capable of overcoming obstacles and challenges.

Sometimes it happens from inspired leadership, like Ron Kirk working with Ross Perot Jr. to turn a brownfield into, dare I say it, Victory.

Other times it occurs from the workings of wizened veterans deep in the bowels of City Hall, like former City Manager George Schrader.

I believe it can also occur from the public. A more demanding and voting public might spark and demand results, insisting on a brighter future.

A recent CommercialCafe report concluded that the city of Dallas has the most undeveloped land of any American city. Dallas boasts more than 33,000 parcels comprising 90,739 acres. The average parcel size is nearly 3 acres, making development possible.

The great majority of these tracts are south of Interstate 30. Industrial and distribution uses are most interested in these sites because of their access to the Inland Port. Political leadership at the city, however, has turned its back on such projects.

Even more problematic, these 3-acre sites do not lend themselves to the single-family, large lot preferences of appointed and elected officials and homeowners. These are urban infill projects that require specialized zoning that makes something out of nothing. Importantly, these have to be projects desired by the market — not something popular with neighbors.

Fort Worth finished second in the CommercialCafe study, with 74,835 acres of vacant land with an average size of 2.6 acres. I suspect Fort Worth, like plucky TCU, will get more out of less acreage than does Dallas.

Fort Worth’s can-do attitude, brisk process at the city, and pro-business mindset is attractive to infill projects.

The future is so bright for the metroplex we all may need to wear Deion Sanders-inspired shades. The two cities have more undeveloped land than do the rest of the top 20 American cities combined. For those who think the pace of growth in the metroplex has been fast, brace yourself because there is potential for much more.

Amazingly, in the recent citizen satisfaction study, Dallas citizens thought the pace of development was too brisk — despite losing significant population in the last census period. Dallas residents largely do not support change, but that’s what’s necessary to increase the tax base.

I was recently in a meeting with a legendary Dallas developer who actually lives in the city of Dallas. “It’s sad,” he commented about the state of affairs in Dallas, “because the city has so much potential.”

A lot of other real estate professionals are thinking the same thing.

When people travel, they may say, “I am from Dallas.” Once they get home, most of them scurry home to suburban places of greater opportunity and safety. Too few Dallas police or firefighters live in the city. Same with many other city employees I deal with. They live in suburban communities with smooth streets, safe neighborhoods and good services to go with lower taxes.

City employees not living where they work is like a restaurant the workers will not eat in, and that is a big problem. There’s a lot less skin in the game.

People do not want to live somewhere that will be nice in 20 years. The city of Dallas, big on potential, is not achieving now.

Texas will be the most populous state in the union by 2050. The next two decades seem destined to have various bursts of “Gone to Texas” from around the country. The cities that manage their land and get it into play will increase in population and prosperity. The region’s largest cities have a greater advantage of any American cities. Let’s insist that they fulfill this potential.

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

Source link

Related Topics:Commentary Contributing Columnists Featured

Click to comment

Dallas, TX

Dallas Mavericks to Re-Sign Former NBA Champion

Published

2 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

Dallas Mavericks to Re-Sign Former NBA Champion

After a few months of a rumored return, the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to terms to bring back veteran forward Markieff Morris. They’ll have to open up a roster spot to make the move official, which likely means A.J. Lawson’s unguaranteed contract will be waived.

Morris was traded to the Mavericks as part of the Kyrie Irving trade in 2023 and has been a key veteran presence in the locker room. He appeared in just 26 games for the Mavs last season, averaging 2.5 PPG. He did get a chance to check into the NBA Finals for the second time, hitting a three-pointer in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics.

READ MORE: Luka Doncic Made Jayson Tatum Question His Career

The Dallas Mavericks valued the leadership Morris brought to the locker room and while some fans wanted him on the bench as an assistant coach, Morris preferred to keep playing and is now back in Dallas.

Morris has played on eight different teams since being selected in the lottery of the 2011 NBA Draft. He most notably won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, averaging 5.9 PPG in that playoff run. While he won’t get his wish of playing with his twin brother Marcus, he should be happy to return to Dallas after mentioning it all offseason.

READ MORE: Shaquille O’Neal Gives Luka Doncic Contract Advice

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA Offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

Source link

Dallas, TX

Former Dallas Cowboys Star and NFL Hall of Famer Still Believes in Clemson

Published

10 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

Former Dallas Cowboys Star and NFL Hall of Famer Still Believes in Clemson

There aren’t many people around football who believe Clemson will turn things around. The past 12 months would suggest they won’t, but history says they will.

Let’s not get too over the top here. Clemson is still a very talented football team, and losing to the consensus No. 1 team in America didn’t change that.

However, they need to start playing better. There’s no debating that. They’ll have an opportunity to do so on Saturday against an App State team that could beat them if they come out flat.

Emmitt Smith, the former Dallas Cowboys all-time great, shared that message. He spoke with Derrian Carter of The Greenville News about how important it is for them to come together and go on an impressive stretch.

“The good thing about having an early loss (is) as you start to gain momentum, and your team comes together, you get some wins on your belt (and) you get on the run, you never know how the end of the season may end,” Smith said. “They started off with the best, the No. 1 team in the nation. … Now, it’s about not having a mental let down (Saturday) and allowing Appalachian State to come in and shock you.”

Smith will attend Saturday’s game at Clemson, giving him a first-hand look at the team.

His advice to Clemson wasn’t the only thing he touched on. Smith also spoke about the potential conference change, as the Tigers are in a legal battle with the ACC.

“The SEC is already full, so don’t come there,” Smith said. “You’re better off staying in the ACC than going into the SEC because ain’t gonna be many more national championships. … I think being in the ACC, that conference has the ability to offer something that the SEC doesn’t offer. I think the ACC, whether you got Duke, you got Stanford now, you got great quality schools in there, I think it offers something different.”

His point is fair. The ACC has high-level academic schools, and while the SEC has a few, it doesn’t compare to the ACC.

However, all of this is about money. Whether Clemson wants to admit that or not is fair, but that’s the reality of the situation. If they believe they’d make more money in a different conference, that’s where they’ll be headed.

Nonetheless, it’ll be awesome to have a legend in the building on Saturday night.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 2

Published

16 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 2

Below you’ll find the top performances in rushing, receiving and passing from Dallas-area Texas high school football players in Week 2.

Rushing

Player, School, Yards

Moses Adelowo, Denton Braswell, 253

Sterling Schneider, Denton Guyer, 219

Cam Newton, Prosper Walnut Grove, 202

DeAngelo Perales, Garland Naaman Forest, 201

Christian Rhodes, Lake Highlands, 199

Micah Rivers, Northwest Eaton, 197

Travis Agee, Plano East, 191

Javian Osborne, Forney, 187

Kelden Ryan, DeSoto, 175

Watson Bell, Argyle, 170

Legend Bey, North Forney, 169

Rodney Franklin, Mesquite Horn 163

Receiving

Player, School, Yards

Vincent Aparicio, Princeton, 226

Carterrious Brown, Arlington Seguin, 187

Quentin Gibson, North Crowley, 180

North Crowley’s Quentin Gibson catches a pass against DeSoto’s Jordan Stevens (21) and scores a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game at Eagle Stadium, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in DeSoto. (Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer)

Trantan Miles, Arlington Martin, 171

Xavier Green, The Colony, 168

Ryder Treadway, Frisco Wakeland, 162

McKenzie West, Frisco Independence, 159

Paulo Jimenez, South Garland, 158

Samuel Williams, North Garland, 144

Zion Robinson, Mansfield, 139

Tatum Bell, Jr., Frisco Heritage, 132

Trysten Shaw, Mesquite, 130