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Dallas, TX
How This Dallas Developer Is Transforming Neighborhoods in Southern Dallas Through Affordable Housing, One Property at a Time
Many people get into real estate for the potential financial rewards. But for Jay McIlveen, president of Five Star Properties, the returns come in more than dollars and cents. Since 2020, he’s been investing in property that he remodels into quality, affordable housing, full time.
Jay McIIveen
His passion for real estate started as a side hustle and grew as he realized he had an opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
“In 2002, I was working in corporate America and buying houses on the side, and I would either sell them or rent them out,” says McIlveen. At that time, he worked with a mix of clients, but when the market crashed in 2008, and he was still getting payments from his Section 8 tenants, he pivoted.
Rental exterior
“Initially, that was a financial decision, but the benefit of getting consistent payments from the government means I have more flexibility to help people. A lot of people who are on Section 8 are single mothers, looking for a safe environment for their family,” said McIlveen.
He keeps this front of mind when rehabbing a property.
“Most of the houses we buy are in need of repair—they could be fire or flood damaged, or sometimes the former resident was a hoarder. These are structures that have become a blight on the neighborhood, but they’re still salvageable.”
For Mcllveen, ‘salvageable’ doesn’t mean just getting them up to code—that’s table stakes. He’s creating housing that is affordable, move-in-ready, and a source of pride for those who live there. His approach has a multiplier effect on under-championed areas.
Picture of interior of home with extensive damage from flooding.
For example, while many landlords engage in tenant turnover and continue to raise prices, Mcllveen says most of his tenants stay for at least five years. One told him she wants to stay in her house forever.
“She and her husband moved to a house near the zoo, which has a lot of revitalization happening now. But 16 years ago, it was a different story. I had several tenants come in and out before them, but when they moved in, they stabilized the property,” said McIlveen.
He got to know the couple well — even hiring the husband to do some work on other properties. When he passed away a few years ago, she couldn’t afford the rent on her own. McIlveen says property prices near the zoo have tripled in the past decade, but because of the relationship, he adjusted her monthly payment to one that she could afford.
“Yes, real estate has been profitable for me, but when I have a tenant tell me that she wants to stay in her home forever, that is invaluable.”
For Mcllveen, the biggest reward is being in a position to help people through some of life’s challenges while disproving misconceptions about Section 8 tenants.
“This idea that they don’t take care of your property is an unfortunate stereotype said Mcllveen.
To date, Five Star Properties has purchased, rehabbed, and sold (or rented) more than 40 single-family homes. Currently Five Star has 15 single-family homes in its portfolio, and in 2023 Mcllveen was selected to join the second cohort of the Community Developers Roundtable. He says joining the CDR has enabled him to keep growing as a developer and ultimately reach more people.
“It’s all about relationships, and the CDR has been great. For example, the classes that they host, and the doors that they open. For someone who works with housing authorities all over the Metroplex that operate with slightly different nuances, the CDR has helped me navigate and identify partner organizations that have similar missions and goals.”
For more stories on the Community Development Roundtable and its members, click here.
Voices contributor Nicole Ward is a data journalist for the Dallas Regional Chamber.
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Dallas, TX
Eagles vs. Cowboys Live Updates, Score: Can Dallas Get a Big Win?
We’ve got a good old-fashioned NFC East rivalry matchup in store for “America’s Game of the Week” on Sunday.
The Eagles (8-2) and the Cowboys (4-5-1) meet up in Texas for the latest installment of one of the NFL’s top rivalries. Philadelphia won the first game between these two teams to open the season back in September, taking down Dallas in a game that was much closer than many expected.
However, the Eagles have largely looked the part of a defending Super Bowl champion since that game. They enter Sunday’s tilt as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Cowboys, however, have had a bumpy year. They have a tough hill to climb to make the postseason, but it seems possible with newcomer Quinnen Williams leading an improved defensive unit.
Will Philly maintain control of the NFC, or can Dallas start a winning streak and make a playoff push?
Follow along for Sunday’s highlights!
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Cowboys can’t get out their own way
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Tom Brady has liked the year Jalen Hurts has had
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The Eagles’ defense can travel
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One drive, one TD for Eagles
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Setting the stage in Dallas
Live Coverage for this began on 3:47p ET
Dallas, TX
Hundreds line up in southern Dallas for Thanksgiving meal distribution
Dallas, TX
This North Oak Cliff neighborhood is Dallas’ friendliest
Nextdoor, the social media platform that connects neighbors through shared recommendations and local updates, recently released its ranking of the friendliest places to live in Dallas. At the top of the list is South Winnetka Heights, an Oak Cliff neighborhood of about 95 homes, many of which date back to the 1920s and ’30s.
Lists like these are subjective, to put it mildly, but in a sprawling city like Dallas, friendliness can feel like a lost art. It’s heartening to see neighborhoods that value connection where the neighborly spirit is thriving.
Last year, the neighborhood just a few streets away from Bishop Arts became an approved conservation district. The ordinance protects the roughly four blocks of Craftsman and bungalow-style houses south of 12th Street, which divides South Winnetka Heights from the Winnetka Heights historic district.
In December, the historic district hosts a holiday home tour, when residents open the doors of their Craftsman homes to visitors. It’s clear that residents take pride in showing off their neighborhood and its Prairie-style and Craftsman houses.
Michael “Patty” Evans has called South Winnetka Heights home for over 20 years and was among the residents who pushed for its conservation district status. He explained that the rules are looser than those of their northern neighbors in the Winnetka Heights historic district — protecting the character of the homes without stricter material or design regulations.
Nextdoor determines neighborhood scores based on factors like posts with positive or negative tones, fulfilled neighbor requests and posts expressing neighborhood pride or dissatisfaction. But that community feel isn’t limited to online.
Evans described the streets around him as a “tight neighborhood.” He said neighbors take the time to introduce themselves to new residents, and that this creates a network of people who know one another and keep tabs on what goes on in the neighborhood.
As much as Chicago or New York are cities of neighborhoods, Dallas is also a city of neighborhoods, and we should try to preserve this sense of community where we can.
As new developments and luxury apartment complexes come to Bishop Arts and more residents and businesses gravitate toward areas like Uptown, finding ways to stay connected to the local community feels increasingly important.
Evans said that sitting on his porch in South Winnetka Heights, especially when the leaves begin to fall, he can see downtown Dallas.
The city is a lot smaller than it can feel, especially when neighbors take the time to talk to each other, and not just online, but also by waving from their porches.
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