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How This Dallas Developer Is Transforming Neighborhoods in Southern Dallas Through Affordable Housing, One Property at a Time

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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. 

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Picture of large brick home.

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. 

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Picture of interior of home with extensive damage from flooding.

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.” 

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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.

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Voices contributor Nicole Ward is a data journalist for the Dallas Regional Chamber.

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Dallas, TX

FOX’s Kasper Schmeichel compares England to Dallas Cowboys, so who are their other sports analogs?

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FOX’s Kasper Schmeichel compares England to Dallas Cowboys, so who are their other sports analogs?


FOX Soccer analyst Kasper Schmeichel came prepared for this year’s World Cup on American soil.

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The former Danish goalkeeper may not be from around these parts, but that didn’t stop him from dropping an eerily accurate comparison between two overconfident but long-suffering sports programs.

With England and Croatia warming up inside AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Schmeichel decided he would roast two fanbases with one stone, comparing the Cowboys to the Three Lions with a hilarious one-liner.

Funny, but also painfully true if you’re a supporter of either team.

COWBOYS LEGEND DIGS DEEP INTO THE TEAM’S MISSING ‘FIBER’ THAT’S RESULTED IN SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

I made a comparison last week between the English national team and Notre Dame, but Schmeichel got me thinking, who are the sports analogs to England from the four major North American leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA)?

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Today, I will be doing exactly that, including giving a slightly better NFL comp than the Cowboys (shocking, I know).

Without further ado, let’s piss off our neighbors from across the pond.

FROM 4 STRAIGHT SUPER BOWL LOSSES TO JOSH ALLEN’S PATRICK MAHOMES PROBLEM, BILLS MIGHT BE CURSED

NFL – Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears helmets are displayed before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., on Sept. 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

While the Dallas Cowboys are a fine comparison for the English national soccer team, I think I can do one better.

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Schmeichel mentioned that England “won it once and have never stopped talking about it,” and although the second part of that statement applies to both, the Cowboys are five-time Super Bowl champions, having won it most recently in January 1996, a good three decades after England.

If you really want a team that more accurately mirrors the hard luck of the English, it would have to be the Chicago Bears.

3 HISTORIC NFL FRANCHISES FIND THEMSELVES IN SAME BOAT SINCE TURN OF THE CENTURY

They have one Super Bowl win to their name, which came 40 years ago, and really don’t have much else to show for it.

Also, having lived in the DFW area for the better part of a decade, I can confidently say Cowboys fans are a little too arrogant and cocky to be compared to the English.

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Sure, England will say things like “it’s coming home,” but they are far more self-deprecating and aware of their faults, even nihilistic in some cases.

The Bears hang onto their history because they know things will inevitably go bad for them on the biggest stage.

Speaking of which…

NHL – Toronto Maple Leafs

Spencer Carbery, assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, looks on from the bench during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ont., on April 14, 2022. (Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs actually line up with England more closely than either fanbase would like to admit.

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While the Leafs have a litany of Stanley Cups to their name, their most recent win was back in 1967, less than a full year after England won their first and only World Cup.

As far as expectations go, both constantly go into their respective tournaments with the weight of the world on their shoulders, only to come crashing down in the most horrific ways imaginable.

For the Leafs, it comes in the form of blowing big leads in the playoffs, while English fans and players alike can’t even hear the words “penalty kicks” without having a mental breakdown.

England and Toronto are both long-suffering cities, but their fans keep showing up expecting a different outcome.

Insanity? No, just sports fandom.

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NBA – New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks celebrates a three-point basket with Karl-Anthony Towns during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 5, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

This one would have been an even better comparison if the New York Knicks hadn’t gone and won the whole damn thing this year, but these two sports teams are still eerily similar.

WHY THE KNICKS, DISRESPECTED BUT CLAWING BACK, TOUCHED A RAW NERVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ULTIMATELY THE COUNTRY

Think of the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Championship run as a window into what it would look like if England captured a World Cup (on American soil, no less).

Before this year, the Knicks famously had not won a Larry O’Brien trophy in over 50 years, yet they were still considered one of the “blue bloods” of the NBA.

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Decades of heartache didn’t change that; it only made their fans more insufferable, but their triumph earlier this month in the NBA Finals exorcised all those demons.

THE ATHLETIC BEWILDERINGLY CELEBRATES ‘ZOHRAN MAMDANI SPORTS SUMMER’ AFTER NEW YORK KNICKS WIN NBA FINALS

A win in the World Cup Finals would probably do the same for England fans, as you could probably feel that sigh of relief from the other side of the Atlantic.

MLB – New York Mets

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto reacts after scoring a run on an RBI double by infielder Bo Bichette against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on April 2, 2026. (Robert Edwards/Imagn Images)

Hello again, New York.

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The Big Apple certainly has its fair share of winners, but it also has plenty of franchises that are aching to make a trip back down the Canyon of Heroes, none more so than the Mets.

Year after year, the Mets are near the top of MLB in terms of spending, with little to show for their efforts.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

They won a World Series back in 1986 and have been chasing that high ever since.

The common thread between England and the Mets (along with all the other teams on this list) is expectations relative to results, and it seems like the Mets are sort of a Schrödinger’s baseball franchise in that regard, expected to both compete for a World Series with their high-priced talent and flame out in spectacular fashion all the same.

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FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

England always has flashy players heading into World Cup play, but the results haven’t been there, and they’ve often been sent home in brutal fashion, offering a great parallel to the Mets’ clockwork-like midsummer swoons and late-season meltdowns.



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Dallas, TX

Dallas Police Seize Glock Switch in Deep Ellum

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Dallas Police Seize Glock Switch in Deep Ellum


Guerrocastillo was taken into custody without incident and charged with Prohibited Weapon, a third-degree felony; Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, a class A misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana under two ounces, a class B misdemeanor; and Public Intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.

“Foot patrols are a foundational part of policing, and our Deep Ellum Task Force officers are making great arrests and providing increased security by walking a beat,” said Deputy Chief Devon Palk, who is commander of the Central Patrol Group. “Having our officers on foot, on horseback, and in our new Polaris utility vehicle puts officers exactly where we need them during peak hours in the area.”





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Croatia fans rock cowboy style in Dallas parade ahead of match with England

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Croatia fans rock cowboy style in Dallas parade ahead of match with England


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Thousands of Croatia supporters turned downtown Dallas into a sea of red and white ahead of Croatia’s World Cup group-stage match against England. The parade featured cowgirls and groups in horse-drawn wagons and a 100-metre Croatian flag.



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