DALLAS FORT WORTH | Urban + Suburban P & C - Page 157

LMich · #**3121** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 7:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by East7thStreet

What's the point of packing everybody in if there is no reason to walk around?

To be short, profit. Many (most?) of these developers aren't building high-density residential for some alturistic urban planning reason. I'd still say this is better than building for the infrastructure you've given; at least they are trying when they could have put up something more horizontal and less urban.

Owlhorn · #**3122** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 9:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by East7thStreet

I don't get areas like this. Some of Uptown is walkable and pedestrian friendly......but a lot of Uptown is like these pics. It looks like high density development separated by 6 lane streets, narrow sidewalks, 20-30 foot setbacks, and no ground level retail. What's the point of packing everybody in if there is no reason to walk around?

[Dallas, Texas keeping it real answer]it might make sense to put retail right below these thousands of people at distances they can easily walk, but that would make it harder for cars and and not bring in outside business. So the city puts in a parking requirement. Because of that, its easier to just build a power center or retail strip further away.
[/Dallas, Texas keeping it real answer]

Seriously, ever expecting pedestrian in Dallas is an exercise in disappointment. If you believe otherwise, you're just unrealistic and naive. Seriously, as a Dallasite, we just don't and never will get that the density and potential pedestrian friendly urbanism is the only advantage the city will ever have to differentiate ourselves from the suburbs that are outgrowing Dallas in population and jobs. Everyone keeps telling us, but instead we think we know better and let developers strip the city in anyway they want. One day we'll wake up and realize that Dallas is not Frisco or Plano and that the built density is an asset. instead, the very people in these neighborhoods are the ones telling us that we just should take it because the market has spoken.

Owlhorn · #**3123** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 9:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMich

To be short, profit. Many (most?) of these developers aren't building high-density residential for some alturistic urban planning reason. I'd still say this is better than building for the infrastructure you've given; at least they are trying when they could have put up something more horizontal and less urban.

There is no trying. There a suburban strip immediately north of this building. they are tearing out one of the few remaining parcels of Uptown and building a suburban CVS. Across the freeway they are building a friggin Sams. In each instance, the developer successfully changed zoning from high density office to low density retail which has generous parking requirements. Seriously, I'm about done with this city. Next move might as well be in the burbs. Dallas doesn't care about itself, just pandering to the threats of specific developers instead of realizing when others have done great work and would likely do great work again.

dch526 · #**3124** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 1:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owlhorn

There is no trying. There a suburban strip immediately north of this building. they are tearing out one of the few remaining parcels of Uptown and building a suburban CVS. Across the freeway they are building a friggin Sams. In each instance, the developer successfully changed zoning from high density office to low density retail which has generous parking requirements. Seriously, I'm about done with this city. Next move might as well be in the burbs. Dallas doesn't care about itself, just pandering to the threats of specific developers instead of realizing when others have done great work and would likely do great work again.

And Immediately north of that there is a 222-unit apartment complex on top of a whole foods that's U/C. Shafers Plaza being built was a joke but at least this building adds to the density and will use Shafers as their "base retail"

Let's not forget about 2200M, Akard Place, the new Crescent Building, the revamp of VP (with 500K of Office, additional retail, move theater and thousands of apartments either just opening, U/C or about to start Construction) or the 2500+ apartments that are U/C or will be added with office conversions within the CBD

The CVS Lot was never rezoned...they are replacing retail with retail and stayed within the zoning regs to avoid any type of public hearing. Definitely not the best use of the land but also one where no one could really do anything about it.
The Sam's development is a complete joke. You can work around an acre of suburban type development but 16+...? The developer mislead people into believing this would be something more and the city staff put their rezoning on consent agenda at their public hearing (This leads you to believe that the developer mislead the staff).

The last 2 cases are what frustrates me about Dallas but don't let those projects overshadow everything else that is going on in and around them.

toxteth o'grady · #**3125** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 1:56 PM**

This is not overly dense development. You should see Ballston in DC.

dch526 · #**3126** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 6:49 PM**

A 9-story 150 room Aloft Hotel Coming to CityLine

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/20...elopment.html/

Construction for the 3-building 500,000 SF Raytheon Headquarters has started construction in CityLine

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/20...chardson.html/

Owlhorn · #**3127** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dch526

And Immediately north of that there is a 222-unit apartment complex on top of a whole foods that's U/C. Shafers Plaza being built was a joke but at least this building adds to the density and will use Shafers as their "base retail"

Let's not forget about 2200M, Akard Place, the new Crescent Building, the revamp of VP (with 500K of Office, additional retail, move theater and thousands of apartments either just opening, U/C or about to start Construction) or the 2500+ apartments that are U/C or will be added with office conversions within the CBD

The CVS Lot was never rezoned...they are replacing retail with retail and stayed within the zoning regs to avoid any type of public hearing. Definitely not the best use of the land but also one where no one could really do anything about it.
The Sam's development is a complete joke. You can work around an acre of suburban type development but 16+...? The developer mislead people into believing this would be something more and the city staff put their rezoning on consent agenda at their public hearing (This leads you to believe that the developer mislead the staff).

The last 2 cases are what frustrates me about Dallas but don't let those projects overshadow everything else that is going on in and around them.

Last two projects to turn the shovel too. Really afraid of the next announced(or unannounced) project.

dch526 · #**3128** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 7:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owlhorn

Last two projects to turn the shovel too. Really afraid of the next announced(or unannounced) project.

Yea...Hopefully these 2 just turn out to be an anomaly and not a trend where box retail tries to muscle into the high density markets with suburban concepts with surface parking.

dch526 · #**3129** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 2:25 PM**

They hope to get started by the end of the month with a 12-18 month construction timeline.

270-room Marriott-branded hotel
238 residences managed
20,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/ne...ment-near.html

With all of these major renovations taking place DTD should hopefully cross that threshold in the next couple of years where major retail/restaurants/grocery can be sustained.

dch526 · #**3130** Posted **Jul 4, 2014, 4:43 PM**

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/h...-to-dallas.ece

Rumors are that they will be moving into the KPMG Buidling and that an Omnitracs relocation announcement will soon follow. Both companies bringing 1,000 each to DTD

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/c...e-comerica.ece