Jessied Martinez

Urban Design Practice

Snapshot

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge & The West Urban Structure

Plan

The Hill Bridge, which debuted in 2011, is the starting point for a master plan the city of Dallas has implemented for urban renewal in

West Dallas. The Urban Structure Master Plan is committed to infrastructure, business development initiatives, and preservation efforts for the surrounding neighborhood. In particular, this plan involves protecting the character of La Bajada neighborhood, located along Singleton from the levees west to Sylvan Ave. With origins dating back 100 years, the neighborhood of La Bajada is made up of modest one and two-story homes with a hosted by a predominantly Latino populace. !

Putting it! All Together THE Business COMMUNITY’S Support FOR the CityDesign Studio’s Urban Structure Plan Executive summary

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January 17, 2010 Page 3 Led by Larry Beasley and his Dallas City Design Studio, his team has committed to revitalizing a historically overlooked neighborhood and which allow for a sustainable environment to years to come as well as accelerate the connections between the surrounding neighborhoods in favor of the Trinity River Corridor Project.

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is one of only three bridges that have been erected so far. Architect Santiago Calatrava, whom was the lead architect in the design of the bridge, viewed it as a key component in the city’s urban revitalization efforts of West Dallas in collaboration with the Trinity River project. As the bridges become built, the city plans on taking advantage of the economic opportunities that will open up as a result of the increase in commuters crossing the bridges everyday. The neighborhood of La Bajada will be the first to come in contact with this sprawl that comes with urban revitalization. The city plans on adding as many as 100 homes in many of the unused lots within the neighborhood in the next five years to allow for greater density and stability in the area. Many of the industrial structures surrounding the neighborhood are likely to be replaced by major business and retail developments in order to make the community more viable in terms of urban sprawl, much like the developments present in Dallas’ Uptown.

Fig.2 Margaret Hunt Bridge. First of 3 bridges to be constructed as gateways into La Bajada

Once the bridges are constructed, the next step in the plan is to reduce traffic congestion within La Bajada. Particularly near Herbert St.

(which runs North and South), cutting directly in the middle of the neighborhood, passing Singleton St. This will allow for solid strides toward the enhanced amenities that will be planned for the neighborhood as well. These new amenities will also provide local shopping and service opportunities for area residents in turn increasing desirability within the area. Keeping this in mind, the location offers an advantage that enhances its competiveness with other in-town markets, as it would provide improved access to downtown/uptown employment and entertainment centers. Economically, these development opportunities can capitalize on the incremental changes that would replace the current underutilized industrial properties.

As the Trinity River’s edge becomes further defined, so does the continued development south of the now secured La Bajada neighborhood. With the sister signature bridges connecting downtown to the West of the Trinity River, the focus for redevelopment will move outwardly from the Herbert Street spine. The city is committed on maintaining this area’s economic diversity through its already present housing options. Approximately 15 acres of newly improved open space will be developed after initial expansions are completed. !"#$%&'&()) *#+",-.#*$.*#/",01*20/32,/-)4

Fig.4 The envisioned neighborhood character along the Trinity River’s edge. Approximately 17+ years fruition time.

By maintaining this incremental development with time, the surrounding area of La Bajada will have established itself as a unique

Dallas community with a high quality of life and an abundance of assets. With the strong core of activity and services available south of

Singleton blvd., the area will serve as a successful model of redevelopment and establish a foundation in community-led ideals. But developments should not stop here. To ensure that the needs of the community continue to be met, further efforts will be needed to secure affordable housing bases in and around this district. In order for this to happen there should also be a continued adherence to community inputs in cooperation with private development projects. By allowing such collaboration this area of revitalization will serve as a benchmark for future sustainable urban frameworks that will be able to thrive for decades to come.

Sources

1. ”Putting It All Together-The Business Community’s Support For

The CityDesign Studio’s URBAN STRUCTURE PLAN”

2. ”West Dallas Urban Structure and Guidelines” Guidebook

3. ”West Dallas Urban Structure and Guidelines” Memorandum