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Movement stalled Evidence of change The Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force made its proposals. We are pleased with the victories we’ve helped accomplish in Now City Hall needs to get moving. Editorial, 2P Points southern Dallas over the last year. Editorial, 2P

Sunday, September 20, 2009

A look at the landscape two years into our project, BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP

MICHAEL HOGUE/Staff illustration Mechanics of

INSIDE

RESULTS A summary of our key findings out of research CHANGE commissioned by The Dallas Morning News. 2P Tackling decades of imbalances in southern Progress along Lancaster Road reveals PROGRESS Dallas may be harder during a recession — a hint of what’s possible in southern A recap of “10 Drops in a Bucket,” detailing items Tod Robberson Dallas, says Colleen McCain Nelson we’ve checked off our southern Dallas to-do list. 3P but it’s not impossible, says allas Mayor Tom Leppert was pushing a grocery UDPATE onditions have changed considerably since The Dallas How our five base neighborhoods are faring one Morning News introduced its campaign in late 2007 to cart. Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway was year later — plus detailed demographic profiles. 4P C bridge the gap between northern and southern Dallas. The D searching for oatmeal. economy took a nose dive. The Trinity River project stalled over Somewhere along the way, the city leaders picked up a COMMUTES engineering questions. Mayor Tom Leppert worked to win approval pig-tailed 4-year-old — as well as a cart full of food. And as Maps chart the average commutes in our five bases for a convention center hotel. the shopping race wrapped up, everyone was all smiles. — and how far residents are traveling. 6P Despite the focus often being elsewhere, signs of progress are Discount grocery stores don’t usually attract bold-faced evident that could be leveraged into much larger victories in south- names or prompt such rollicking affairs. But the arrival of a EDUCATION ern Dallas. But that will require a renewed sense of mission by the new Save-A-Lot on Lancaster Road in east Oak Cliff was A look at education levels in our five bases — and a city’s political and business leadership and vastly improved part- rightly celebrated this summer. report card on southern Dallas high schools. 7P nerships among those with influence in southern Dallas communi- The opening of a bright, shiny, new store in a long- ties. neglected neighborhood signified what’s going right in MAPS Late last year, The News commissioned a detailed study of south- southern Dallas. And it’s the most visible victory in a multi- The vast amount of property that is derelict or faceted effort to battle blight and spur economic devel- underdeveloped presents special challenges. 8P ern Dallas by the Institute for Urban Policy Research at the Uni- versity of Texas at Dallas. We hope this information, to which to- opment along the Lancaster Corridor. day’s Points section is devoted, will help City Council members, Replacing an abandoned, asbestos-filled theater with a CREATE customized maps of our five DISD trustees, business and religious leaders, interested citizens — much-needed grocery store was an indisputable upgrade. focus neighborhoods with data you most and our own newspaper — find concrete strategies to bridge the But the bricks and mortar — not to mention the milk and care about. north-south gap. eggs — didn’t tell the whole story. EXPLORE a sortable database of the For the 51 percent of Dallas residents who live north of Interstate Before Save-A-Lot’s doors swung open, city leaders statistics and demographic profiles behind this 30 and the Trinity River, the substandard conditions that most of made a commitment to bolster the neighborhood by tack- project. the southern half has endured for decades may not be top of mind. ling impediments to development. Attempting to lure TAKE a “helicopter tour” of the neighborhoods and But it’s in everyone’s interest to see southern Dallas move closer to developers to Lancaster Road would be a losing effort as see the developmental challenges each faces. the north’s level of prosperity. long as crime persisted, code violations lingered and unde- Companies that come looking for a new home in Dallas don’t sirable businesses dominated the landscape. dallasnews.com/opinion/northsouth just look at the economically healthy and vibrant north. The dis- During the last two years, this newspaper has advocated JOIN the discussion at our Gap Blog. parities are a business turn-off. When southern residents’ incomes for changes to the policies and practices that for decades gapblog.dallasnews.com See ROBBERSON Page 6P See NELSON Page 3P

P1 _ 09-20-2009 Set: 18:58:21 B0920SP001PCB0920SP001PMB0920SP001PYB0920SP001PKB0920SP001PQ Sent by: jrush Opinion CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK 2P _ dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News Established October 1, 1885

Publishers James M. Moroney III Publisher and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer George Bannerman Dealey 1885-1940 John C. McKeon President and General Manager E.M. (Ted) Dealey 1940-1960 Robert W. Mong Jr. Joe M. Dealey 1960-1980 Editor James M. Moroney Jr. 1980-1985 George Rodrigue Vice President, Managing Editor John A. Rector Jr. 1985-1986 Keven Ann Willey Burl Osborne 1986-2001 Vice President, Editorial Page Editor

Sunday, September 20, 2009

EDITORIALS

BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP MIKE SMITH/Las Vegas Sun Task Force Deferred City Hall needs to get moving on group’s proposals LETTERS GOP is open to discussion Keep your size 10s to yourself… hen Dallas leaders committed to re- can’t find a way to include funds in this budget, Re: “Disappointed with Congress,” by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s insult to President vitalizing the southern half of the they must move quickly to begin studying the Otis Carroll, last Sunday Letters. Barack Obama during his address to Con- W city, they went big. task force’s proposals and to lay out plans for As a result of the Democratic leadership’s gress was the moral equivalent to hurling a More than 200 movers, shakers, activists implementation. Otherwise, Dallas leaders’ partisan and outrageous abuse of the legisla- shoe at him. and residents were assembled to serve on the talk of making redevelopment in the south a tive rules and process that has excluded con- Scott Mashburn, Dallas Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force. Tom priority starts to sound like empty rhetoric. sideration of Republican health care ideas, Leppert tapped City Council member Tennell Last week, Bob Stimson, president of the Ralph Hall, other members and I used our Atkins to steer this super-sized group, and Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and vice chair only opportunity to show the president solu- … not that Congress would care both men touted the importance of inclusive- of one of the southern Dallas teams, wrote to tions that he falsely stated we did not have. Congress voted on a resolution of disap- ness and community buy-in. council members, telling them We violated no rules. proval of U.S. Rep Joe Wilson, who hollered Mission accomplished: The Key UTD ﬁndings how disappointed he and other Our action was to inform him that we out to Obama, “You lie!” business and neighborhood task force members were to see have plans and are ready to take him up on Certainly Wilson made an intemperate leaders who signed on have do- Today’s Points section and their hard work and ideas ig- his claim that “his door is always open.” The remark at the wrong time and in the wrong nated thousands of unpaid online component offer details nored during this budget cycle. president came into the House chamber as on southern Dallas showing: place, but the remark itself was not incor- hours and have lent their ex- “The lack of responsiveness an invited guest and made the accusation rect. pertise and ideas. But a year ■ Explosive growth in the from this council to those is- that those of us who have been critical have But now I ask where was Congress’ out- later, some are wondering Hispanic population, as African- sues sends an incredibly sad not engaged in “honest debate” and are using rage when Muntadher al-Zaidi launched his American and Anglo numbers what they have to show for it. message to those that volun- “scare tactics.” He said that many of his hosts shoes at our nation’s president when he trav- fall. In June, the task force’s 13 teered their time and to the ar- made “bogus claims,” engaged in “dema- eled to Iraq last year? Will Congress vote a teams detailed priority projects ■ Huge amounts of vacant and ea that they represent,” he said. goguery,” “distortion,” “acrimony” and are resolution condemning him for incivility? that could be accomplished in underutilized land in most of Atkins continues to counsel “cynical and irresponsible.” He even used the Hardly. our focus neighborhoods. the short term and could make patience, reiterating his com- L-word before anyone else in the House did. Lyle Paul, Dallas a difference in southern Dallas. ■ Links between the high mitment to finding the needed That’s no way to act when you’re invited into The multimedia presentations percentage of noncontiguous funds. But he must bring a someone else’s House. at City Hall were accompanied vacant land and depressed sense of urgency, lest this ambi- Ralph and I have just been trying to let ‘Crackpot’ is a compliment property values. by some fanfare, drawing a tious effort start to unravel. the president know that when he’s ready to Re: “Patriots or Pinheads? Tea party ■ who’s who of Dallas leadership Poverty overlapping with At the top of everyone’s to- discuss instead of fuss, we are ready with al- movement must contain its extremes,” to the big reveal. poor-quality housing and low do list should be the creation of ternative health care reform proposals so we Thursday Editorials. educational attainment. More than three months an economic development cor- can work together on a plan that Americans While I recognize Glenn Beck as an en- ■ later, task force members are A wide income gap with poration. An agency charged need, want and deserve to provide Ameri- tertainer who uses people’s fears, I think he still waiting for a response, an northern Dallas, even in with recruiting businesses, dis- cans both coverage and control. does so because he recognizes the dangers to acknowledgement, any sort of minority-to-minority bursing funds and advocating U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, Tyler comparisons. our country and our form of government. sign that the Dallas City Coun- for southern Dallas could But to call him a “crackpot” makes the edito- cil has interest in implement- jump-start this process. And, The health care racket rial seem left wing and speaks badly for your ing or even exploring their recommendations. as this newspaper argued when it outlined its paper. Sadly, the full-color binders filled with ideas proposal for creating such an agency, an eco- Health insurance companies do not pro- Beck is 2-for-2 at the moment. Van Jones about improving the quality of life south of the nomic development corporation would serve vide health care to you; they just pay the bills. is gone, or at least out of sight, and ACORN Trinity River have not been put to good use. as a fulcrum for other projects. And they do a poor job at that because they has been exposed for what it is, despite At- To be fair, summers pass by in a blur at City As the research in this special editorial sec- rake off every penny they can to pay exorbi- torney General Eric Holder’s refusal to in- Hall. The council takes a monthlong vacation tion confirms, closing the gap between the tant CEO salaries and profits to the share- vestigate. in July. And for the last six weeks, elected offi- city’s northern and southern halves will be ar- holders. My favorite moment was news anchor cials have been knee-deep in a budget crisis. duous and expensive. A long-term commit- Insurance companies are supposed to ad- Charlie Gibson admitting that he had heard But as council members have debated next ment, innovative ideas and leadership, plenty minister a pool to spread risk. Everyone pays nothing about ACORN. year’s finances, cutting deals and seeking com- of money and a comprehensive approach that in enough to cover the likely costs of the Perhaps we need a few “crackpots” like promises to ensure that essential programs are does more than nibble around the edges will be group, and their medical costs are paid from Beck around. funded, the southern Dallas proposals have required. the fund. For-profit health care insurance What do you think? gone missing. Despite the deficit, council Leppert and Atkins have assembled an ar- companies could more accurately be called Pat Winnubst, McKinney members should consider how they could pay my of committed volunteers who appear up to “illness profiteers.” for the recommended small-scale projects. the challenge. Ultimately, though, the onus We pay taxes to support fire departments An arts center by any name? Adding even a single line item would signal rests on the council, which must execute — and because we can’t afford to each buy our own that long-neglected neighborhoods won’t be find a way to pay for this. fire-fighting equipment and recognize the Re: “New arts center to bear AT&T name forced to wait until city coffers are flush to see In those binders with brightly colored tabs, public benefit protecting everyone’s proper- — Donation amount not disclosed; Wi-Fi overdue investment. Or, if council members elected officials will find a good place to start. ty. Imagine if we privatized the fire depart- promised for complex,” Tuesday news story. ments and received assistance only if we had More than 100 families have given in ex- paid our fees. cess of $1 million each to see this epic effort I support an efficient, government ad- move to completion. This is an insult to the ministered single-payer system. If Medicare generosity of the many people who have The Year’s Victories were extended to all citizens, we would enjoy made this happen. lower overall costs, the providers would I cannot believe that the Winspears or spend less time fighting claims processors, Wylys are happy about this. Nor would I be if We’re happy to have played a role in these successes and our manufacturers would be more com- I had committed millions to this project. petitive with foreign companies. This is rightly the Dallas Center for the Per- ■ Jim Swift, Arlington forming Arts, underwritten by citizens of ince this newspaper launched its “Bridg- Our editorials citing the dangers at Dallas that care. ing Dallas’ North-South Gap” project, “Dead Man’s Curve” in South Dallas prompted War effort doesn’t exist I can see the new Cowboys Stadium being S the editorial board has been determined the Texas Department of Transportation to in- the AT&T Stadium, but I cannot see Lincoln to stay focused on concrete examples of stall new signs and other warning features to Re: “No more pulled punches,” by Thom- Center in New York being The Bank of change for the better in southern Dallas. We make drivers slow down on this treacherous, as Webb, Tuesdsay Letters. America Performing Arts Center. particularly want to see results in our five geo- accident-prone stretch of highway. Comparing the bombing of Dresden and Robert Henderson, Dallas graphic bases, anticipating that progress there ■ We helped spark discussion about creat- Tokyo during World War II to inflicting civil- will eventually ripple throughout the southern ing a development corporation, and the eco- ian casualties in the Afghan war is off base. Put an end to job exporting half of the city. nomic development team within the Mayor’s The residents of both cities at that time The update regarding our “10 Drops in a Southern Dallas Task Force has made this a contributed to the war effort of those na- President Barack Obama said in his re- Bucket,” published on Page 3P, tallies some of top priority. tions. They worked in the factories or on the cent address to Congress that thousands the successes. But that’s only part of the story. ■ We urged the city to crack down on drug farms to keep Imperial Japan and Nazi Ger- more Americans will lose their health insur- While our advocacy wasn’t entirely respon- dealing at South Dallas car washes. Police many fighting. ance over the next several years. I whole- sible for the victories listed below, we’re made seven arrests last week. A better comparison would be the thou- heartedly believe him. pleased to have played a part: ■ We proposed a marketing campaign for sands of French citizens who were wounded While we are having the health care de- ■ We focused intently on six reforms dur- Jefferson Boulevard. As part of that effort, new and died during and after the Normandy in- bate, why don’t we also have the discussion ing this year’s legislative session to improve life City Council member Delia Jasso has created a vasion of June 1944. of bringing our jobs back to the U.S.? south of the Trinity River. We helped three of task force to re-imagine the boulevard’s retail The British government had forbidden Corporations are not quite so evil when them get passed: Austin empowered cities to potential. air attacks on occupied countries if there was they are employing people, helping to insure a risk of high civilian casualties. folks and put food on their tables and pay tax better regulate group homes for disabled Tex- ■ After learning about a group’s efforts to ans (a particular problem in southern Dallas), Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had to lobby revenues. place a homeless halfway house in South Dal- and plead for weeks before the Normandy What incentives will there be for corpora- simplified the moving of properties from the las, we raised concerns that this community city’s land bank into development and helped invasion to get permission to bomb the tions to bring back U.S. jobs? How will our already has its share of homeless people. The French countryside behind the beaches and administration navigate this with corpora- finance affordable housing units. group canceled its plans. ■ further inland. tions working in countries that not only Our editorial exposing lax management ■ We urged West Dallas organizations to of the new Frazier affordable housing complex I do not think we have that type of com- compete for our jobs but now hold a good generate stronger community support for ini- mitment from the Afghan people or their portion of our debt? led to a state inspection and changes in the tiatives benefiting the neglected area. The management company’s accounting proce- corrupt, inept government. Julie Forrer, Plano West Dallas Chamber of Commerce since has Leo Maxwell, Lancaster dures. Section 8 residents can now see why grown more active, nonprofits are getting they’re being billed for previously unspecified more residents involved in shaping West Dal- expenses. las’ future, and several city departments are LETTERS & VIEWPOINTS POLICY ■ We highlighted why City Hall should working more closely with residents. We value reader submissions. We receive far more than we E-MAIL MAIL help resuscitate Southwest Center Mall. The can print and publish a representative sample. Limit letters to letterstoeditor@ Letters From Readers Next year, we hope to report even more 200 words, with not more than one published every 30 days. dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News City Council hired the Urban Land Institute to Viewpoints columns should not exceed 600 words and also Box 655237 progress. For now, we’re glad to celebrate these viewpoints@ recommend options for a makeover of this dy- are edited for length and clarity. Include your name, address Dallas, Texas 75265 victories. Cities are renewed one step at a time. with ZIP code and daytime phone number. Submissions dallasnews.com ing shopping center. become property of The News.

P2 _ 09-20-2009 Set: 18:58:06 B0920SP002PBB0920SP002PQ Sent by: jrush Opinion BLACK The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP _ Sunday, September 20, 2009 3P Crossing items off our southern Dallas to-do list

These relatively small upgrades Checkmarks we’ve made add up, drop by drop, says ❧ Near the intersection of Imperial and Colleen McCain Nelson Montie streets, a homeowner who had created a shantytown of sorts in his back he Dallas Inn was a disaster. yard tore down the shacks. Even from the parking lot at ❧ The crime-ridden Southern Comfort this mess of a motel, I could see Motel on Lancaster Road was T demolished. evidence of drugs and rats. Both alarmed me. Broken windows had been “repaired” ❧ Code officials cleaned up South Lamar by taping newspapers over them, and the Street, which had become a hangout for security system consisted of two-by-fours illegal vendors, card players and folks who spent their days drinking beer. wedged across glass patio doors. This bombed-out building sat at the ❧ A lot near Interstate 35E and Ledbetter edge of the Dallas Zoo, no doubt making Drive was overrun with rubbish and pit bulls before the city forced the owner to a memorable first impression as tourists clean it up. approached. The pile of police reports ❧ Staff photos detailing burglaries, prostitution, as- A graffiti-covered, vacant vacuum repair shop on South Hampton Road was This new grocery store is a shining example of how a city commitment can pave the way for sorted criminal mischief and even kill- demolished. progress. It wouldn’t have been possible without increased code enforcement and policing. ings suggested that there was seldom a ❧ quiet moment at the Dallas Inn. Two burned-out houses on Park Row Avenue were demolished. made public safety the first priori- lease. Nearly two years ago, we began spot- ty. The mayor’s strategy for the The new Save-A-Lot and the lighting some of the most egregious ❧ The scorched remains of a house on Nelson neighborhood could be boiled rehabbed shopping center have eyesores in the neglected neighborhoods Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard were cleared away. down to three points: Make it been celebrated by Caraway and of southern Dallas. From the start, the ❧ Continued from Page 1P safer. Make it cleaner. Make it other leaders. And they should be. Dallas Inn was at the top of our to-fix list. An abandoned and crumbling auto more attractive for investment. A few detractors have turned As I worked on the monthly updates repair shop on Pennsylvania Avenue was torn down. short-changed the southern half A relatively small but hugely up their noses at the no-frills store, to the “10 Drops in the Bucket” series, I of Dallas. Central to our argument important victory was the demoli- which offers a limited selection of made regular visits to 508 S. Marsalis ❧ Mountains of rubble left behind after an has been the belief that a tion of two no-tell motels on Lan- groceries and some brands you’ve Ave. My presence usually spurred suspi- apartment complex on Grand Avenue burned down were cleared away. comprehensive approach is caster that had been havens for never heard of. Shoppers can find cious stares from residents, and the front needed. Tackling problems in crime. As Caraway, the mayor pro Cheerios and Coca-Cola, as well as desk sat empty when I approached. I’d ❧ A useless patch of cracked asphalt on isolation — simply issuing more tem, noted, once the infamous Kraft Easy Mac. But they’ll have to spend time surveying the scene, looking the Rosemont Elementary School campus was hauled off and replaced by code citations or opening one new Southern Comfort Motel came settle for Panner peanut butter for any sign of improvements. grassy play space. business — will not yield crashing down, other opportuni- instead of Skippy and Cre`me City officials had the Dallas Inn in ❧ long-term results. ties for improvement emerged. Betweens instead of Oreos. their sights as well. They ordered the A fire-ravaged apartment complex on Navajo Drive was demolished. Rather, the city must pick its During this fiscal year, six Caraway acknowledges that owner to make repairs and comply with spots. Do more of everything in a properties in the neighborhood Save-A-Lot isn’t the spot to pick up city codes. Eventually, a new, brightly ❧ The rodent-infested, code-challenged targeted neighborhood — have been demolished. Seventy- porterhouses and prawns. But in colored sign went up. The rats and the Dallas Inn was razed. implement a surge of sorts. And seven others are being considered an area long underserved by gro- rest of problems stayed. ❧ On Comal Street, a decaying house that success should emanate outward. for the same fate. cery stores, having easy access to Later, the city sued. And after a deal had been stripped to the studs was The Lancaster Corridor is a Stepped-up code enforcement basic staples in a clean, well-kept was struck with the Texas Department of demolished. work in progress. For residents of and policing efforts, as well as the store is a win. And for residents Transportation to acquire the property, northern Dallas who consider installation of a community prose- who had hoped for a higher-end the Dallas Inn finally was marked for downtown to be the southern cutor, have netted a 26 percent option, Caraway certainly wouldn’t demolition. action — whether that’s issuing citations, limit of their comfort zone, reduction in crime over one year in turn another grocer down. But months passed with no sign of sending out mow/clean crews or going to improvements might not jump the Lancaster-Kiest area. “There’s plenty of room for Tom bulldozers. court. out at them on this road with a Robert Abtahi, a corporate- Thumb here. I’ve got suggested I drove by whenever I was in the This month, Mayor Tom Leppert took DART train running down the lawyer-turned-community- locations if they want to come to neighborhood — on the off chance that it upon himself to provide updates on middle. prosecutor, was sent to the Lan- District 4,” the mayor pro tem today would be the end for the no-tell several of the long-suffering spots. He But after implementing a caster Corridor with a single says. “But I’m not going to close motel. Death watch for the Dallas Inn told me: We’re going to knock these 10 broad-based strategy, city officials directive: Make this area better. the door on Save-A-Lot.” continued. drops off the list so that you can move on are starting to glimpse Lancaster’s He has. His work building At last, on a steamy July day, this to 10 more. potential. Crime is down. relationships with property own- Policy, as well as projects notorious motel came crashing down. I will gladly take Leppert up on that Demolitions are up. Private ers has created a shared sense of The lot was scraped clean, leaving only a offer. money is beginning to build on responsibility for maintaining and With a clean-up of the Lancas- concrete slab behind. He had good news to report about a public investment. upgrading the neighborhood. ter Corridor in progress and a few In most neighborhoods, a vacant lot long-vacant gas station on Clark Road in To make over this area, or any Abtahi and other city officials new businesses putting down doesn’t seem like a victory. A patch of far southwest Dallas. A reader had alert- other in southern Dallas, the city have played both offense and roots, the city has spurred both barren earth isn’t exactly an ideal neigh- ed me to the boarded-up property. Lep- must notch wins both big and defense on Lancaster, aggressively incremental improvements and bor. pert happily announced that it has been small and write public policy that tackling nuisance properties and sizable steps forward. But to sus- But in some of southern Dallas’ strug- sold and soon will be back in business. advances established objectives. guarding against changes that run tain that momentum, city leaders gling areas, bulldozers bring hope. De- Leppert had a pledge for the pastor Along the Lancaster Corridor, all counter to the city’s goals. For must support policies that will molishing crumbling houses and build- who plans to move his congregation into of that is happening. example, when a barbecue joint revitalize the neighborhood in the ings that double as crime havens and a church on Navaro Street in West Dallas. And if city leaders continue to sought a night club permit and long-term. tearing down abandoned, fire-ravaged The concerned resident had had no luck build on recent progress, this clearance to stay open until 4 a.m., The City Council got creative structures give neighborhoods a chance getting the burned-out house next door effort could serve as a road map Caraway personally protested the this year when it approved a plan for a fresh start. cleaned up. The rotting structure was for revitalizing other areas that application. The city eventually to funnel tax revenues from devel- The demise of the Dallas Inn was attracting drug users and repelling have been left to languish. won a crucial court victory and opment north of downtown south celebrated by zoo officials and nearby church leaders. closed the door on a club cropping to the Lancaster-Kiest area. The neighborhood groups. “We’re going to get that demolished,” Small fixes first up near homes and schools. awkwardly named transit-ori- Every month, I give readers — and Leppert said. “We’re aggressively going ented development/tax-incre- city leaders — the latest information after it.” Reviving an area like the Lan- Building on progress ment finance district could be the about 10 problem properties. Big ideas Toits credit, the city is taking a proac- caster Corridor isn’t as simple as multimillion-dollar boost the are needed to bolster the southern half of tive approach to code enforcement. No throwing incentives at developers These hard-fought wins aren’t neighborhood needs, as the reve- the city, but these small fixes also help longer content to simply issue citations and waiting for them to build. Too obvious as you drive down Lancas- nue can be used to improve infra- improve the area, block by block. Ideally, without seeing results, code officials and often, city leaders and neigh- ter, where razor wire still tops the structure and subsidize devel- the structures on our list would be re- city attorneys have gotten creative — and borhood groups skip to the end- fence of a used-car lot, payday opment. paired, rehabbed or reinvented as usable aggressive. game, focusing on the retail and loans remain plentiful and retail The action was commendable, homes or businesses. But often, they’re That’s good news because for every residential development they’d options include the Motown both for providing much-needed burned or decayed beyond repair. drop on our list, several more are lined like to see spring from the earth. Mini-Mall. But even modest funds and for recognizing that Most of the drops are added at the up, waiting to be highlighted. This Wouldn’t it be nice if we had improvements gave the city need- Dallas’ economic future depends behest of neighbors who have given up month, we checked off a ramshackle grocery stores and banks instead ed leverage as it negotiated with on the strength of the city’s south- trying to get City Hall’s attention. Many house on Comal Street after it was demol- of pawn shops and payday loan Save-A-Lot to build a new store. ern half. In the past, the idea of have tried — and failed — to track down ished. But I had to look only a few yards operations? they say. Why can’t we The “extreme value” grocer spending northern tax dollars on absentee owners. away to find its replacement — an equally attract a Target instead of another already had a smaller, aging out- southern redevelopment would So far, we’ve checked 13 drops off our dilapidated home that’s coming apart at dollar store? post nearby, but after company have been a nonstarter. list. Decrepit structures have been de- the seams. But a wish list isn’t a devel- officials worked with Caraway, This council has shown the molished, vacant buildings have been In this neighborhood just south of opment strategy. And along Lan- who represents this area, plans collective will to over-invest in sold, and a school playground has been downtown and the Trinity River, horses caster, any plan needed to start were finalized to build a bigger, areas such as the Lancaster Corri- upgraded. sometimes roam the streets, and nearly with the basics. brand-new store. dor in an effort to resuscitate But the most notable sign of progress half the houses are boarded up. We’ll For too long, the city failed to Rick Meyer, the company’s vice neighborhoods that had been has been the ongoing commitment from tackle them one at a time. rein in crime and code violations president for market develop- relegated to second-tier status. city officials to keep checking drops off The “10 Drops” campaign isn’t going in this part of town. One need only ment, says Caraway’s commit- The questions now will be how our list. Joey Zapata, interim director of away — I have buckets of work left to do. look at the Wendy’s restaurant ment to the project was key. Also to continue progress along Lan- code compliance, provides detailed with no chairs — a not-so-subtle important was the city’s effort to caster and how to replicate success status reports each month for the proper- Colleen McCain Nelson is a Dallas Morning message that patrons can’t be jump-start an extreme makeover in other neighborhoods. After ties we’re targeting. Seldom is a trouble News editorial writer. Her e-mail address is trusted to sit down — to under- for the shopping center attached decades of turning our back on spot allowed to languish with no sign of [email protected]. stand the dim view many devel- to the new grocery store. The this part of town, revitalization opers took of this area. past-its-prime strip mall now has will be slow and expensive work. That’s why Leppert wisely a modern façade and is ready to With a do-it-all approach in the Lancaster Corridor, city leaders have sketched an outline for creating a vibrant neighborhood. Com- mitment will be key to sustaining and expanding this effort. Closing the gap between northern and southern Dallas remains a distant goal. But a close look at the new-and-somewhat-improved Lancaster Road reveals a hint of what’s possible.

Dallas Morning News editorial FILE 2007/Staff photo writer Colleen The Dallas Inn, above, was home to McCain Nelson burglaries, prostitution, criminal wrote this on mischief, even killings. Its demolition The Lancaster Corridor is still a work in progress — but that work behalf of the in July brought hope to the editorial board. Her e-mail address is happening. If the city can do more of everything in one neighborhood — and some visual is [email protected]. targeted neighborhood, success should emanate outward. relief to Dallas Zoo visitors. Staff photo

P3 _ 09-20-2009 Set: 18:57:42 B0920SP003PCB0920SP003PMB0920SP003PYB0920SP003PKB0920SP003PQ Sent by: jrush Opinion CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK 4P Sunday, September 20, 2009 _ dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com _ Sunday, September 20, 2009 5P Five focus neighborhoods, one year later

GRAND SOUTH DALLAS PLEASANT GROVE CROSSROADS RED BIRD RENEWED THE HEART OF OAK CLIFF WEST DALLAS GATEWAY Close to downtown and DART, this With Green Line stops a year away, Plans for mall and airport exist — Progress on education encouraging, Residents starting to chip away at prime real estate is underutilized the time for preparation is now what’s lacking is the political will but retail options are still inadequate crime, education, housing gridlock

rand South Dallas has a distinctly unsettling feel to it. Too much land eep Ellum and Fair Park may be getting all the DART love right now, ed Bird is a neighborhood interrupted. hen you hear people talk about the future of Texas, you don’t have to rime is down in the West Dallas Gateway, in part because of increased is either vacant or marred by dilapidated, boarded-up buildings. For but the growing Green Line soon will run through the heart of the With a mall, an airport, a hospital and relatively new homes, this conjure up images of what our state will look like and the challenges police patrols and heroic efforts by a nonprofit organization to buy out G visitors, such as the hundreds of thousands who descend on the State D Pleasant Grove Crossroads. R should be one of southern Dallas’ destination neighborhoods. But an W it will face. You can see it today in The Heart of Oak Cliff, a stretch of C a recalcitrant landlord whose more than 40 substandard residential Fair of Texas around this time each year, the image of urban blight has a For an area whose residents often describe themselves as invisible and area that once was on the way up now has stalled out. the city from Jefferson Boulevard south to Illinois Avenue and from Marsalis properties had blighted the community for decades. frightening effect and discourages the kinds of commercial and residential isolated, the December 2010 opening of the Lake June and Buckner rail Housing developments were platted but never built. Hundreds of acres Avenue west to Edgefield Avenue. How bad were these trouble spots? Acquiring and bulldozing just one, a investment this newspaper seeks. stations will deliver citywide access and convenience. And more important, surrounding Dallas Executive Airport sit undeveloped. “For sale” signs dot In those blocks, you get a snapshot of a state that is becoming more Latino notorious haven for illicit activity, meant dozens fewer police calls. Now doz- Anyone who drives around this area — bounded by Fair Park, Barry Ave- with the jobs-to-employees balance so out of whack, residents will be able to grassy fields that were supposed to become commercial centers. And South- and less Anglo, is filled with young, working families who can’t yet make the ens of new homes are poised to rise from the leveled ground. We’d like to see nue, Fitzhugh Avenue, U.S. Highway 175 and Interstates 45 and 30 — can’t leverage the DART line into the kind of green that counts most, the cash kind. west Center Mall, once southern Dallas’ retail gem, is dying an agonizing, middle class, and is trying to turn students from immigrant families into that happen sooner rather than later because vacant land represents 28 per- help but feel that there’s an opportunity going to waste — especially consider- The new line will help residents easily get to parts of town with big-time years-long death. passionate learners with a vision for their lives. cent of this neighborhood’s real estate. ing the downtown skyline looming nearby and the two DART rail stations employers: Baylor University Medical Center, downtown Dallas, Market For too long, this city has talked about Red Bird’s untapped potential. We explained last year that we selected this slice of the city because of its City code enforcers also have gotten results, not by being tougher but by that have just opened. Center, Parkland hospital, UT Southwestern and points beyond. Studies detail what the mall could become and how the airport could be an mirror-image qualities. A year later, we have more data to support that choice. working smarter. Instead of peppering properties with tickets, they’re walking North of downtown, property like this sells at a premium and attracts We’re not talking just any jobs, but better-paying ones, for residents of an economic engine. But execution — and political will — have been lacking. Consider these statistics on the neighborhood from the Institute for Urban the streets and knocking on doors to track down owners. Neighbors used to major investors. South of downtown, it sells for a pittance. area the Institute for Urban Policy Research describes as largely moderate- Without a concerted effort to bolster Red Bird’s underutilized assets, the Policy Research: look the other way. Now many have become the inspectors’ eyes and ears. We One of the measures of progress we set last year for the Grand South Dallas and low-income Hispanic households that put a premium on hard work and area will deteriorate significantly. ❧ The Hispanic population has grown 79 percent since 1990. set this type of action last year as a measure of progress for West Dallas, and neighborhood base was to see a demonstrable reduction in the amount of stable families. Right now, this is still a spot where families with decent incomes want to ❧ The median age is lower than the city’s as a whole, and residents have it’s definitely a step forward. land left vacant or devoted to parking. We also wanted to see better use of the Overall, the research paints this picture of the Pleasant Grove Crossroads, live. A study by the Institute for Urban Policy Research found that the area about $45,000 less in adjusted gross income. Longtime residents like Arrvel Wilson are glad to see these breakthroughs fairgrounds for the 11 months when the State Fair isn’t in progress. On the which is bounded by Lake June Road, St. Augustine Road, Elam Road and bounded by Ledbetter Drive, Westmoreland Road, Wheatland Road and ❧ Fifty-one percent of the residents over 25 lack a high school diploma. begin to transform the way others think about their community. Except for a latter front, we’re pleased to report progress with the planned development of U.S. Highway 175 and is among the most densely populated parts of Dallas: Hampton Road attracts working couples with kids. These realities almost precisely reflect the projections of Texas demogra- stint in the military, the pastor of West Dallas Community Church has lived in the midway as a year-round attraction beginning in 2012. But the underutili- ❧ The Hispanic population tripled in the past 18 years, while the white In this predominantly African-American neighborhood, 83 percent of pher Steve Murdock. In looking at the next 40 years, his studies show Texas’ West Dallas since 1949 and has seen many other promising starts fade quick- zation of land remains an unaddressed problem. population declined 76 percent. The estimated 2008 breakdown: 76 percent residents have at least a high school diploma. Per capita income lags behind Latino population growing fast, Texas household incomes going down and ly. But for the first time in a long time, Wilson and many others in the neigh- Last fall, this newspaper teamed up with the Institute for Urban Policy Hispanic, 12 percent white and 11 percent black. the city as a whole but is still higher than that of the four other neighborhoods the number of Texans without a high school diploma going up. borhood see more than glimmers of hope in new efforts to fight crime, build Research to find ways to measure how land is being used — or underused — ❧ The percentage of households with children living in poverty is roughly we are focusing on in southern Dallas. Now, some will turn away from these realities, as if they describe a foreign homes and educate children. around southern Dallas. The results — a computerized database and “wind- equal to that of the city as a whole (22 percent vs. the city’s 21 percent). Residents here are no doubt attracted to the new and affordable houses; land. They don’t. They describe our city, our state and our future. If we don’t “West Dallas has seen a lot of empty promises,” said Wilson, 63. “But there shield survey” — provide a shocking picture of Grand South Dallas. ❧ Housing has appreciated 46 percent compared with the city’s 44 percent 86 percent of single-family homes are in good, very good or excellent condi- invest in these neighborhoods, we fail to invest in ourselves. is a new day.” Of the residential land being used, roughly 28 percent of homes require from 1990 to 2008. Residences here are in generally good condition, with tion. But homeowners in these tidy brick houses live on small islands of rela- The good news is that there are gains over the last year to build upon. The However, Wilson is also a realist who concedes that the task is far from major structural repairs or, worse, total reconstruction. More than a third of only small clusters in need of serious repair. Sixty-six percent were reported tive prosperity, surrounded by undeveloped property and aging apartment schools in The Heart of Oak Cliff especially have shown impressive strides. complete. Education remains this area’s most vexing problem. According to ❧ all parcels in Grand South Dallas consist of vacant land or empty lots officially average or fair; just over 30 percent were graded good, very good or excellent. complexes. Available lots — residential and commercial — are abundant. This year, both Adamson and Sunset high schools earned the Texas the Institute for Urban Policy Research, about 63 percent of residents over ❧ designated as “parking.” Seventy-one percent of homes are owner-occupied, compared with the In this neighborhood just west of U.S. Highway 67 and straddling In- Education Agency’s second-highest ranking for their performance on the age 25 lack a high school diploma in the West Dallas Gateway, bounded by That’s only half the story. The windshield data allow anyone to drill down city’s 42 percent. Ninety-five percent of the owner-occupied units are valued terstate 20, apartments outnumber single-family homes 5 to 1. Too many of Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. For both schools, the recognition Hampton Road, Canada Drive and Singleton Boulevard. Thirty-four percent and obtain details about properties. With the click of a mouse, users can at less than $100,000, with the average appraisal $62,270. The average the sprawling complexes are starting to decline and are in danger of going represented several years of serious education reforms. don’t have a ninth-grade education, more than twice the citywide rate. ❧ Greiner Middle School again earned a recognized ranking. Only seven of isolate any parcel and obtain its property ID number. Pasting it into the Dallas housing age is 51 years; the average size is 1,084 square feet. downhill fast. Without a jump-start to Red Bird’s economy, crumbling, crime- The area’s elementary and middle schools are a mix of academic successes Dallas’ 33 other middle schools earned that distinction or higher. Central Appraisal District’s online database allows you to identify the proper- The research also points to a comparatively poorly paid community that ridden apartments could dominate the landscape. and setbacks. ❧ Four elementary schools that draw students from these neighborhoods ty owner and tax record. (The windshield software is available free online. undoubtedly would benefit from jobs that offer better wages: The neighborhood’s best hope for regaining momentum rests with the And at the high school level, Pinkston is rated academically unacceptable ❧ Residents make far less than the citywide figures, earning 42 percent of earned the coveted recognized ranking: Winnetka, Rosemont, Botello and Visit dallasnews.com/opinion/northsouth for instructions.) airport and the mall. and faces an uncertain future, even as Principal Norma Villegas works to what the population citywide makes. While the city as a whole increased its Henderson. That’s where the story gets really interesting. For years, city officials have mulled plans to spur development on the change the school’s culture. Such uncertainty detracts from the neighbor- per capita income over the past 18 years by 8 percent, the Pleasant Grove base Even in this economy, there are business developments to cheer. Using the windshield survey and Google Street View maps, an eye-opening 1,000-acre property that is home to Dallas Executive Airport. But little prog- hood’s appeal and helps create an atmosphere of instability. grew only 1 percent. We’re particularly excited that City Council member Delia Jasso has con- virtual tour of Grand South Dallas is a few clicks away. By incorporating the ress is evident. The airport has three times the acreage of Addison Airport, but The good news is that residents are confronting the neighborhood’s educa- ❧ Almost 24 percent of employed residents commute 45 minutes or more vened a Jefferson Boulevard task force of merchants, neighbors and commu- DCAD data, it’s easy to see why blighted properties are so costly to all Dallas Addison has 44 commercial structures on its campus, compared with just 12 tional challenges. For example, while parents here certainly care about their to work each way, compared with 15 percent citywide. DART will help resi- nity leaders to figure out the best ways to grow the boulevard, which has taxpayers. on the Dallas property. children, many don’t know how to help them with homework or what teach- dents make different economic choices — faster travel options to more places become the “Latino downtown of Dallas.” Among the ideas for Jefferson are a For example, we checked a few problematic plots adjacent to the new While the airport has been stuck in neutral, Southwest Center Mall has ers expect of students. So the Dallas Concilio, a nonprofit Hispanic service with reliability not offered by the “beaters” in many driveways. monthly mercado to showcase the boulevard and its vendors. Martin Luther King Jr. DART rail station. We randomly selected a roughly been in free fall. Retailers have high-tailed it to the suburbs, leaving a shell of organization, now conducts classes to help parents fill in these blanks. Like- With DART’s arrival a little over a year away, advocacy groups, business But there remains a mighty gap between this neighborhood and the north. 3,400-square-foot commercial building and land. It is appraised at $82,500 an outdated shopping center behind. Residents are likely to follow unless the wise, El Centro Community College recently opened a campus across from owners and other stakeholders are working on ways to enhance the commu- For all the encouraging school data, students still are far from routinely and receives an annual tax bill of $2,069. But a piece of property half that size property is repurposed. Pinkston with the goal of becoming a resource for students. Southern Meth- nity. A similar challenge for residents is how to position themselves indivi- ready for college. in Oak Lawn, an equal distance from downtown on the northern side of the This year, the City Council hired the Urban Land Institute to offer its best odist University also has committed its vast educational resources to help area dually to improve quality of life. Perhaps that starts with a job-training con- Likewise, there was virtually no diversifying of the retail options along city, has an appraised value of $409,500 and contributes $10,269 a year in ideas for resuscitating the mall. Experts drew the outlines of a plan for a nonprofits promote success here. versation at Eastfield College’s new Pleasant Grove Campus — just blocks Jefferson and in the nearby Wynnewood Village shopping center. Dollar taxes. mixed-use village. They called for a public-private partnership and suggested Better education leads to better jobs, stable neighborhoods and less crime; from the soon-to-be Buckner rail station and already a catalyst for more stores, bridal shops and check-cashing shops prevail, limiting residents’ Large patches of underdeveloped southern Dallas property contribute creating a tax-increment-financing district that would include both the shop- it provides successful youngsters with a reason to return to and invest in the varied businesses to open on this landmark southeastern Dallas boulevard. choices and the area’s economic growth. even less to the tax base, forcing residents and businesses in the north to pay a ping center and the airport. And they told the city to hurry. communities they were raised in. Our research indicates that residents and leaders alike have many good Over the next year, we will keep pushing for a greater economic diversity higher share of taxes to make up the difference. That’s why it’s in everyone’s So far, council members have shown little urgency and even less enthusi- West Dallas Gateway’s long-term success depends on sustaining the reasons to seize this moment; the question is, will they dare to? Those deci- there. We will promote ways to get more students ready for college. And we interest to fix this problem. asm for investing public dollars in this project. But at the least, creating a TIF emerging partnerships and energy. It is breaking the gridlock of neglect and sions will determine whether Pleasant Grove indeed becomes a great place or, will press City Hall to invest in the economic and social capital of the area. But don’t take our word for it. A virtual tour, using the windshield survey, that would reinvest in this neighborhood would give it a fighting chance. abuse but still needs more victories on crime, education and housing to con- as the joke in The Grove goes, remains a great place to be from. The way we look at it, neither Dallas nor Texas can afford anything less. tells a far more thorough story. And, perhaps, the area could indeed become Red Bird Renewed. tinue to move forward. Dallas Morning News deputy editorial page editor Sharon Grigsby wrote this on Dallas Morning News editorial columnist William McKenzie wrote this on behalf Dallas Morning News editorial writer Tod Robberson wrote this on behalf of the Dallas Morning News editorial writer Colleen McCain Nelson wrote this on behalf Dallas Morning News editorial writer Jim Mitchell wrote this on behalf of the behalf of the editorial board. Her e-mail address is [email protected]. of the editorial board. His e-mail address is [email protected]. editorial board. His e-mail address is [email protected]. of the editorial board. Her e-mail address is [email protected]. editorial board. His e-mail address is [email protected].

Citywide Grand South Dallas Pleasant Grove Crossroads Red Bird Renewed The Heart of Oak Cliff West Dallas Gateway

RACE, ETHNICITY RACE, ETHNICITY RACE, ETHNICITY RACE, ETHNICITY RACE, ETHNICITY RACE, ETHNICITY White White HispanicWhite Black HispanicBlack White Hispanic White Black Black Hispanic 2% HispanicBlack White Hispanic Black 1%

45% 27% 24% 45% 41% 12% 76% 12% 11% 86% 11% 80% 11% 8% 73% 25%

Other 4% Other 2% Other 1% Other 1% Other 1% Other 1% Population increased 31 percent of residents Population declined 36 percent of residents Population increased 55 percent of residents Population increased 8 percent of residents Population increased 63 percent of residents Population declined 54 percent of residents 23 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak 10 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak 16 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak 52 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak 14 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak 10 percent from 1990 age 5 and older speak to 2008. Spanish at home. to 2008. Spanish at home. to 2008. Spanish at home. to 2008. Spanish at home. to 2008. Spanish at home. to 2008. Spanish at home. POVERTY, INCOME POVERTY, INCOME POVERTY, INCOME POVERTY, INCOME POVERTY, INCOME POVERTY, INCOME 21% $72,572 $23,912 42% $28,549 $12,529 22% $24,709 $9,929 24% $23,477 $14,335 18% $28,540 $13,010 27% $22,979 $10,357

Households with Average Per capita Households with Average Per capita Households with Average Per capita Households with Average Per capita Households with Average Per capita Households with Average Per capita children living in adjusted gross income in children living in adjusted gross income in children living in adjusted gross income in children living in adjusted gross income in children living in adjusted gross income in children living in adjusted gross income in poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008 poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008 poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008 poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008 poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008 poverty in 2008 income in 2005 2008

EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 6% 7% 15% 16% 22% 19% 8% 11% 24% 12% 11% 23% 6% 10% 18% 7% 20% 18%

Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who Males age 16 and Females age 16 Workers who older who were and older who spent 45 minutes older who were and older who spent 45 minutes older who were and older who spent 45 minutes older who were and older who spent 45 minutes older who were and older who spent 45 minutes older who were and older who spent 45 minutes unemployed were unemployed or more unemployed were unemployed or more unemployed were unemployed or more unemployed were unemployed or more unemployed were unemployed or more unemployed were unemployed or more commuting to commuting to commuting to commuting to commuting to commuting to work each way work each way work each way work each way work each way work each way WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING WHERE EARNINGS ARE GOING

In 2008, Dallas residents spent an average of $17,166 on Residents spent roughly $11,158 each on goods and Residents spent roughly $10,990 each on goods and Residents spent roughly $13,323 each on goods and Residents spent roughly $12,208 each on goods and Residents spent roughly $10,700 each on goods and goods and services, or 72 percent of per capita income. services, or 89 percent of per capita income. services, or 111 percent of per capita income. This services, or 93 percent of per capita income. services, or 94 percent of per capita income. services, or 103 percent of per capita income. This (The survey method we used based goods and services suggests that, on average, they spent more money than suggests that, on average, they spent more money than on items that fall under the headings within the Yellow they made. they made. This base has eight banks. This base has six banks. This base has eight banks. Pages.) There are no banks in this base. There are no banks in this base. Dallas has 394 banks. PROPERTY PROPERTY PROPERTY PROPERTY PROPERTY PROPERTY

Number of Number of Number of Number of Number of parcels 28% $52,348 parcels 9% $62,270 parcels 0.3% $121,780 parcels 17% $90,577 parcels 44% $41,700 $111,600 Average home property value Single-family Average home Single-family Average home Single-family Average home Single-family Average home Single-family Average home 2,897 residences property value 3,870 residences property value 1,488 residences property value 7,791 residences property value 3,275 residences property value 1,666 requiring teardown 3,423 requiring teardown 1,159 requiring teardown 6,932 requiring teardown 2,908 requiring teardown or major repairs or major repairs or major repairs or major repairs or major repairs Residential Residential Residential Residential Residential CRIME 2007-08 CRIME 2007-08 CRIME 2007-08 CRIME 2007-08 CRIME 2007-08 CRIME 2007-08

10% 8% 11% 19% 26% 17% 12% 29% 9% 3% 15% 5% 14% 12% 14% 7% 21% 13%

Overall crime Violent crime Property crime Overall crime Violent crime Property crime Overall crime Violent crime Property crime Overall crime Violent crime Property crime Overall crime Violent crime Property crime Overall crime Violent crime Property crime

SOURCES: Institute for Urban Policy Research; Claritas; U.S. Census Bureau; Internal Revenue Service TROY OXFORD/Staff Artist

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Citywide Grand South Dallas Pleasant Grove Crossroads Red Bird Renewed The Heart of Oak Cliff West Dallas Gateway

45% 27% 24% 45% 41% 12% 76% 12% 11% 86% 11% 80% 11% 8% 73% 25%

EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 EMPLOYMENT 2008 6% 7% 15% 16% 22% 19% 8% 11% 24% 12% 11% 23% 6% 10% 18% 7% 20% 18%

10% 8% 11% 19% 26% 17% 12% 29% 9% 3% 15% 5% 14% 12% 14% 7% 21% 13%

SOURCES: Institute for Urban Policy Research; Claritas; U.S. Census Bureau; Internal Revenue Service TROY OXFORD/Staff Artist

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varying approaches about the best Behind the research despite the school district’s best on average, must commute greater way to fix the problems in southern efforts to retain students. If the mes- distances than those in northern Robberson Dallas. Some favor a comprehensive The Institute for Urban Policy sage students are getting from their Dallas to jobs that pay far less. City- approach that would address mul- Research at the University of Texas at parents doesn’t match the message wide, about one out of seven workers Continued from Page 1P tiple fronts simultaneously: roads, Dallas provided the research and they’re getting from teachers — that spends 45 minutes or more commut- schools, jobs, investment, code en- legwork for this “Bridging Dallas’ education should be the first priority ing to work. But about one out of four North-South Gap” project. In addition and property values remain forcement and crime, to name a few. — then little is likely to change. Red Bird Renewed and Pleasant to culling and crunching many data depressed, a higher tax burden shifts Their energy and drive is commend- sources regarding the property and If this theory is correct, it should Grove Crossroads workers faces a to those in the north. able, but they cannot succeed without residents of our five base apply to other areas with similar daily, one-way commute of 45 to 90 Some might argue that bad eco- broader support. These problems neighborhoods — and the city as a demographics. minutes. nomic conditions and budget short- developed over decades, and fixing whole — the institute also conducted The Pleasant Grove and West Think about it: Ninety minutes falls make it impossible to address them will require years of unwavering a detailed, visual “windshield survey” Dallas bases have similar rates of one-way means a round-trip com- these problems right now. Yes, offi- effort. of the neighborhoods. low-earning Hispanics. In West mute of three hours a day. Anyone cials have an obligation to balance the Other politicians have remained Surveyors from the institute’s Dallas, where per capita income was spending that much time going to budget. That doesn’t, however, let largely silent, as if these problems Community Research Team went $10,357 in 2008, 43 percent of and from work is bound to have far them off the hook for finding fiscally somehow are best left to fix them- street by street in each neighborhood households own two to five vehicles. less time to devote to proper par- responsible ways to remedy genera- selves. Rest assured, they will not. Nor from December 2008 to January Materially, West Dallas residents enting or cooking healthy food. As a tions-old developmental imbalances. will elected officials find solutions by 2009. The team, whose members live seem to be coping well, but they face result, federal statistics show, health Finding solutions will be harder leading solely from the City Council and work in southern Dallas, had severe educational deficits. The area’s problems such as obesity are much when there’s less money, but that’s chamber or school board auditorium. specific tools and instructions to high school — Pinkston — joins higher among populations with low not an excuse to keep putting off Just as it requires extensive behind- collect information on land use (parks, Samuell and Spruce among DISD’s incomes. Obesity, in particular, drops southern Dallas’ problems until better the-scenes efforts by top leaders to commercial uses, parking, vacant lot, lowest achievers. when leisure time increases and etc.) and physical condition of every times roll around. It just means being bulldoze a hot-sheet motel or open a If high schools aren’t performing healthy food choices are more avail- street. more innovative and persistent in new supermarket, leadership also in these areas, it means a new genera- able. A healthier southern Dallas is inching toward the goal of making means inspiring people to start help- They also graded housing conditions tion of low-skilled young adults is definitely in the financial interests of our city whole. ing themselves. according to a specific list of criteria preparing to enter the job market, northern Dallas taxpayers. The Institute for Urban Policy For example, our statistics show and made numerous quality-of-life helping perpetuate the cycle that Not only do southern Dallas resi- Research culled scores of federal, that large percentages of parents and observations about, for instance, holds most of southern Dallas down. dents have to travel longer distances street lights, sidewalks and gutters. state and local databases for statistics children still don’t understand how In all three of those struggling to work, they also earn less than quantifying the extent of the north- their behavior affects progress toward This information was fed into a schools, DISD pumped massive average. Much less. The average south disparity. Additionally, it sent a solution. Far too many southern mapping program that allows users to amounts of time and energy this year adjusted gross income of a Red Bird researchers into five specific neigh- Dallas generations have grown up compare characteristics by into programs to raise students’ base wage-earner, for example, is only borhoods to assess such criteria as receiving the wrong message. neighborhood. scores on the Texas Assessment of one-third of the citywide average. housing conditions, street mainte- In the West Dallas Gateway base, The team also created a second Knowledge and Skills and to get Meanwhile, Dallas-area employers nance, the presence of street lamps for example, 11 percent of births in database making use of existing parents more involved in helping are spending more to locate their and obvious code violations. The 2008 were to teen mothers, and 68 demographic surveys and public their children improve academically. businesses in the north, despite the teams even noted where paint was percent were to unmarried mothers. statistical records, using the most Did it bust the budget? Not at all, availability of cheap, expanses of land peeling and stray dogs were present. Fifty-five percent of births were to up-to-date numbers available from because the effort relied heavily on in the south. If, at the same time, The five neighborhoods — in parts mothers who dropped out of high the various institutions. The database volunteerism and self-help. southern Dallas workers are spending provides a snapshot and speaks only of West Dallas, Oak Cliff, Red Bird, school. This is where the cycle begins. to the specific neighborhoods we Can DISD do better? It must, more money and commuting time to Pleasant Grove and South Dallas-Fair Children in many such homes are selected. And in some cases, the data because eight of the city’s 12 most- reach low-paying jobs in the expen- Park — were chosen based on their being raised by mothers who are kids can only approximate conditions in troubled high schools are in southern sive north, wouldn’t everyone benefit potential for progress that could themselves, with minimal parenting our bases because government Dallas, and our statistics show that if more of those employers were in radiate outward. The database and skills and limited income-generating surveying boundaries, such as ZIP they have been consistently short- southern Dallas? some of the interactive “windshield potential. Statistics indicate that codes, don’t always match up with the changed in terms of average class Of course, many businesses refuse maps” are available online at children who grow up in that atmo- boundaries we’ve selected. sizes and teacher-experience levels. to consider southern Dallas because dallasnews.com/opinion/northsouth. sphere are more likely than other kids Although Pinkston and Spruce im- of its image as a high-crime area full It is important to note that the to repeat the example of their parents. proved significantly on their TAKS of shacks and garbage. Interestingly, statistics related to our five bases do What other wrong messages are earning enough to buy cars, rather scores, they remained on the academ- the crime rate is falling across south- not necessarily represent all of south- our children getting? In the Pleasant than finishing high school and maybe ically unacceptable list, partly because ern Dallas and is lower, per capita, ern Dallas. They are, at best, a snap- Grove Crossroads base, more than going on to college? For those adults, of dropout rates. The solution will call than in northern Dallas. According to shot of the conditions likely to be half of residents 25 and older have no perhaps, success isn’t defined by for dozens of strategies — from cur- official police statistics, two of the faced by residents of areas with simi- high school diploma. Nearly a third climbing the professional ladder. It riculum improvements to teacher highest-crime areas of Dallas are in lar demographic and income charac- didn’t get past ninth grade. The might be simply getting a job — any training. But DISD can’t do it alone. ZIP codes 75231 and 75243, which teristics. Many of the problems re- neighborhood’s per capita income in job — and earning enough to buy the Parents play an integral role in keep- are within a mile of the city’s most flected on the windshield maps may 2008 was $9,929 — less than half the material necessities they lacked growing their children in school. high-profile mall, NorthPark Center. have been fixed by now; others may citywide average. And yet 90 percent ing up. Yet business investment thrives there. have arisen. of Pleasant Grove households have at Maybe it’s just coincidence, but The killer commute When it comes to investing in least one car. More than half own two until May, the two worst-performing southern Dallas, “the biggest draw- Help residents to five cars. Dallas high schools were both in the Is it realistic, though, to demand back, to be real truthful, is the percep- help themselves Could parents in this Pleasant Pleasant Grove area — H. Grady greater parental involvement, consid- tion,” says Leppert, the mayor. Grove neighborhood be sending their Spruce and W.W. Samuell. Dropout ering the other pressures southern “There’s a lot of things that have Dallas-area politicians have widely kids the message that “success” means rates at those schools remain high, Dallas parents face? These workers, happened, and that certainly doesn’t

COMMUTING BOUNDARIES KEY A look at commuting patterns 15-minute commute On average, southern Dallas workers have to commute farther than Dallas residents citywide to get to where the jobs are. Here’s a look at 30-minute commute estimated commuting boundaries for each of the focus neighborhoods: 45-minute commute Area overview Grand South Dallas Pleasant Grove Crossroads

35 DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO. 35 DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO. 35 DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO.

35E 35E 35E

35W NORTHERN 35W 35W 30 DALLAS 30 30

TARRANT CO. DALLAS CO. ROCKWALL CO. TARRANT CO. DALLAS CO. TARRANT CO. DALLAS CO. West Grand 635 D/FW 635 Northern Dallas/southern Dallas D/FW D/FW Dallas South ROCKWALL CO. Gateway Dallas dividing line ROCKWALL CO. 820 820 820 Pinnacle Park KAUFMAN CO. 635 The Heart Pleasant Grove Pleasant Grove of Oak Cliff Crossroads Grand Crossroads 20 20 20 20 South 20 Mountain International Inland Dallas Creek Red Bird Port of Dallas Business Renewed development Park JOHNSON CO. ELLIS CO. SOUTHERN JOHNSON CO. JOHNSON CO. ELLIS CO. ELLIS CO. DALLAS

KAUFMAN CO. KAUFMAN CO.

HENDERSON CO. HENDERSON CO. HENDERSON CO. 35W 35W 45 35E 35E N N 45 N 45 HILL CO. HILL CO. 35W HILL CO. NAVARRO CO. 10 miles 35E NAVARRO CO. 10 miles NAVARRO CO. 10 miles

Average citywide salary paid in 2006: $50,342 Average salary paid by employers in 2006: $41,534 Average salary paid by employers in 2006: $40,885 2008 unemployment: 6% males; 7% females (age 16 and older) 2008 unemployment: 16% males; 22% females 2008 unemployment: 8% males; 11% females 2008 per capita income: $23,912 2008 per capita income: $12,529 2008 per capita income: $9,929 Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 15% Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 19% Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 24%

Red Bird Renewed The Heart of Oak Cliff West Dallas Gateway

DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO. 35 DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO. 35 DENTON CO. COLLIN CO. HUNT CO. 35

35E 35E 35E

35W 35W 35W 30 30 30

ROCKWALL CO. ROCKWALL CO. TARRANT CO. DALLAS CO. TARRANT CO. DALLAS CO. TARRANT CO. West Dallas DALLAS CO. Gateway 635 ROCKWALL CO. 635 635 D/FW D/FW D/FW

820 820 820 KAUFMAN CO. KAUFMAN CO.

The Heart 20 20 20 20 20 of Oak Cliff 20 Red Bird Renewed

JOHNSON CO. ELLIS CO. JOHNSON CO. ELLIS CO. JOHNSON CO. ELLIS CO.

KAUFMAN CO.

HENDERSON CO. HENDERSON CO. HENDERSON CO. 35W 35W

N N 35E N 45 45 45 HILL CO. 35W HILL CO. HILL CO. 35E NAVARRO CO. 10 miles 35E NAVARRO CO. 10 miles NAVARRO CO. 10 miles

Average salary paid by employers in 2006: $30,095 Average salary paid by employers in 2006: $35,356 Average salary paid by employers in 2006: $38,423 2008 unemployment: 12% males; 11% females 2008 unemployment: 6% males; 10% females 2008 unemployment: 7% males; 20% females 2008 per capita income: $14,335 2008 per capita income: $13,010 2008 per capita income: $10,357 Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 23% Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 18% Those who commute 45 minutes or more to work each way: 18%

TOM SETZER/Staff Artist SOURCES: Institute for Urban Policy Research; Claritas

P6 _ 09-20-2009 Set: 18:57:23 B0920SP006PCB0920SP006PMB0920SP006PYB0920SP006PKB0920SP006PQ Sent by: jrush Opinion CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP _ Sunday, September 20, 2009 7P

Dallas citywide rates Grand South Dallas Pleasant Grove Crossroads Red Bird Renewed The Heart of Oak Cliff West Dallas Gateway I 29 percent of population I 59 percent of population I 57 percent of population I 17 percent of population I 51 percent of population I 63 percent of population age 25 and over has no high age 25 and older has no high age 25 and older has no high age 25 and older has no high age 25 and older has no high age 25 and over has no high school diploma. school diploma. school diploma. school diploma. school diploma. school diploma. I 15 percent has less than a I 29 percent has less than I 30 percent has less than I 2 percent has less than I 30 percent has less than a I 34 percent has less than a ninth-grade education. a ninth-grade education. a ninth-grade education. ninth-grade education. ninth-grade education. ninth-grade education. I 6 percent of births were to I 12 percent of births were I 7 percent of births were to I 6 percent of births were to I 9 percent of births were to I 11 percent of births were to teen mothers. to teen mothers. teen mothers. teen mothers. teen mothers. teen mothers. I 51 percent of births were I 83 percent of births were I 51 percent of births were I 72 percent of births were I 52 percent of births were I 68 percent of births were to unmarried mothers. to unmarried mothers. to unmarried mothers. to unmarried mothers. to unmarried mothers. to unmarried mothers. I 46 percent of births were I 38 percent of births were I 64 percent of births were I 27 percent of births were I 55 percent of births were I 55 percent of births were to mothers who didn’t finish to mothers who didn’t finish to mothers who didn’t finish to mothers who didn’t finish to mothers who didn’t finish to mothers who didn’t finish high school. high school. high school. high school. high school. high school. Southern Dallas

356 35E 354 289 75 78 Northern Dallas/southern Dallas dividing line

80 El Centro College West Campus DOWNTOWN Grand South Dallas DALLAS Fair Park 12 West Dallas Skyline HS Pinkston HS Rangel HS 352 Gateway Townview Methodist Madison HS Center HS 30 Sunset HS Medical Lincoln HS Samuell HS Center 635 Adamson HS 12 N 180 Pleasant Grove Crossroads Cockrell The 2 miles Hill Heart Roosevelt HS Eastfield College of Oak Dallas Zoo Pleasant Grove Cliff Campus Molina HS Great Mountain Mountain Trinity View 303 Creek South Oak Cliff HS Forest College Kimball HS 20 Lake Dallas Spruce HS Baptist University A. Maceo Smith HS Seagoville HS

Dallas Dallas VA 408 Executive Medical 310 Airport Center 175 20 Red Bird Paul Quinn Renewed College

Carter HS 20

Trinity River University of North Texas Southwest at Dallas Center Cedar Mall Valley College 67 35E 342 45 SOURCES: Institute of Urban Policy Research; North Central Texas Council of Governments; ESRI; Dallas Central Appraisal District; Dallas Morning News research KEY I Neighborhoods in focus Recognized high schools Underperforming high schools Other high schools I Colleges and universities I Points of interest I Major hospitals I Great Trinity Forest I Parks I Bodies of water TOM SETZER/Staff Artist Underperforming high schools* Average teaching Teacher Student-teacher Student Students meeting college-ready standards experience turnover rate ratio attendance rate Math Reading Science Social Studies Districtwide 11.5 years 11.4% 13.8 to 1 81% 30% 33% 18% 45%

Kimball 14.7 years 15% 12 to 1 78% 6% 20% 4% 30% Roosevelt 10.3 years 27% 10 to 1 68% 6% 14% 6% 36% Seagoville 15.4 years 16% 12 to 1 83% 12% 26% 9% 46% Pinkston 9.2 years 31% 18 to 1 69% 6% 12% 4% 19% A. Maceo Smith 9.8 years 24% 25 to 1 66% 4% 19% 4% 30%

Molina** 10.8 years 14% 14 to 1 91% 14% 26% 9% 38% Samuell 10.3 years 26% 25 to 1 75% 7% 16% 3% 29% Spruce 10.7 years 16% 12 to 1 76% 4% 14% 2% 27%

* Schools that were listed “academically unacceptable” for at least two of the last five years ** This fall, Molina achieved recognized status SOURCES: Dallas Independent School District; Texas Education Agency TROY OXFORD/Staff Artist mean there’s not more to do. … companies to set up shop, at utive officer, Jeffrey Immelt: there are active parents at ployers such as FedEx, Union- sibility that southern Dallas But we still deal, the International Inland Port “Inside the company we’re Sunset High and numerous Pacific Railroad, the Allen residents need to hear — again unfortunately, with the of Dallas, Pinnacle Park and doing real decision- making elementary schools, many Group and Advanced H2O and again. perception” that southern Mountain Creek Business about: have we outsourced too areas are full of residents too already have: Southern Dallas In addition, these groups Dallas is a bad place for Park. much capability in [foreign] busy struggling to survive to be is where the numbers work could assist more with the business investment. Over the next 15 months, areas? And if so, what should involved with neighborhood best. team-building needed to raise Let’s be careful not to raise DART rail’s Green Line will we bring back, and where associations and PTAs. The University of North the level of neighborhood expectations beyond reason; establish a new potential should we put it?” Waiting for people to get Texas Center for Economic activism, whether that be in southern Dallas workers business corridor between General Electric is looking organized is no way to lead. It’s Development and Research reporting code violations or wouldn’t necessarily make Pleasant Grove and South at labor costs and locations to not enough to attend the came to the same conclusion in creating crime watch groups. more money if more Dallas-Fair Park. It’s imper- see where it can get the best opening of a library and por- a report three years ago: The message should be businesses relocated there. But ative that developers see the deal for its money. “In the tray yourself as a “hands-on” “Southern Dallas is ripe for consistent with the goal: If you workers certainly would spend possibility of locating afford- places where you have rela- council member or trustee. new and expanded business want better retail or better jobs less on car and mass-transit able big-box stores like Kmart tively high labor costs, they’ve Leadership is organizing and investment. closer to home, you must take expenses getting to their jobs, or Target on available land got to be more productive” if attending community meet- Importantly, companies steps to improve the attractive- and they might at least have along U.S. Highway 175, close they have any hope of compet- ings, rallying neighborhoods locating or expanding in the ness of your neighborhoods. If the option of spending more to rail stops in Pleasant Grove. ing on a global basis, he says. and helping people take re- southern sector have access to parents want a better life for time at home because of the Our statistics show that the Clearly, southern Dallas has sponsibility for their lives and a large and readily available their children, they will have to shorter commute. That heavily car-dependent resi- the marketable mix of low their children’s futures. pool of talented individuals become better parents first. represents a net increase in dents of Pleasant Grove may labor costs and competitively People just need help know- with a broad range of skills. disposable income and quality need some persuasion to use priced land close to major ing how to get started. Once What’s more, because many These are four difficult — of life. It also means more time DART rail but that South shipping routes. It’s time to they’re introduced to the basics workers drive through south- and perhaps lofty — goals. to spend parenting. Dallas residents will depend start presenting these as sell- of community leadership — ern Dallas on their way to and Some elected officials, busi- on it. So the rail lines can help ing points for our city. Our and properly inspired by good from work in other areas, ness leaders and volunteer Where to start create an inter- neighborhood mayor has the corporate credi- examples — southern Dallas many of them will respond to groups might be tempted to commercial and employment bility to present this case au- will have the tools for the high job opportunities closer to dismiss them as impossible. The research by the In- synergy that will benefit both thoritatively, and he can do it quality of neighborhood orga- home.” Our challenge to them is, stitute for Urban Policy Re- communities and better suit without busting the budget. nization that has helped so first, study the statistics in this search confirms that the two their transit- oriented devel- many northern Dallas commu- 4. Religious and section and on our Web site. priorities for bridging the opmental needs. 2. Council and nities thrive. nonprofit groups Are existing efforts making the north-south gap must be jobs “I would love for the nation- school representatives “People need to understand Our research suggests that kinds of progress they should and education. Both are tricky al economy to be better,” Lep- City Council members and that progress is being made,” these groups are wise to follow be? Are they enough? Finally, problems to attack during a pert responded when ques- school board trustees can take the mayor says. “Just don’t give the adage, “Give a man a fish, what better ideas are out recession, but it can be done tioned on this issue. their roles to the next level, too up.” feed him for a day; teach a man there? We want to hear them. within existing budgetary Fair point. But this is exact- — particularly in regard to to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” One thing is clear: Accept- constraints. Here are places to ly the time when major corpo- organizing and team-building 3. The business Volunteers working each day ing the status quo, as reflected start: rations are searching for bar- efforts in their districts. Not to community to help the needy in southern in these statistics, is accepting gains. And as the mayor mention making certain that In this economy, every Dallas might consider a new perpetual imbalance and 1. The mayor’s office himself says, there’s no better constituents receive accurate dollar has to count. The mix of approach, relying less on underperformance. Plans that Leppert has raised the city’s deal than southern Dallas for and constructive information costs for labor, land and trans- giving and more on building a provide little more than cos- profile and attacked problems the availability of cheap land about their neighborhoods and portation should be the domi- sense of self-reliance. For metic or piecemeal fixes are with admirable dedication. and vast human resources schools. nant factors guiding business example, more can be done to not the answer. This is the call Let’s take it to the next level: a aided by city-funded training Remember that parents decisions on where to locate raise awareness of the cross- to action — not more excuses. concerted, national or in- centers. and grandparents who were offices, stores, warehouses and generational damage caused ternational campaign to bring Now is the time to market it raised without proper educa- factories. We don’t expect by teen pregnancy and to teach Dallas Morn- big employers to southern vigorously. Corporate America tions and with minimal par- corporate decision-makers to proper parenting skills. ing News Dallas, building on what the is taking a fresh look at pro- enting skills are role models base their decisions on altru- These groups also can help editorial mayor has already done during duction models and seeing for new generations. This risks istic notions of what’s best for by organizing community writer Tod trips to Mexico and China. As new merit in domestic markets the perpetuation of a minority- southern Dallas or righting meetings and pressuring Robberson Leppert has pointed out, there vs. outsourced production in dominated underclass in historic wrongs, but rather trustees and City Council wrote this on behalf of the already are three excellent developing countries. Consider southern Dallas that is unable what’s best for business. And members to attend. The idea is editorial board. His e-mail southern Dallas sites for trans- these comments in June by to qualify for good jobs and too when they do the calculations, to deliver the inspirational address is trobberson@dallas port, big-box and warehousing General Electric’s chief exec- poor to move elsewhere. While they will discover what em- messages of hope and respon- news.com.

P7 _ 09-20-2009 Set: 18:56:51 B0920SP007PCB0920SP007PMB0920SP007PYB0920SP007PKB0920SP007PQ Sent by: jrush Opinion CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK 8P Sunday, September 20, 2009 _ BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Southern Dallas Northern Dallas/ southern Dallas 356 35E 75 78 dividing line DOWNTOWN 80 DALLAS 12 12 West Dallas 352 State of decay 30 Gateway Grand Pleasant Grove 180 South Crossroads 635 The Heart Dallas Mountain of Oak Cliff hese maps, created by the University of Texas at Dallas’ Institute for Urban Policy Research, provide a Creek 303 Lake 20

detailed picture of housing and street conditions in each of our southern Dallas focus neighborhoods. 408 310

20 Red Bird 175 While only a snapshot, they are evidence of a vicious cycle in the making. Renewed T 20 Trinity River Consider the miniscule amount of land used for commercial and retail purposes, noted in beige on each of the maps. When a neighborhood lacks commercial activity, it lacks business investment. Low retail and commercial International Inland N activity means residents have to travel farther to get the goods and services they need. Without commerce, Port of Dallas 67 development 2 miles 35E 342 45 there’s less money around to drive the local economy and create jobs. DALLAS CO. ELLIS CO.

That’s the imbalance that the “Bridging Dallas’ North-South Gap” crusade is advocating to change. SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist

Land parcel use Code violation signs Grand South Dallas Fitzhugh Munger Residential — Single-family Residential — Multifamily Single-family residence locations with code Commercial/retail Manufacturing/warehouse 30 violation signs posted Institutional Service Gaston Window only Peak Parks Parking Haskell Yard only Barry Vacant/undeveloped land Unknown Yard and window Exposition Deep Elm Ellum Heart of Oak Cliff Main Haskell Commerce 2nd

354 35E

Robert B. Cullum Blvd

Tyler Polk

Zang Fair Jefferson N Park

Clarendon Good-Lati 1/4 mile Dallas Zoo mer Fitzhugh

Central

Hampton Ewing

Ervay 352

2nd Malcolm X

Montana Pine Grand Illinois 175 Illinois 45 Martin Luther King Jr. Hatcher SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist N Vernon 35E The two shades of red dominating this map represent vacant land. Occasionally, it 1/4 mile Marsalis

Saner serves as parking for the State Fair, but for most of the year, it represents blight. Polk

SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist Considering this neighborhood’s proximity to downtown, all this empty land signifies a development opportunity wasted. The vast expanse of single-family residences tells the story of a stable consumer market with low unemployment. The Wynnewood Village shopping center is shown in beige at the bottom center of the map. As the only major retail center for Red Bird Renewed the area, it seems ripe for redevelopment. NOTE: There were no code violation signs at Pleasant Grove Crossroads 12 single-family residence parcels in this area.

Ledbetter Hampton 12

Buckner Jim Miller 175

12 Prairie Creek Lake June Lake June Dallas Executive N Airport

1/4 mile Westmoreland 67 Red Bir d

Pemberton Hill Red Bird Elam Elam Eastfield College Pleasant Grove

Campus Polk Cockrell Hill Jim Miller Southwest 12 Center

St. Augustine

Prairie Creek Mall N Camp Wisdom Great 175 Camp Wisdom Trinity 1/4 mile Forest Murdock 20 SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist The overwhelming yellow on this map underscores the residential core of the Pleasant Grove Crossroads. This represents an opportunity for big-box retail investment. The absence of commercial/retail shows that a potentially strong consumer market remains untapped. Westmoreland DUNCANVILLE

West Dallas Gateway Wheatland Wheatland

20 67 Trinity River Greenbelt Irving DESOTO SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist 356 Note the solid patches of single-family residences and big, contiguous areas of vacant land. Developers are attracted to those patches because they’re easier to work with. The absence of vacant land in residential areas contributes to the high home values in Red Bird Renewed. Canada

Trinity River Hampton

El Centro College West Campus These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg

his Points section provides only a fraction of the data that our “Bridging Dallas’ North-South Gap” team and the Institute of Urban Policy Research Continental T compiled. At dallasnews.com/opinion/northsouth, you’ll find: Singleton ❧ A new streamlined interactive feature that ❧ A virtual “helicopter tour” with videos lets you create customized maps with focusing on each of the five bases and the

Sylvan specific categories within our five major developmental challenges each faces. neighborhood bases. For example, look at the ❧ Download our full Excel database, with Commerce number of stray dogs, cracked sidewalks or N hundreds of statistical comparisons supplied Commerce houses with peeling paint in our Heart of by agencies such as the U.S. Census Bureau,

1/4 mile Oak Cliff neighborhood. Or study all the Beckley the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. properties with code-violation signs in Grand SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research TOM SETZER/Staff Artist Commerce Department and the Texas South Dallas. Education Agency. The mosaic of vacant land peppered among single-family homes depicts one of ❧ A sortable database for easy access to the ❧ Information on how to download free this neighborhood’s biggest problems. Because the vacant land is interspersed, statistics and demographic profiles behind mapping software and access the complete it’s hard to redevelop the area. That deters investment and adds to the this project. “windshield survey” of the five bases. neighborhood’s blighted appearance.

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