Local stuff that matters to you.

Did you know about Arlington Jones — playing at Dallas Museum of Art this Thursday?

News & events for

Monday, November

44° F
Partly cloudy in DFW

Happy Holidays!

Multimedia:

Marketplace:

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 , Updated

Dallas’ Landmark Commission approves Main Street Garden park downtown

by Chad Jones

Google Maps

The future home of Main Street Garden, drawn in green because, y'know, it's a park.

Aside from signing the Hard Rock Cafe's death warrant last night, Dallas' Landmark Commission also moved to approve a "certificate of appropriateness" for the upcoming Main Street Garden.

The city-block-sized park will be situated between Main, Commerce, Harwood and St. Paul, and any buildings in the park's way (some of which are arguably-historical) will be removed.

The approval of the park provides a second example of recent historic building-related flip-floppery, as the DMN's Dave Levinthal notes that the Landmark Commission initially voted 7-5 against approving the park, then tabled the item, then resumed it an hour later and voted 9-3 in favor of approval.

The first example? The fact that the city staff who recommended preserving the Hard Rock building on McKinney suddenly changed their minds on the building's historic value.

Who knows what's going on.

At least the wrecking ball is happy.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Teresa Gubbins, says:

this whole thing is so rancid. these guys who "represent the center city business interests" just cannot build enough freaking PARKS. i lived downtown for 5 years. the area does not need another open, yawning semi-skeevy cavity with nothing on it. and especially the area they're talking about. the park hasn't even been built yet and already they're <a href="http://www.krld.com/pages/338569.php?contentType=4&contentId=399054">talking about</a> having to lock down chairs to prevent theft and enforce a curfew "to prevent the homeless from blighting the new park in the overnight hours". what does that tell you?

if they're going to squander whatever-million dollars on bullsh*t landscaping, why not loan that money to a few folks to open some small businesses? which would way more improve the downtown scene than another damn park. new york city needs parks. downtown dallas doesn't. and i think that the behavior of the Landmark Commission is disgraceful.

Staff

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

DC, says:

No, downtown needs green space, just like it needs lights and some actual cops on the streets (sorry Downtown Safety Patrol, you ain't it).

Putting money into retailers to set up shop isn't going to do any good if noone wants to live and spend money there because there's no place to go for a walk, take your dog out or enjoy some time outside since the place looks like Mad Max set.

Anonymous

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Teresa Gubbins, says:

downtown already has numerous park areas, including the park at market & young, the "sculpture garden" across the street, pegasus plaza at main & akard, thanksgiving plaza, not to mention the cow area/public green at city hall. not to mention the dog park at the edge of downtown by deep ellum.

not that any of those matter. there's plenty of people who live downtown. they don't hang out at the parks down there; aside from the dog park (which has its own unique clientele), the only one where you see people is pegasus plaza, and that's because there are so many restaurants in that area.

meanwhile, when people who live downtown want to eat or shop, they mostly get in their cars and go to greenville or west village.

my perfect vision of downtown matches the vision of other cities i've lived in: jammed with stores and things to walk to, with people manning those stores, that make you feel like you're in a real urban environment. not another big open space which, even with a sprinkling of people, never feels populated or safe.

Staff

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

DC, says:

Noone lives at Market and Young. Pegasus plaza is more concrete than park. Thanksgiving plaza is designed so you cannot sit on the grass or it's locked. It's also not like the city does anything much to maintain the dog park other than lock it on the occassional Monday.

The public green at city hall? Don't take your wallet unless it's to protect your backside. You wouldn't want to sit down out there for fear of the needles.

What I am saying is the space across from the abandoned Dallas Grand is basically a crater. What's the problem with having a park there?

Besides, what's gotten you in a knot about this particular project? You don't think that building a deck over Woodall Rogers is kind of dumb? Maybe you ought to go on a rant about that instead of filling a hole in a place where people actually live.

The problem's not the parks, it's the city's disinterest in maintaining the ones they own and policing the streets of downtown.

You want a really radical idea? How about build a park and a decent school in downtown Dallas? Hey, that read dot is back again...

Anonymous

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Tracy Yost, says:

I like the idea of the park but I worry that it will be just one more place for the homeless people to take a crap. It would be nice if there were more "life" downtown but I don't see that happening until the city decides to do something about the crime and the homeless people. Parks or no parks....

Verified

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Shawn Williams, says:

Man you have to step over homeless people to walk into the Gap in San Francisco. People have no problem going to The Majestic in downtown Dallas when there's something good there. It's a matter of making it a destination, though in cities like Chicago, you can't (seemingly) walk 2 blocks at night without seeing a uniformed officer.

The homeless assistance center should help, but people will come downtown as soon as there is somewhere to go. I ride down there sometimes because I just want to, but then there's no where to go.The Underground is downtown's biggest problem. Well, next to the need to bring in 5,000 more residents.

Verified

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Tracy Yost, says:

There is a lot to do down here already. But rents are high, and to be honest, when you can buy a 4br house 15 minutes away for the same price you would pay for a tiny loft downtown, and obtw your car won't get broken into every week, and, you might have some outdoor space that's green and doesn't smell bad, and you DON'T have to step over homeless people - I think a lot of people are going to continue to choose that 4br house...

Verified

2 years, 8 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

J_Mortimer, says:

There is significantly less homeless people compared to many times in the past.

It sounds to me like people haven't been to downtown in a while. The amount of stuff is growing and if you add in hopping the rail to near the Southside on Lamar then there is even more.

Anonymous

2 years, 7 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

DC, says:

As far as the tiny loft vs 4 BR house goes, I would say the new construction is optimistically overpriced, whereas the existing condos have been plummeting - see 1505 Elm / 2220 Canton and compare to what they expect to get for units at the Metropolitan - hardly worth the differential.

Dallas City Hall might be downtown, but the support goes right back to Preston Hollow at the end of the day.

Anonymous

2 years, 7 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

luniz, says:

I don't see how you can blame homeless for the lack of any sort of downtown. There's homeless people in every other major city in America and that doesn't seem to keep people in those places from going out. It seems like there's some expectation of an area where there's absolutely no homeless whatsoever and that strikes me as quite unrealistic.

I wouldn't say there's "a lot to do" downtown but otoh I'm going to try checking out the Bishop Arts district for the first time this weekend..btw I live in Plano fwiw.

Anonymous

2 years, 7 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

DC, says:

Yes, there are homeless people in every city.

In downtown Dallas, the abscence of any visible police presence means you're always left feeling like you need to watch your back. As well, it means that people feel like they can urinate and defecate wherever they want.

Oh yeah, the stupid DPD cameras manned by the supposed retired cops and DISD drop outs? No thanks, it just doesn't cut it.

Downtown safety patrol? Laughable attempt, really. Call 311 and use the calling tree if you want help from the guys in shorts.

Anonymous

2 years, 7 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

TinaBadina, says:

If they are going to do it, make it like that little "hidden" sprinkler park on white rock trail not many people know about

you know

the one with the nice sprinkler park for little kids

Anonymous

2 years, 1 month ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

TinaBadina, says:

I wonder how long it will be before some big name/highland park real estate company buys the apartment complex over here in my hood, and all the people on section 8 have to move out? I see alot of U-Hauls lately. I love where I live. Yeah, I'm in the hood, but I'll bet my good deal is gonna be gone pretty shortly. If you are wondering where all the safety cops/patrol are, they are all over here in the hood keeping us safe. Hahahah.

Seriously though, I notice alot of section 8 people relocating lately, so maybe that highrise in back of Eastfiled College is not too far away in the future. I know it's coming. This property is gonna be booming. I am not even sure I am safe putting in my six month renewal. RATS! They are telling the people the safety codes are not up to par, which may be true, but I think there is a hidden agenda. Now all of a sudden, there is a city proposal to renovate the storm drainage.