Deep Ellum group is a source of pride

chasd00, says:

I said it before and I'll say it again. The days of Deep Ellum's voice not being heard are over.

I was sad to see Club One go since I have a personal relationship with Shelly and Byron but I couldn't come up with a rebuttal to the facts. The crime happening inside Club One is just too much to take.

I knew Europa was going to get denied and I believe it was most of Deep Ellum's opinion that it should be.

Overall I think the whole SUP experience was great for the neighborhood. However, it's a real tragedy that Monkey Bar got caught in the crossfire. I was really taken aback having to defend Monkey Bar since all this while I thought their approval was a no brainer. We had nearly 70 people at the CPC in support of the venue but it only took 3 people in opposition to get a recommendation for denial. That recommendation in combination with having to renew their TABC license before the counsil hearing closed Monkey Bar's doors. It's scary how much power a few dissenters can have despite overwhelming support from the other side.

pixelchick, says:

I'm just curious cause I have no idea, but why did the Expo/ Deep Ellum area have to go through the SUP process? Do bars/clubs in other areas have to go through this process too?

Clay213, says:

It's such a good thing that Barry Annino was so concerned about the number of empty store fronts between the tattoo parlors.

Since now there are even MORE empty store fronts. And why?

It seems like some major landlords in the neighborhood don't really want anyone in their buildings.

Hurry up and sell out please. At least then we might actually see something other than another empty building crumbling.

Clay213, says:

This guy is seriously such a fraud.. from a year and a half ago:

"Not quite, at least not yet. Barry Annino, president of the Deep Ellum Foundation, says tattoo artists are still welcome, but "a lot of owners feel like they want to have some different types of retail, and when we have four right in the middle, it's kind of tough." The goal is to spread the parlors around and try to attract businesses that will draw more daytime foot traffic. Besides, if some parlors do move out, that will just be better for those that remain."

Well-- where are they Barry? How many of your properties sit empty?

Seems like he's been using the same see through rhetoric for nearly a dozen years now:

'"The owners got together and had a vision," Annino says. "What they saw was a residential-entertainment community, and they were protecting the future."'

chasd00, says:

Well transforming a neighborhood isn't easy. you can't have new business without a market and you're not going to have a market without business.

I think it's a good idea to make Deep Ellum a neighborhood that operates throughout all hours of the day and not just weekend nights.

I use to think Barry was the neighborhood villain like a lot of people still do but after talking to him, the association, biz owners, property owners, patrons, musicians and just everyone around I realized that there isn't a single Deep Ellum villain. People have their business plans and want to do what makes them money but there's no dark force working against the area. Hell, I'd argue that even the Evil Empire, Westdale, isn't as big an enemy as people think. The problem with Westdale is just ignorance and neglect, there's no evil master plan at Westdale.

The real enemy in Deep Ellum are the rumors and disinformation. I wish i could purge the phrase "too scared to go down there" from any discussion about Deep Ellum. The perception of Deep Ellum as "scary" does more damage then a million made up villains.

It's amazing how big a difference you can make by just educating and bringing together people in the neighborhood. D.E.E.P. was really instrumental in getting the SUP applications started for many of the clubs (especially in Expo Park). Through that work many bar owners are now on first name basis with eachother. Mike from New Amsterdam is now on the board of the Deep Ellum Association.

I don't want to keep babbling on but there isn't a Deep Ellum Villain except for ignorance and rumor.

Clay213, says:

I'm not talking about villains-- I'm talking about someone who owns a large number of EMPTY buildings and has been working very hard to make sure more buildings end up empty.

Clay213, says:

chrisdanger: Don't hold your breath on anyone moving into those locations. I think you will sooner them them rot to the ground.

lauriek6, says:

I can't help to think that the city has caused more harm than revenue when they installed endless amounts of parking meters, even on the weekends. why would a person go and pay to park on the street or even the little lots when so many other areas of Dallas don't charge. Have you ever heard of having to pay a meter to eat a 3 dollar sandwich from Subway?? What are people's thoughts about the new rail line? Are the landlords just waiting to 'hit gold' when the new train arrives???

Clay213, says:

Lariek6: Street parking is free in Deep Ellum until 6pm.

Chrisdanger: You might have a feeling but there is plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise. It's not about being negative-- look around. The vacancy in the neighborhood is ridiculous.

There are buildings literally falling down crumbling here. Why? Because of scumbag landlords who don't care about anything but trying to sell out to some huge development company.

lauriek6, says:

I understand that about the limited free parking, but wouldn't the city earn more from opened tax paying businesses than from meters that are empty? Just a thought when I believed the city wanted to encorage people to go out after 6 pm.

chasd00, says:

I'm not sure the new rail line is the golden goose everyone thinks it's going to be. To me, the real test will be when the Ambrose opens. It's that large apartment building going up behind Pepe y Mitos between Elm and Baylor.

The Ambrose will be one of those retail on the bottom residents on top kind of buildings and will sit right on the Dart rail stop. If that building leases and does well then the flood gates will open. for better or for worse.

If new developement take off i hope it happens at a pace that allows us to absorb it into the Deep Ellum culture. There's no problem with new stuff as long as it doesn't come so fast it costs Deep Ellum its identity. On the otherhand, Clay has a point, for lease signs are bad news and the faster they go away the better.

lauriek6, says:

I agree it is sad to see all of the for lease signs, like an old ghost town. Hopefully with Baylor there and the new apartments, it will attract a younger/more eclectic crowd. I guess it just really irks me to see the for lease signs and then have to pay to park. DE needs help and the meters probably turn off more people than just me.

Clay213, says:

Those parking spaces are nearly or completely full most of the time laurie.

Especially on weekends, but also during the weekdays when they are free. I don't think that is the problem.

Just because there is a for lease sign in the window doesn't mean the owner really wants to rent the place out.

Many of the owners in this neighborhood are holding out and keeping their buildings empty so they can be demolished and redeveloped.

Without their efforts to attract tenants and fill vacancies with viable businesses then the stores will remain empty.

At least a thousand people live in this neighborhood, but I see the same few faces out and around. Why aren't more people out supporting the neighborhood and demanding more from it?

Clay213, says:

You WHAT?

holman, says:

PD 269 (Deep Ellum) extends south of I-30 to include the Expo strip hence, they need an SUP.

The bus system used to have a downtown circular route for dwellers in the DT area. DART should dedicate a couple of buses to a circular route so Deep Ellum could connect to Downtown (Urban Market, West End, Cedars, Uptown) w/o going through the transfer stations. This would allow the aggregate Downtown to avoid the hassle of pulling cars out of remote parking, then pay the meters, then re-park their vehicles. It would have an immediate effect if the other integrated neighborhoods could eat, drink and shop without the hassle and in the safety of city transit. Car break-ins are bad in Deep Ellum, on street or off.