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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Yet-another story on the prospects of Dallas’ Deep Ellum, this one sortof optimistic

by PegNews wire

Another week, another story about the prospects in Dallas' Deep Ellum district. Two restaurants have opened (although one of them, Lemongrass, is really just a revisioning from the owners of East Wind, in the same Deep Ellum spot it occupied for years), Trees is supposedly going to re-open, the train's gonna be open on September 12, and so on. But then again, there's lots of empty storefronts, the sidewalks are cracked, people are still afraid to go there, etc etc etc. So maybe the district WON'T have a big revival. Oh dear, you just never know, do you.

Posted by T.G.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Better than downtown, pal. And after the taxpayer has dumped in millions like at the Urban Market.

Maybe it was a good thing that the City and the Ross Perots of the development world passed us by. Now, we aren't leveraged to the hilt, part of the bloodbath the commercial real estate world finds itself in, nor saddled with a half billion hotel boondoggle that is going to collapse all the other hotels in the name of socialism - like the Urban Market did to the bodegas.

Deep Ellum is the best small town in Dallas, and you have that tidal wave of drifters, con-men, early-releasers, and 27 registered sex offenders posiong as homeless at your lovely Bridge ALL within two thousand feet of a park, daycare, two DISD schools, Farmers Market, and the Central Library.

How's that working out for ya?

We dropped our $50,000 stipend to bulk up security - we no longer need it.

Go wash your face with this week's Dallas Observer.

holman Anonymous

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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You know what, Elm..street could come back,.. but as a good used Hatrack, Flea market place, less tattoo stuff and something healthy and unigue....but who is going to get them to come and do it..... now that the land Barons have moved off....Those guys were are told to not mention....A/T, A Friend of Deep Elm since 1959...for real....

alexander troup Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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are they relying on a rail system that runs til midnight at the latest to help build into an entertainment district?

luniz Anonymous

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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While what will the rails bring,think about that.....it is not the rails as an oppertunity plus, it is what the other guys in town did to create a lot of bad impression..... some 6 years back ..and "every dog has his day" after 20 years later on ,while some formulas wear thin....A/T, Honest Joes Pawn In DEEP ELM...went bust...

alexander troup Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Anything is better than downtown, holman. The Pearl is the only bar down there I can mention without embarrassment, and one of only two that I can even think of. Maybe there's fancier bars out there that my kind aren't allowed in, though.

And yeah, the midnight train isn't going to do anything. The bus stop outside my apartment literally goes straight to Downtown, with a stop in Uptown, but I never take it because I know that unless I plan on sleeping there until morning, it won't take me home.

Pavel Lishin Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Why would any music venue/bar want to move into a neighborhood where they have to go through an excruciating amount of effort to obtain a Specific Use Permit that can be revoked at any time by someone with a complaint, regardless of its legitimacy. I would give ANYTHING for Deep Ellum to return to its days of glory, but I don't see it getting better; it's going to take a lot more than a light rail that stops running at 12.

Woody Rosen Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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"Why would any music venue/bar want to move into a neighborhood..." -'cause they have big balls! I wish them the best of luck.
One thing that attracted us to the current Pearl location was the talk of 'Downtown revitalization'. "Yeah, whatever!" Downtown Dallas and Deep Ellum could be hoppin' places if the City of Dallas (and Dart) could just get their...well, get it together.

Rick Yost Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Rick, I understand that DART needs to get its act together to get the Fair Park line open, but what would you suggest they could do to help Downtown? Run trains until 2 or 2:30? I'm curious since I'm about to become a new resident of Downtown.

tx_dem41 Anonymous

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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If the trains want to be part of an entertainment solution to the blight that is downtown, trains that you don't have to dash out of the cinema/theater/bar at 11 p.m. would be a real start.

2:00-2:30 seems a reasonable early night for even a welterweight trawler but it would get some of those rich kids from the 'burbs down and back safely.

Jason Rice Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Yes...and just because the trains might run at 2:30 to the stations, it doesn't mean the buses have to run. I'm in agreement with others..train till twelve am will not help the "Traveling Man"..

Travis Bush Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Rick - Please don't get me wrong. I wish anyone bold enough to try and make a go of it down here the best of luck as well, and as I said I would LOVE to see DE return to its heyday. It's just that in the past year or so I have seen what I described in my first post happen firsthand to a place I held VERY dear to me. It's a long story though, I'll go cry in my beer now. :/

Woody Rosen Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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The DART line is important if you have 3000 Immigrants from the 1900's trying to create a community, but this is the 21st Century...

While us urban folks we know what is going on in the inner city...and can only say to serve the public, the community we drift in and out of with loyality and support....that line is going to bring in whom......that other folks will abort...

While The Pearl is on the last stop to Clarksville on Commerce street,and few other bars and clubs along the way..While there are no grocery stores...gas stations, McDonald's along the way....

 A/T...What&#39;s an Injin going to do......

alexander troup Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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I was looking for "adventure" this past weekend. I drove to Deep Ellum, nothing. I drove to West End, Nothing, I drove to Bishop Street and ended up grabbing a late bite in an empty Cafe Brazil. I blame Laura Miller for the downfall of all the entertainment districts in this town and while I would love to see the resurgence of something interesting, I see corporate peeking around the corner and corporate isnt what made Deep Ellum wonderful. It was the independent shop owners (Mark & Larry's stuff - one of my favorite little shops ever), and the independent artists who really expressed themselves. We need a place for the young spirit and the unencumbered exuberance of youth and I dont see it following the dart line that shuts down at midnight. (good point luniz)

Peter Stawicki Verified

5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Why can't they keep the DART open 24 hours?!?!?

I know the hours aren't necessarily suitable but. . . Jobs are hurting. This would be an opportunity for people who are unemployed and are S.O.L. to make some sort of income. It would have to be at a higher pay rate than unemployment offers, for then it would be a complete failure.

GiGi_Foulin Anonymous

4 months, 1 week ago
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GiGi - probably because not enough people would be riding it to make it worthwhile. It sucks, but it's probably true. I do wish there was a way of gathering some numbers on that, short of running a month-long trial program.

Although, I must say, I'd go out drinking Downtown and in the Deep Ellum area if buses ran until 2:30. Even if it was only once an hour after 10pm. Utterly pointless to head anywhere when the last bus leaves shortly after 10.