Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Deep Ellum looks to return to former glory
Joshua Parr
"Walking Tall," the first part of The Traveling Man sculpture series, hopes to be the new icon for Deep Ellum.
DEEP ELLUM — The rain beats against the windows of the DART train as it approaches the new Deep Ellum station. The doors open to a slippery platform and passengers exit to the sound of music playing from across the track. A band is playing at the end of a long line of white tents on Good Latimer Street.
Visitors, with umbrellas in hand, make their way from tent to tent, chatting with representatives from local restaurants like Deep Sushi. People with organizations like the Deep Ellum Community Association hand out pamphlets and fliers for upcoming events in the area.
A local artist draws on a large canvas as onlookers watch. “Even the rain couldn’t stop the train,” he writes.
This was Super Saturday, an event designed to bring people back to Deep Ellum. The new DART Green line opened on Sept. 14, marking the beginning of what some say is a revival of the area. The neighborhood is flourishing, galleries are popping up, clubs are returning, and restaurants and retail shops are making a comeback.
It may be a rainy day in Deep Ellum, but the future has never been clearer, say many merchants, residents and city leaders.
Joshua Parr
Local artists painted murals along Good Latimer Street to replace artwork lost when the Deep Ellum tunnel was demolished.
“We are all working together for once to improve the area,” said Randee Smith Prez, the D.E.C.A. event coordinator.
Deep Ellum has seen its share of hard times. The area originated as “Freedman’s Town,” where Elm Street and the Houston and Texas Central Track ran through Dallas. It was a settlement for many different ethnicities, such as African-Americans and Jews, who were subjected to social discrimination and racism. Through the 1920s and 1930s, Deep Ellum functioned as a hot spot for jazz and blues music and was home to many pawnshops, bars and clubs. Deep Ellum started its demise in the 1940s when the Central track was pulled up to make way for the central expressway. In the 1950s, businesses started to move to suburban areas, and local shops couldn’t compete with larger supermarkets. The crime rate started to rise in the 1960s with frequent violent attacks at bars and clubs. The area finally showed some signs of life in the late 1980s when clubs began to reopen for the rock n’ roll scene. Through the 1990s, Deep Ellum was a hot spot for music that featured bands like Nirvana and Radiohead.
During this time, the area became a home for many art galleries, restaurants and boutiques. In the late 1990s, the city created new zoning laws that required bars and clubs to be 18 and over. Underage visitors were not purchasing alcohol, which caused the bars to lose money and eventually move out of the area, according to Blake Newsom, manager of Deep Sushi, a restaurant on Elm Street. Since then Deep Ellum has fallen into a recession, bars have closed down one by one and people have stopped visiting the area.
Joshua Parr
"Waiting on a Train" is one of three parts in The Traveling Man sculpture series along Good Latimer Street.
Some people believe Deep Ellum will never return to its former glory.
Author Alan B. Govenar, in his 1998 book, Deep Ellum and Central Track: Where the Black and White Worlds of Dallas Converged, wrote “Nothing is going to revive Deep Ellum because it was a different world, one that existed because of an odd confluence of racism and tolerance, hard luck and opportunity, sadness and hope, desperate poverty and good-time Saturday night.”
But community leaders still have hope for the neighborhood and are making strides to bring people back to the area.
It starts with the new DART Deep Ellum station. This station is one of the most important aspects of the effort because it will provide easy access to Deep Ellum. Dallas City Council member Pauline Medrano says when the Green Line is complete in 2010, it will bring visitors from all over the Dallas area, which will allow for greater economic development.
Joshua Parr
"Awakening" is the third and final piece of The Traveling Man series, which depicts the Traveling Man rising up from under Deep Ellum.
The Good-Latimer Street tunnel was destroyed to make way for the DART station. The underpass acted as a “gateway” to the area and became a canvas for local muralists.
Now, DART has set out to provide the area with another “gateway” for Deep Ellum with the Traveling Man. The community hopes this three-part, stainless steel sculpture series, designed by Brandon Oldenburg and Brad Oldham, will be the icon of the area and will welcome neighborhood visitors and residents.
Along with the Traveling Man sculptures, the community is adding more murals around the area to restore the artistic signature of Deep Ellum. D.E.C.A. kicked off the Deep Ellum Mural Project, calling local artists to restore the murals lost when the Good Latimer Street tunnel was demolished.
The Art Park under the I-45 bridge has recently reopened after years of decline. The Deep Ellum Foundation received a grant to get the park’s lights fixed and local artists were called to submit designs for the blank canvases. The 20 artists whose works were chosen had 30 days to paint. Artists were paid $120 and their artwork will be on display for two years.
Joshua Parr
The Deep Ellum Art Park under the I-45 bridge was reopened Sept. 12.
In some cases, artists were working up to the night before a ribbon cutting ceremony on Super Saturday. One artist, Isaac Davies, was called in at the last minute because another artist became ill. Davies started painting the day before without any ideas prepared. Luckily, he was able to finish in five hours.
“I think it’s good for the community, I mean, art never hurts,” Davies said.
The housing market for Deep Ellum has been steady throughout the years. There are 30 vacancies out of 350 properties in the area, said Bridgette Rogers, Deep Ellum property manager.
According to city council member Medrano, popular clubs like Trees are reopening, the city is leasing to new businesses, and art galleries are popping up.
In recent years, the area had been notorious for violent attacks; however, the crime rate in Deep Ellum has decreased 17% in 2009, according to a report released by the Dallas Police Department.
“There is a distinct difference from six years ago,” said Medrano.
Joshua Parr is a journalism student at SMU.
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There are still tons of empty store fronts down there. IMO, the city needs to offer some kind of incentive for businesses to open down there and the building owners need to do the same thing. I'm betting many of the property owners thought the 90's gravy train would just keep on rolling and the rents could get even higher, without any adverse effect. We see how well that worked out. As it is now, some may be looking in that direction, but is a a fair way off.
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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We looked at deep ellum as a potential location for Pearl - after all, it's where we should be. We did not find any "deals" and the area still carried a very bad vibe (this was May 2006). Many of the available lease spaces were in ill repair. I don't see that it has changed very much since that time... except now there's a train and some different art and more empty buildings :-)
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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There has been a concerted effort by the dominant property owners to improve and upgrade. A lot of money has been spent in advance of the Green Line opening. The City has also spent a tremendous amount of money re-routing the sanitary sewer line from the alleys to the streets, and stubbing it their own costs for the individual bays to hook up to.
With 3 Light Rail Stations and Baylor as an anchor, Deep Ellum perfectly fits the definition of an urban Transit Oriented Development, or Transit Village.
The residential rent/work/play crowd continues to get a GREAT deal on a comparative rent per sq.ft. basis - this should not change since the property owners are not highly leveraged (not a lot of debt on the properties).
Bars and restaurants have to get the new SUP, which kills a lot of deals due to timeline costs - most people who want to open an entertainment venue do not factor in the amount of time it takes to get one through the City and their limited funds are eaten up in unanticipated pre-opening costs. But that's the price of blocking the return of hot-headed underage crime. Also, national chain store venues do not want to take the chance of dumping big chunks of money to have the SUP yanked early in their lease periods. Fine with me. We don’t need no stinkin’ House of Blues thingy.
Baylor Hospital has under construction a $350 million Cancer Center, which is drawing in investor interest to Deep Ellum real estate on that end of PD269 (Deep Ellum) - even in the present recession and locked up credit markets.
The other off-downtown markets are suffering mightily due to wild, heavily-leveraged overbuilding whose target market never show up. Better them than us.
Deep Ellum is a real buy due to the low whole dollar numbers involved however, not much of it is for sale. Also, it is extensively cut up into very small properties (common wall ownerships), which prevents big developer block-up due to hold-outs.
Which is a good thing if you desire to keep Deep Ellum bohemian, local, small-townish, and not-formulaic – and cheap.
Deep Ellum remains highly resistant to recession, and conversion to the kind of pseudo-cool that got developers in trouble in the first place. The new frugality phase killed them. Frugality is Deep Ellum’s middle name.
holman Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Deep Elm was dead in the 1960's, died in the 1950's, a few places some 25 locations did exist....While Dallas had downtown, which is ...You tell me from now on, and in the 1960's Downtown was vibrant from Elm and Pearl.....
2009, the risk is up to new land management...While pleasure can be the youths adventures, while old folks have grown wise to choose another watering hole...They can park friendly at....A/T, ..Parking and security is the main issue...And 9 other locations to challenge for that old place...
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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"There has been a concerted effort by the dominant property owners to improve and upgrade."
Really? In which fairy tale Deep Ellum does this exist?
"With 3 Light Rail Stations and Baylor as an anchor, Deep Ellum perfectly fits the definition of an urban Transit Oriented Development, or Transit Village."
An empty one for what it's worth...
"Which is a good thing if you desire to keep Deep Ellum bohemian, local, small-townish, and not-formulaic – and cheap."
There has to be a mix of formulaic and "Bohemian" in order for Deep Ellum and Downtown to prosper. I know many artists who would love to see Dallas get national/international recognition besides some off handed blessing by D or Texas Monthly.
And BTW, the whole idea of "keep it local" is fine and dandy as long as there is local money and support from the city to back it up.
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Oh for gosh sakes - Let the man (or woman) market the place!
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Just keepin' it real, monkey woman!
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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YEA, Monkey Bean....While fake people are really cool, you find out they never did what they said they would...It is about the brag and hype..The bull and type of cool mouth of exspression that says...I wannnabe...But they wont work for it, and they stay From 6 to 8 months....HONEST JOES PAWN SHOP was on Elm from 1937 to 1972....He would loan money on your cork leg if you need it....While Deep Elm has no real legends or heros, just sandwiches and burnt out blues images.....A/T, ..My turf and some other folks since 1959 when I was a kid.....
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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crosspost - IMHO they need a strong incubation program for small biz to get the area jumpstarted. I'm not nearly connected enough to be able to see the future of deep ellum. When you have large developers buying up property and not really developing it, what does that mean? Maybe the buyers think that 1) the train will cause an instant revival or 2) the city will buy it all from them so they can tear it down and make it the new uptown? I would like to see the same deep ellum that a lot of people would like to see - lots of unique retail, dining, art, live music - no chains... good residential options in the mix and even a community garden. But who is going to get excited about renting a loft from westdale properties (do a little customer satisfaction research on those folks). And as a biz owner, I'm not convinced that the current conditions will promote a successful venture. Now if the city would make some real incentives available (have a look at what Plano offered to their downtown businesses), and then back it up with better police presence, free and safe parking (street and lots) and a few other perqs, maybe we could get something good going on down there. My two cents that ain't worth one. PS I lived in europe for a while and one of the things I loved about it was that within 100 yards from my apartment, there was a grocery, a bakery, a butcher, 6 or 8 pubs and restaurants, art studios/galleries, a pharmacy, specialty shops like a cheese store and a truffle store and a chocolate shop - every single one of them small mom-n-pop businesses!! If I thought for a minute that deep ellum could ever be like that, I'd give blood sweat and tears to be a part of it.
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I appraised 21 properties (Blanton estate) in Deep Ellum and surveyed the rest (Westdale Asset, Jernigan, the Beck deal, and two others I can't mention), including the monies dumped into the boundaries by the Baylor Hosp directly, and others attempting to piggy-back the only real estate play in America right now - medical real estate.
I wouldn't look back to how things used to be done in the perimeter developments (Southside, the Cedars, West End, Uptown, Old East Dallas, and Downtown).
Deep Ellum is largely unleveraged. They (the other districts) aren't. Deep Ellum missed the Bigs blocking up then borrowing out on expensive construction that missed their target market (ouch).
No debt will keep Deep Ellum cheap. It keeps the area out of foreclosure, resulting in the same old mindset back in because the banks are looking to dump off to Vulture Funds who will either knock down, double rents, or sell to offshore investors who will further torture the tenants and block what needs to happen - which is to leave it alone and let the locals figure out what fits.
And TODs work. Might want to educate yourself a little before you spout. I recently appraised a large chink of a TOD in Santa Fe, NM, called The Railyard. They just got the Rail Runner - a 100+ MPH train running several times daily from Albuquerque's downtown TOD 55 miles to the south.
Between Baylor, the Light Rail stations, no debt, and the cut up nature of property ownership that blocks assemblage by the Bigs (who are in the tank) . . .
Deep Ellum will make it through this prolonged recession just fine.
holman Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Yes Tracy, we have all had those European feeling in these communities, I did for 25 years as a pioneer, but......Years later as the leaf of time turns over....a era does pass and a place or enviroment is used up....in this city that is a true observation.....while Deep Elm cant retain landmark....
It should but it wont, even the theatre I am at,... cant retain or come back after it's renovation in 1982, when the first couple of business Store fronts opened in the Elm... then again..........intersection's where on can park and stroll in easy is a lucky ....Pawn to be at... Only 2 problems with Pearl and Commerce is parking really....and a breast sagging empty economey...A/T, Good smiles for Tracy and Rick, I mean that....
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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"Deep Ellum will make it through this prolonged recession just fine."
considering there's not much there that can fail, that shouldn't be too hard :-)
"which is to leave it alone and let the locals figure out what fits. " Totally agree with that.
Why is it, when people start trying to have a meaningful exchange of ideas about deep ellum, someone always gets their panties in a wad?
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Theater Gallery and the Profit Bar. After that it all went down hill. I remember I was in the Profit Bar listening to a blues band (a real one mind you) and when the music stopped a table of yuppies started clapping. Some guy at the back who had a serious edge about him yelled, "hey yuppies why don't you shut the f*ck up, get in you BWM, and go home." Everyone started laughing. Those poor yuppies did not know what to do.
The magic of deep ellum is gone and will never be captured again~no matter how hard you try.
tetsujin28 Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Sure it will Tracy for Deep Elm and the other old 80's places, even the West End and Fair Park, ...but, you can't teach an old dog new tricks and Deep Elm is an old dog plain and simple.... besides, we both grew up here to know, new tricks are fun.....Place your bets now on the Next Deep Elm in Dallas.....A/T,... KNOW WHEN TO HOLD EM AND WHEN TO FOLD EM..
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I think it's just frustrating when you have people trying to actively promote the area and generate some positive energy around it to then see it ripped to shreds by the politics that have nothing to do with average patron. It's not like Deep Ellum has had much positive press in the last few years. Can't we give it a minute and be supportive?
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I think talking about it at all is being supportive - If I didn't give a rats a$$ I sure as hell wouldn't waste my time typing. But that doesn't mean we all sit around and say things that are flatly not true, like, "looky, deep ellum is coming back to life" when there is very little evidence that is really happening. I think everything going on today is great - the train, the new blues (sort of) club, and some of the sewers getting fixed. There is still a lot of work to be done, and a lot of uncertainty as to how it will all play out. It's been said that deep ellum will never be "what it used to be".... who knows? I personally support the restaurants there on an almost daily basis. Do you??
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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::Those poor yuppies did not know what to do.
Obviously, they DID know what to do. They drove home and stopped spending their money where they weren't welcome.
I'll bet the club they went to next is doing just fine.
Jason Rice Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Who is asking you to say things that aren’t true? You clearly had plenty of positive things to say about the place but you chose instead to focus on what’s wrong instead of what’s right. It’s just curious to me how the people who claim to love Deep Ellum the most are the first publicly sabotage any attempt at generating an inviting, positive buzz.
Unlike you Tracy, I don’t live and work close enough to make patronizing Deep Ellum on a daily basis fiscally responsible. I do support it when I can. Is that code for Your opinion doesn’t count?
someone always gets their panties in a wad? Good question.
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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mmmm, well I guess I didn't realize that what we were trying to do here is "generate an inviting, positive buzz." I thought we were just talkin' :-) and then some people got their panties in a wad....
And no I don't think anyone's opinion "doesn't count", but I do wonder why so many non-stakeholders (i.e. people who don't live or work or own businesses in or even visit deep ellum) are the ones who get upset and can't have an honest discourse about what's going on there and what they would like to see going on there. :-) Some of us have a past, a somewhat limited present, and maybe a future there :-)
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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tetsujin28 Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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In a strange way we are keeping the spirit of Deep Ellum alive carrying on the way we are. :)
tetsujin28 Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I took a lot of abuse during the Deep Ellum rezoning. The trash clubs like Uropa (sp?) had to go. Some things I voted for at City Plan didn't make it.
The area still has the same real estate. I've been in some of the spaces and yes they're old but some of them are just in need elbow grease. You can see several shops being improved for businesses in spite of the economy.
I do try to support. I've been to Trees and Tuckers Blues. Twisted Root can get my money if the line isn't out the door. Rudolph's is a great butcher shop. There's a great barbershop that opened in the 2900 block of Elm after being on Murray for a while. Pepe & Mitos is packed at lunch.
I would like to see someone open up a laundromat/drycleaners or a little bodega that cooked breakfast sandwiches and had groceries. Also, I hope that the DART green line will run later into the night at some point.
Deep Ellum will continue to come back. It will just take time.
Michael Davis Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Your so right Tet...the past is forever with us and yet, I dont look at that past anymore just visit today and realize..,it has been lived..
I recall when it all began, Sons Of Herman 1981,The Dallas Opera at the then fun Fair Park 1982, Peter Wolf Concepts at Fair Park 1978, the 500 Cafe 1986...Russell Hobbs and the Theatre Gallery..and Cricket Taylor at The Bar of Soap... that is my positive buzz, becuase....
I was one of those Pioneers, and I am not loosing by going back to some old toilet and being guided on an old tour, that this is good for you again and again and again.......it isnt..when it was good..it was... Make room in the Innner city world for a clean new out house...
A/T... That was the Bohemian flower power of Dallas that cant be relived.....and it is over...onto newer Deep Elm's....or deeper meanings, for a younger crowd,..
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Oh there are plenty of good things happening in Deep Ellum, make no mistake. The galleries like Hal Samples and Kettle strive to put on awesome shows on a regular basis. The good folks from Nomad Dallas rocked the house for the Fall Gallery House at 2616 Commerce and will do the same for the Halloween show. The Art Love Magic folks did a great job for the opening of the Green line. Malcolm's Swap Meet every 3rd Saturday is another example of the effort to keep Deep Ellum lively. There are still pieces of the puzzle missing though.
Now then, it is my estimation that if property owners are merely sitting on those empty store fronts and not seeking ways to bring them into play, then it doesn't do anyone any good. That isn't positive, nor is it negative. It is merely a statement of fact.
And yeah, I agree with Tracy. How nice it must be for the property owners to know that simply by doing nothing, they will make it through the recession "just fine".
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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*"I would like to see someone open up a laundromat/drycleaners or a little bodega that cooked breakfast sandwiches and had groceries."*
GREAT ideas Michael!
*"Also, I hope that the DART green line will run later into the night at some point.*" Absolutely necessary to support the nightlife...
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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So, Michael...what do you think the city could do to try and stimulate growth in the Deep Ellum area?
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I will make a public confession....I get my panties in a wad...Becuase... "It is over with"..and I cant go back...and if I do go back call me... Jake as in China Town...If you ever saw the Roman Polanski Movie....A/T...Some folks dont Know how to listen to older folks who have lived....so what.... you cant fix stupid....
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Well...I'll kick this around for awhile. My opinion...and that's debatable...wadded panties and all....is......No one knows exactly what to do with Deep Ellum. Is it supposed to be.... trendy or bohemian...uptown or downtown....residential with all the amenities ...(shopping and transportation)....or funky 60s bohemian lifestyle... Can it mix? So far, it hasn't. Why are there empty bldgs? Cause the mover and shaker owners are waiting in limbo for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow....and so far it ain't there.
I walk the line here...as an one of those "older" folk...that tend to get the past and the present mixed up in a hodgepodge....that sometimes doesn't mix well. That makes it hard to "fit in"....and........I think that's where Deep Ellum is now. It hasn't found its niche....and neither have I.
CeeCee Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I would love/kill for a nice grocery store/supermarket somewhere in Deep Ellum so I could walk from my home to my cup of coffee, run my chores, pick up the paper. We've got a butcher that I love, but really need a grocery store. I won't do the 7Eleven unless I absolutely have to.
anthropos Anonymous
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Al right Cee Cee, good face too....and your showing some fire, I like that.....Slow down and do more on the Elm...I am proud of you....A/T...New blood helps....especially if it is real and red...
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Ellipse City itpn.
Scott Doyle Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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what cee cee said. better than I could.
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Well Tracy,I tried real hard but, Cee Cee is a winner, AND IT IS A GOOD GIRL THING her observations are que....good..and we all should get to realize.....we get old and die....who cares....it was some old area in a place called Dallas bum fu...Texas...OK....bye...A/T, Enough Elm and Pearl I need a bud...
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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just a heads up AT, if you accidentally go to elm and pearl to get your bud, rather than pearl and commerce - you'll be in for quite a surprise ;-)
Tracy Yost Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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There are a ton of good ideas on this board. There's a lot of passion about Deep Ellum, what is lacking is the $$$. But there's creative things around that.
While music and arts is at the core of the history of Deep Ellum.
The one challenge is that Deep Ellum is never going to be heavily populated with the current setup of the buildings. Still, here's a few things that I think the city should do:
Get with the owners of the Knights of Pythias bldg and do something with it. Having it become a possible future victim of demolition by neglect is borderline criminal.
http://www.dallascityhall.com/histori...
Renovate and turn into office space? Who knows, but do something.
Sponsor a community garden on a piece of open space.
The people from the future UNT Law School will want excuses to hangout near downtown after class. The food aspect is there, so fill in the rest.
Get someone to build a basketball court or two. I envision something like the courts in NYC like "The Cage" in GreenwichVillage at 4th Street or Rucker Park. Get Nike to pay for it or Mark Cuban or someone like that. Have Frank Campagna (sp?) and the crew paint a massive mural on one wall.
100,000 people a year go to see games at the Cage each year. They have to eat somewhere; the neighborhood needs other things around it to make it more cohesive.
Then down the line somebody builds a 3 story building on the outskirts with a Lucky Strike bowling spot or a place like that. Bowling. Basketball. Grocery. A branch of the Art Institute. A cigar shop. A place that sells one of a kind sneakers like the place that was in Bishop Arts.
Do whatever it takes to bring people out during the day.
Michael Davis Verified
1 month, 2 weeks ago
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I borrowed a million bucks and built Deep Ellum Self Storage, if that counts.
My buddy next door bought the old Pearlstone Grain Elevator and has plans for that, if he can get the city to move their garbage trucks that park overnight across the street.
And a lot of people don't know this but Mort Meyerson (of Meyerson Symphony Hall fame) bought the old Dr. Pepper Building at the corner of Hickory and 2nd Ave, and they have big plans for that.
Paul Morgan bought the old Bill Reed building and completely converted it (at great cost) to a really tricked out photography venue with extra space for high-end spec lease space. It’s the building with the four flag poles in front of it. Morgan is a great guy, BTW.
Let's see . . .
TxDOT is pretty far along on dropping I-30 below grade, widening it to 19 lanes, and decking it with a park (ala Woodall Rogers) at the 2nd Ave intersection.
Westdale Asset bought all the Deep Ellum Loft buildings (the Continental, the Murray, Farm & Ranch) and maintain it real nice at pretty good rents. They also bought the old Door building then knocked it down (I bet they wish they hadn't done that w/the present economy plunge). They helped out on the Ambrose. They are looking for more stuff. They also did a good job on the Futura. They also headquarter in Deep Ellum – they are a big but quiet outfit.
Look. Deep Ellum . . . is. It will go where it wants to.
I'm hungry.
See you at the All Good.
holman Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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Tracy, THIS BUD IS FOR you and Rick and I hope things will work out pretty quick, while parking in town is a bad Carma thing to do, Innner City Dallas should drop it or they will have no more open doors too...Love you both...A/T...What's a man going to do....
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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and I'm Jones'n for the porcelain-skinned Esso service station (a Period Building) at Commerce and Main. What a cool little building.
It would make a great sandwich shop w/wine and beer. Old man Maynard owns it.
holman Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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AND THAT IS WHAT A DALLAS Community should do, breath.....Human cool, kindness, comfort, loyalty, respect......And the ear for a vowel or verb on the life of a texas meaning today, may it be Deep Elm, Victory Park in 29 years....The West End, Oak Cliff or even old Garland...We are the people who make up the city and why we live the way we do ....A/T,...What's a man going to do without his community...
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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All that a city will ever allow you is an angle on it—an oblique, indirect sample of what it contains, or what passes through it; a point of view. Peter Conrad (b. 1948), Australian critic, author. Independent on Sunday (London, 11 March 1990), said of New York.
Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion. E. B. White (1899–1985), U.S. author, editor. “Here is New York,” in Holiday (Indianapolis, April 1949)
holman Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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AMEN..........Thanks ...Holman and a whole guy...
alexander troup Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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I go all the time to Pepe's y Mito's, AllGood, Sons of Hermann, Trees, Kettle, Sol's, St. Pete's, Sankofa, Adair's, Twisted Root, Deep Sushi, Monica's, Space, Cowboy Chow, the Door, Angry Dog, Mokah/Life in Deep Ellum, Murray Street Coffee Shop, Calais Winery, Undermain Theater, Excuses, Hub Theater, Public Trust Gallery, Gallery 2910, The Lounge on Elm and other popular, well attended venues and restaurants out there, and have a great time. Saying there's nothing out there is ridiculous and it directly hurts those businesses. It's really in incredibly poor taste to try to encourage businesses to fail because you so badly want to be negative.
Businesses themselves have said that it's exactly the commentary of the doomsday folks (like the negative ones here) that do a great deal of harm to the area. People read negative posts like those here, and then decide to go elsewhere. It's not cool and any business owner should know better, and should appreciate how it would affect their business if others said such things about their area.
If Ellum continues to grow (as it has and is - there's half a dozen new spaces ready to open on elm alone before end of year, more on Commerce, Trees reopening was a blast and continues to go well, public art is surging all over) - it will be in spite of commentary like the focus on the negative folks here. But when it comes to Elllum you can be sure people will hawk online just to do so.
There's a section of the population that just loves to beat up on Ellum. Plenty did not give up on Ellum, stuck through the hard times, and they've held their businesses out there through thick or thick and thrive as it's been for many. Plenty are doing great. For others it's not easy but plenty have cared enough about the area to stick through it.
Also, there absolutely have been massive incentives by property owners to businesses and it's just another sign of massive ignorance or lack of real involvement to say othewise. That's between the business and the property owners, but ask around with some of the places that have opened in the last couple of years and you'll quickly hear about it. Why do people who are so clearly uninvolved in the area just guess as to what is going on?
So much of what happened in elm over all this time was the Beck deal and Dart construction. Because Beck was going to buy up a huge portion of the area at once, and had promised to keep the original facades, renovate the historic buildings and keep Ellum a music and eclectic area - tons of property owners were not leasing because they thought they'd be selling. The economy tanked, it fell through. Also - everyone was waiting on the DART. Then the SUPs were a harsh blow but places like Trees and 2826 have had a smooth sailing through them now. Now that Beck and DART are not an issue anymore, places are starting to open up again.
Also - the crime is very low at this point. There have been monthly crime watches in Ellum for the last year and the cops have said they wish the crime was as low in other areas of Dallas, as it is in Ellum. But that took a lot of folks working together to make happen. It did not come from angry, negative blogging.
And saying the city should this and that is great, but I wonder if those saying that here actually take days off of work ongoing throughout the year to make those things happen?
I know plenty who have and it's not easy to change things with the city, but some have made incredible progress by putting their money where their mouth is. The fact that people will not be able to boot cars as of Jan 2010 was because of a massive volunteer push to get people out to city hall to stop that.
But not many actually do that with Ellum. More people tend to talk about what "they" should do with it. "They" is everyone in Dallas, as in everyone as an individual needs to address the city themselves, not wait for others to or waste time on blogs being negative.
And it's ironic that one of the negative posters here was recently slamming a great project that happened in the area, while getting none of his facts clear and per usual just trying to find something negative to go after rather than seeing that a ton of work went into funding artists. So people need to just keep in mind when viewing blogs on ellum - that element is always there but it does not mean there is not a ton to be enjoyed in the area still. Some just want so bad to be right, and if they've predicted Ellum's doom then they'd rather be right about that than help her get back on her feet. That will happen through positive not negative encouragement. That will happen through being supportive of the businesses that are there rather than focusing on what's not. That will happen by deciding the rich, incredible history mentioned in this article is worth the pain and sacrifices (like so many businesses out there have done). Kudos to all of them!
One_of_Many_volunteers Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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::And it's ironic that one of the negative posters here was recently slamming a great project
I think a much larger irony is that when I was spending a great deal of time in Ellum -- what turns out to have been what we here are calling "its heyday," -- these same doomsayers were just as prevalent and there were just as many "back in my day when Ellum was REALLY taking off" stories. If I had a dime for each one I heard....
You never go broke convincing a man he's dying tomorrow.
Jason Rice Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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Huh? What? You mean marketing actually makes a difference in the success or failure of a business? Who would have thunk it?
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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Nah, Tumbles. The world over, people actually PREFER the taste of a supersaturated opaque dark brown sugary carbonic beverage from a metal can brought to them in tanker trucks to liquids their forebears evolved drinking for millions of years.
No really. It IS the real thing.
Jason Rice Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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Ha! Preaching to the choir here Jason. I'm down with the brown and it's making my dentist a bloody fortune as well as the advertisers.
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month, 1 week ago
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It's exciting to hear about Deep Ellum returning to 'its former glory'. But Deep Ellum has had more than one 'Glory Day' before the 90s heyday I suspect we are referencing here. But yes, good things are ahead. I can feel it when I am there because with the new DART green line, it makes Fair Park and Expo Park and Deep Ellum all reunited like En Vogue. Making this a very Chi-Town multi-use and very urban set of adventures for the price of one ticket. Thumbs up.
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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"TxDOT is pretty far along on dropping I-30 below grade, widening it to 19 lanes, and decking it with a park (ala Woodall Rogers) at the 2nd Ave intersection."
This has the potential to bridge the gap between the Arts District and Deep Ellum, which is something that has been sorely lacking, IMO. I really hope this becomes a place for local visual and performing artists to flourish and become a part of the Arts District.
"My buddy next door bought the old Pearlstone Grain Elevator and has plans for that, if he can get the city to move their garbage trucks that park overnight across the street."
holman, I always thought that would be an awesome rock climbing facility. Maybe even the inside and on the outside of the silos. I could see how your friend wouldn't want the reeking garbage trucks parked right by his building. Even thinking about that is nasty.
Michael, a bowling alley in Deep Ellum would ROCK!
Jason, good thing for the city Dallas that discussions on a local website aren't considered marketing. Not sure how many people get that idea or the simple concept that any business that lives and dies because of a few comments, is not long for this world, regardless of where they are.
Travis Bush Verified
1 month, 1 week ago
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Travis, your posts have caused unfounded rumors to spread wild through ellum.
You have gotten your information very incorrect and incomplete then sent it out here and other places. You've caused a lot of people a lot of grief because of it.
Once the rumors spread, a lot of people have to waste time correcting the misinformation and wasting time they'd otherwise spend on productive volunteer efforts.
What's more a shame, is that Pegasus does not fact check before posting misinfo and plain opinions, rather than facts.
Even more a crying shame, that is it takes time away from historic preservation meetings, crime watches, property owner meetings, sustainability meetings, city council meetings, and other volunteer meetings. But it seems to be far more popular to just state opinions and rank negative comments about the area than get facts and hard work in order. Volunteers are tired.
It would be really nice, if people would take some responsibility for wearing people out, for just going negative for the sake of going negative, for saying they care about ellum when all their actions and commentary are to the other side. It would be nice to see more put their time and their money where their mouth is.
This may be a joke to plenty, but others really, really care about this area, want to protect the history and are willing to invest serious time and sacrifice, rather than mouthing off saying whatever feels good and not backing it up with actions.
One_of_Many_volunteers Anonymous
1 month ago
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Consider this too, smack on Ellum all you want, it's still there. Fry street is not. Tons of historic buildings throughout Dallas are not. Tons gets torn down, Deep Ellum has not. It may not be in it's perfect state, but it's there in a town that loves new. That's a ton in part to the intense hard work and efforts of people who worked one on one with the city and property owners, as difficult as that may have been. It's not because of negative bloggers....
One_of_Many_volunteers Anonymous
1 month ago
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After the Fair is over with then what....A/T, ..Life in a small lane....
alexander troup Verified
1 month ago
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Travis, your posts have caused unfounded rumors to spread wild through ellum.
Uh, the issue you refer to was not a rumor. It was taken care of to everyone's satisfaction and put to bed, until now anyway. Furthermore, the idea that any discussion must solely focus on what you deem positive, might be construed as childish and myopic at best.
It would be really nice, if people would take some responsibility for wearing people out, for just going negative for the sake of going negative, for saying they care about ellum when all their actions and commentary are to the other side.
NO one has made comments here simply to be negative, especially me. Your notion that citizens discussing the state of Deep Ellum somehow wears people out, is also a bit far fetched. As well, your comment implies I have no involvement or do not appreciate the good things that happen in Deep Ellum, which is again patently flawed and untrue.
Come on down to Malcolm's Swap Meet tomorrow and we can talk about some of this more. Easier to speak face to face sometimes than it is on the Interwebz.
Travis Bush Verified
1 month ago
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Deep Elm Blues are ment for you, especially around Holloween....Curse on Elm Street...A/T....Cement City Blues too...
alexander troup Verified
1 month ago
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"Oh, sweet mama, Daddy's got them Deep Ellum blues"... The words to that song have spanned the generations and seem to be eerily appropiate even today.
CeeCee Anonymous
1 month ago
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Travis just say you're sorry and buy all of us a double at one of the fabulous Deep Ellum venues. Then maybe we will forgive you.
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month ago
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and it is true, them deep Elum Blues, old Harper had a book store full of them blues, he sold books, and rock and girly pictures too and had a great time, you know what...I respect people and love the old gezzers of that era too...
While that how I learned about Deep Elm and the Blues....and so like the last soul to come on back, I am telling you young folk...Hold em' or fold em' in Deep Elm is true.A/T...Bye now and get some new strings for that guitar...
alexander troup Verified
1 month ago
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Travis made the sky fall!!!
Awesome. See Jesus, Travis IS the Antichrist. You owe me $20!!!
Jason Rice Verified
1 month ago
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Travis would make a great line cook at the Pegasus Bar and Grill in Deep Elm.....A/T, ..Dreams if ever you would do so, they could become true...
alexander troup Verified
1 month ago
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The Antichrist - Now that's an understatement!
jtmbls Anonymous
1 month ago
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Travis is too good of a leader to become or represent and display .... Band member of Mayhem or roll with the Vampires of South Dallas and hold membership with the Dark DART rail/line Voodoos...A/T, Prime judge of character....
alexander troup Verified
1 month ago
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::Now that's an understatement!
Sure, but my spellcheck isn't the eschatology edition, so I went with an easy one.
Jason Rice Verified
1 month ago
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AHAHA!!! I am also personally responsible for the demise of the West End complex AND Victory Park's ruination. Please forward all royalties due for said work to mah banks accounts.
Travis Bush Verified
1 month ago
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Don't forget Fannie Mae, Global Warming and the '62 Mets.
While Ellum is indeed excellent work on yor part, unwilling to rest on your laurels, it is only the latest in a magnificent portfolio of catastrophes.
Jason Rice Verified
1 month ago
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Baaahhhaaaa!! That is your best work of art to date, Jason! Can I get that on a t-shirt?
Travis when you are finished wreaking havoc you should consider making that your new avatar.
jtmbls Anonymous
4 weeks ago
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