Blake Ramick

• 4 months, 1 week ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Vast horde of teens apparently loitering around Southlake Town Square

  How is a curfew a solution to the problem? All it does is move them to another spot. Seems these days people want to "redirect" problems instead of finding solutions on how to solve them.

• 6 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Mayor Leppert made hundreds of thousands selling stock in 2008

  I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico. In fact dammit, Warren B.

• 6 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas firefighters who took tainted promotion exam get a pass

  So I'm confused. They can't retake another test because ......?

• 8 months ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Larry James' thoughts on the upcoming Dallas elections

  I agree with your statements 100%. It's hard enough to get development as it is. Dallas doesn't need more red tape to slow down the process.

• 8 months ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Takeaways from the failure of the Plaza Inn deal in Dallas

  "A subsequent meeting with the neighborhood association results in a final rejection of the revised plan. As a result, the tax credit application is withdrawn and the deal is dead."

  Larry who was at this meeting, because as a CNA member I wasn't aware of such a subsequent meeting. The CNA voted on a plan as presented by Larry Hamilton. To my knowledge, no other member occurred.

  Please clarify your statement so the facts can be set straight.

• 8 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  City of Dallas fixes 700 busted freeway lights, while 679 new ones go bad

  Call 311 to report the light outages.

• 9 months, 2 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas City Council approves developer-neighborhood recommendations for form based zoning

  I'm excited to see this as well.

• 9 months, 2 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  With homeless, Dallas usually gets what we intend...

  "Job - City Council Person Responsibility - to convey the wishes of his/her constituents. Their district, area, the people who elected them."

  I'm sure you know by now that sounds good on paper, but doesn't always happen. Clearly you've heard about TX Nameplate. That was a clear majority against and look how that turned out.

  I like how the debates are solely focused on 1 piece of the development. Let's not forget it's not 100% for homeless. It has a % designated for low income. Guess what, no matter who you are you still have to pay your bills to live there or you get the boot.

• 9 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas has a mayor and city council that shows leadership

  I think you missed the point of the article here. He's praising the fact that the Mayor is making good on what he would do.

  That's a hell of a lot better the false hopes and dreams that aren't followed through. Good for Mayor Leppert in making a strong effort to do what he said he was going to do.

• 9 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Bizarre Texas House resolution calls for repeal of thousands of federal laws

  Is the illustration in this article a pic of a man or women?

• 9 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  With homeless, Dallas usually gets what we intend...

  I applaud Larry James for his efforts and willingness to work with the community to bring something that was acceptable to both sides.

  Unfortunately it sounds as though some people wanted more, or less and it wasn't acceptable to the community. It seems as though a lot of those who voted against this have bigger and better plans for the building. Or their arguments involved logistical concerns and pricing issues with the sale of the building. (Let's look at the big picture people!) In 10 years would someone say , "Wow what a success, too bad they overpaid for the building." WHO CARES! I encourage those who voted aginst this to propose ideas for the building, because so far I haven't seen anything that's even 50% as good as this. And in my opinion the plan would serve the community far better then the original proposed boutique hotel. And for an area that wants to say it welcomes diversity, this vote surely doesn't show it.

  Larry James has just as much invested in making sure this project successful because of the amount of land directly across 30 he is working to develop. This could be a great starting catalyst to begin bridging (no pun intended) the gap between the Cedars and Downtown.

  And Larry the vote numbers might actually be 39 against and 16 for, as there was a clerical error in a failure to count the dues of one resident. To this point I haven't personally heard that the resident's vote was allow to be counted. That remains to be clarified.

• 11 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas' Cedars neighborhood to stay home for industrial operations

  "I will believe that when I see it. Are you suggesting there are plans to construct something besides condos and town homes that most of us cannot afford to lease or purchase?"

  Larry Hamilton is about to submit for state funding to build low income housing at the Ramada Inn location right next to the Buzz. The details are not yet ironed out. But to answer your question.

  So YES, plans for something besides town homes and condos are in the works. Even he gets funding the City will still have to approve the development. Though I don't that will be a problem if it get's that far.

  Like anything too much of anything is bad and that includes condos, low income housing, vacant lots, clubs, liquor stores (referring to Mr Davis's post about South Dallas) and etc.

• 11 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Welcome to hell where you are welcome to sell -- the situation on South Lamar in Dallas

  And they need to stop issuing permits to location and establishments that continually reorg to circumvent the system.

• 11 months, 3 weeks ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Welcome to hell where you are welcome to sell -- the situation on South Lamar in Dallas

  "If we don't protect all citizens equally in all corners of the city, we are failing our constituents."

  I understand your frustration completely but we know the quote above is not how the world works. Ideally is should, but it doesn't. It definitely seems like their is an overdose of liquor stores.

  "DPD is stretched to the hilt because the leeches of the community aren't being shut down and are allowed to flourish." I think code enforcement is sorely lacking in their followup. Especially in regards to the clubs. I think the city needs a stiffer policy or maybe they just need to enforce it.

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Halliburton moves data center from Houston to Dallas

  Sounds like common sense to me. You think people would have thought about this before. Sounds good for Dallas though.

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Texas reps to consider UNT law school money

  Any discussion on what building they are going after?

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas' Cedars neighborhood to stay home for industrial operations

  Travis,

  I think it's safe to say most of the people that live in the Cedars don't want another West Village. And yes there are plans for other types of projects. One developer is looking into building sustainable green housing using untraditional methods of construction. Others have express interest in building a solar power community (as soon as Dallas, gets with the program to work on some tax incentives).

  Travis I understand your concern for affordable housing, but given the proximity of the Cedars to downtown and it's estimated population growth land/rent is only going to get more costly. I do agree that there needs to be a variety of housing. Pricing is controlled by supply and demand though. As long as people are willing to pay the prices the developers will continue to build. (This is where the city council comes in.) Without a plan the city is giving developers a blank slate to build however they want. That's why creating a plan and sticking to it is so vitally important. It insures an area is developing in a way it's residents want it to instead of the way a developer with a big check book wants it to.

  Accomplishing things in life are done by making a plan and going with it. There might be adjustments along the way, but they should be improvements to help reach whatever you ultimate goal is. They shouldn't be changes that deter that goal from happening.

  "You think any of those businesses or people who lease there have anything to do with Bryan Adams High School that resides right behind the West Village" I don't personally know because I'm too active in that area of Dallas. I would figure it's partly because the West Village is a younger working crowd and don't have a lot of children. So it's probably not a priority to them.
  

  alexander, Anyone who has been in Dallas a long time understands this. Oswald and his cohorts killed more then just JFK they killed downtown for about 20 years. Only in the last 5-7 years has it begun to recover. With that I ask you to keep in mind that you must remember what happened in the past and actively work to make sure it never happens again.

  These are the types of things we're trying to do in the Cedars. We're trying to move it forward and make it more then a neglected and ignored area. You can't just write it off and throw it away, because you have scars along the way.

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas' Cedars neighborhood to stay home for industrial operations

  Michael Davis,

  Thank you for your response on the issue. You have provided more insight into the matter then anyone else has at City Hall has so far. After numerous emails, phone calls and trying to schedule a meeting with Pauline Medrano it has left the Cedars residents feeling disconnected and ignored.

  When it's all said and done Medrano will be able to put a feather in her hat for the JPI Cedars West development, The Trinity River Project and etc. That's how she'll be known.

  It just doesn't make since why a community has to overwhelmingly fight tooth and nail to keep an active asset to the community like Lee Harvey's while trying to remove Texas Nameplate. It seems as though the city is fighting everything the area is asking support on. Medrano is leaving a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of people in the Cedars.

  Maybe Monica is planning to run again for City Hall :)

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas' Cedars neighborhood to stay home for industrial operations

  Clay213

  Only idiots make such open blanket comments.

  This has more to do then people's pocket books. Whether Texas Nameplate stays or not my pocket book will be just fine. Here's the issues.

  1. Texas Nameplate has grandfathered EPA exemptions. IE, they don't meet today's standards and that's a bad thing for everyone. As the city grows in density it's environmental risk to the city grows.

  2. The community has clearly spoken that they want to see the area prosper, but Pauline chose to ignore that voice by ignoring plans already in place. The rezoning was done in 2002 and TX Nameplate fought and lost then. The new state of events are nothing more then the city blatantly not supporting what it has already put in place. And if the city was really concerned about the conservation of business then it wouldn't be getting ready to wipe out the area directly east of the trinity river and make room for new development.. which leads me to my next point.

  3. The area is trying to build a community and the industrial is hindering that development. A community doesn't mean all residential. It means residents and business owners working together to make their area become the best that it can become. Improvement takes effort and time. For starters this includes a continued decrease in crime through support of the community and DPD, population growth and street improvements by the city. I have yet to see the involvement of TX Nameplate at any of the Cedars Neighborhood Association or Crime watch meetings. This is one HUGE reason why they differ from Lee Harvey's. Sure Seth is there to make money but he's also active in being a part of the community. It's (Lee Harvey's) become a central anchor to spear head improvement. And that's why residents support it so much. It's a catalyst for community.

  4. Creative destruction is always a part of change. And it usually occurs because of an inefficiency. As downtown, Deep Ellum, Uptown and Oaklawn continue to develop the Cedars is a likely candidate for the most affordable housing of the group. There's a reason the area of industrial was zoned out. It's because it no longer belongs given the bright potential of the area.

  5. And for those that new people moving in are kicking people out... Lack of zoning and the community not sicking together is what made the Cedars what it is today.. I-30 helped too. The Cedars used to have some of the finest homes in Dallas. For example, the first Jewish Synagogue in Dallas was there. Mr Marcus of Neiman's was raised there. And the industrial moved in (creative destruction), scraped the houses and built large factories. All for what, their own self serving interests? And where are they all now? Most of the fine homes and businesses are gone. And for several decades after the area continued to decline. So industrial has had their time to make the most out of the area. They failed along with most of the businesses.
     

  In the last 10-15 years the area began improving. 15 years ago it was really rough. Gangs would hold people at gun point under the bridge at Ervay near American Beauty Mill and charge a toll to passing cars. The Cedars has come along way since then and is only continuing to improve.

  Dallas is one of the most dynamically changing large cities in the US right now. We are in the midst of exciting times for Dallas. In another 10 years Dallas is going to see the competition of some huge projects. I'm proud to say I'm from Dallas.

  The reality is though more jobs, arts, entertainment, homes, taxes, an overall increase quality life are being lost by the industrial staying. Texas Nameplate will leave. It's not a question of if, but when.

• 1 year ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Building a community: The Cedars, Dallas

  continued comments. http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/...

• 1 year, 1 month ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Concert review: Cricket Taylor and Friends at AllGood Cafe in Dallas (Oct. 17)

  There was someone recording at this show. It'll probably end up on YouTube soon. Be on the look out.

  ps. Zach I forgot to get the CD from you this weekend.

• 1 year, 1 month ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas officials investigate possible Fair Park towing scam

  I bet this won't happen a Jerry World when it opens. Food for thought for the city if it wasn't to keep the scheduled games it already has.

• 1 year, 2 months ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Meridian Room in Dallas' Exposition Park closed

  NOOOOOOOOO!

• 1 year, 2 months ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Super Bowl Host Committee prepares to hire staff to train volunteers, open offices in Dallas-Fort Worth

  "Two offices, one in Dallas and another in Fort Worth, will open in January with a staff of about a dozen people."

  2 offices in Dallas. HUH I must have missed something.

• 1 year, 2 months ago
  Blake Ramick's comment on:

  Dallas becomes first large American city to get on board EPA's environmental program

  jtmbls,

  No nothing on there about individual or residential incentives. Thanks though.

Previous  | 1 of 2 |