Posted on December 28, 2007 at 8:50 a.m.

You are right. This did not accur in Deep Ellum. It was in Old East Dallas. The Dallas Morning News has already corrected the mis-identification.

On UPDATED: Possible burglar shot and killed in east Dallas

Posted on December 14, 2007 at 8:34 a.m.

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.

On Deep Ellum group is a source of pride

Posted on November 9, 2007 at 3:39 p.m.

Here’s an angle worth mentioning:

“WHEREAS, while it is recognized that, in time, residential uses in the area may increase, those who choose to live in this district should expect should expect that noise, odor, and the visual intrusions associated with those business uses will be greater than those normally associated with other residential areas. It is the expressed intent of this ordinance to preserve and protect the business uses which currently exist or have traditionally existed in this area and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance should be broadly interpreted;

WHEREAS, the city council finds that it is in the public interest to establish this planned development district, to be known as the Deep Ellum/Near East Side District.”

It appears that near by property owners must assert a compelling encroachment argument OVER AND ABOVE normal noise, etc., generated by the typical bar/restaurant.

Maybe our elected representatives, and those on the board, should be reminded of the preamble of the adopted ordinance – PD 269.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues

Posted on November 8, 2007 at 1:06 p.m.

Uptown's built out and over-priced (the land - $75/SF).

The three main drags coming out of downtown - Elm, Main and Commerce make Deep Ellum a natural. Central Expy blocks East Dallas on optimal access, which means much.

The Cedars is still too dangerous. Farmers Market now has a 27 million mega shelter, which will kill all but spec development.

It's already started on the east side of Deep Ellum where Mort Meyerson has the Old Dr Pepper building, Paul Morgan redeveloped the Bill Reed Building, and Westdale's new construction near Baylor and the proposed substation and now in the 3100 block of Main Street.

With the subprime collapse, apartments are back in demand.

It's rumored that there is a block-up in progress, but I have no direct knowledge of it.

The thing of it is, the biggest block to re-igniting Deep Ellum as it was, has always been a select number of entertainment-oriented property owners who took the decision to not long-term lease to viable operators who had the finincial strength to get it done, over the long pull. They just didn't want to lock their properties' up like that, for a reason. No doubt their lament is that the tenant never showed up, but look around: Uptown, downtown, Southside, Denton, and Arlington all got it done.

They are old, absentee and want to cash out.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues

Posted on November 8, 2007 at 11:40 a.m.

For instance, if a Houston Blues Club operator came to town loaded with cash and backed by a bank and wanted to lease 20,000 sq.ft. in the middle of Deep Ellum, they would demand a 20 year lease and spend a million on finish-out.

A property owner cannot be part of a larger redevelopment plan if he is encumbered by a credit tenant on a long term lease, for he has conveyed a portion of the bundle of rights of ownership - use and occupancy - to others for 20 years.

This is probably the single greatest red flag why Deep Ellum is where it is today. The current property owners block reinvestment as an art and entertainment enclave that would make it viable, as it is. They are letting Deep Ellum bleed out.

They are swinging for the fences. Complete redevelopment.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues

Posted on November 8, 2007 at 10:52 a.m.

And I understand what you are saying, and where you are coming from. But there is a reason why the lessors of these properties do not upgrade the buildings and spend the monies necessary to bring in talent that would attract a larger spectrum of the "entertainment dollar".

It would make Deep Ellum viable as an edgey entertainment district, as it is presently configured. This would block redevelopment. The current property owners make no superstructure upgrades nor do they actively solicit tenants (club/retaurant operators) who would pay for such upgrades at their own expense to create the environment that large numbers of Dallasites would want to patronize.

Basically, the current uses of the properties on the west side of Deep Ellum are what is known in real estate parlance as "interim uses" designed to cover property taxes until it is time to redevelop.

When the City deems the area to be "blighted", that is the harbinger of a legal process where by they will assuyme the authority to "clean it up". And I believe that the present landlords want to stay just in front of that state.

But it's coming because these SUPs are a band-aid. The perception of Deep Ellum by the rest of Dallas is what will cause the district to be re-sleeved into a fake and glitzed copy of itself.

Kinda like a Stepford Wife.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues

Posted on November 8, 2007 at 9:31 a.m.

The property owners who rent to the tenants that operate the venues which attract the crowd that causes the mayhem . . . is not the bunch I am talking about. But I will now.

Let me foretell the future: Deep Ellum is going to be bull-dozed (see: The Door property transition into mid-rise residential/gallery/retail by Westdale Asset Management).

Why? The City government, the neighborhood property owners (other than the entertainment slum lords), and Dallasites all across the fruited plain . . . do not see an exit strategy. It ain’t getting’ better, baby. The strategy by the lessor is to lease at cheap rates the low-end venues so to keep it dilapidated and dangerous so there is no chance of making a half-assed comeback to Edie Brickell years. There is a net benefit to this.

Land will rise to $40 per square foot, and entire city blocks will sell to developers who will get a good reception downtown to flush the existing improvements down Mill Creek along with the rest of the brackish water.

The so-called major property owners who presently play the deal like they really care about giving the “Black n Blue” night people a venue, are pushing land value up over any return the current buildings can generate. That means the buildings must go. And the City Council will agree to it in the name of Safety.

If we don’t hit a recession, Deep Ellum will be a branded entertainment district anchored by mid-density residential and art galleries. It will be unrecognizable. Kinda like the West End.

That’s where we are going because that is where the underlying property owners who intentionally brought in a bunch of riff-raff with no more personality than a paper cup.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues

Posted on November 8, 2007 at 6:26 a.m.

Big shoot out between rival gangs at 2:30 in the morning a few days ago in front of Seven drew 25 cop cars and cost massive overtime. This is the perception our fair city now has regarding Deep Ellum. Thanks.

Under 21 kiddos who mill around (tresspass) on private property until 0400 apparently engage in enough petty crimes and assaults to rack up police reports, further driving down property values. Somebody has to pay the tab for all this. Right now, it's the property owners and Dallas taxpayers. Next, yer up at bat. So stop whining.

Deep Ellum used to be the place to be. It is the present crowd that you are attracting with your venues which need to go. You aren't Deep Ellum, and never were. You are interlopers. Those who support the introduction of human activity into the neighborhood that results in highly destructive activity are part of the problem, not the cure.

These SUPs are a reaction to your actions. Deal with it.

On City Planning Commission meeting on Thursday could decide fate of several Deep Ellum music venues