06/10/05  Enemies from within -- Why South Dallas can't make a comeback!

Robert Wilonsky's "This Teardown Town" (Dallas Observer , 6/9/05) raises some interesting points about the demise of South Dallas and the reason that it continues.  Though the article focuses on preserving the area's existing historical structures, there is more to the problem than the article suggests. 

I have tried in the past to acquire a City-owned (according to Dallas CAD) unsound structure in South Dallas in the past with unpleasant results.  See My experience with doing business with the city in South Dallas (DallasArena.com, 12/13/04).

There ARE people willing to build in South Dallas.  The house at 2720 South Boulevard was constructed last year and is a beautiful home built within the neighborhood's historic character. The owners were able to build that house just fine without a ton of burglaries during construction. There are other examples as well.

In every major city (except for Dallas), developers have built a ton of brand-new houses and done countless renovations in similar neighborhoods. Other cities have the same problems in run-down neighborhoods such as theft, crime, and the like, and seem to do just fine.  If Harlem NYC, Southwest Atlanta and Logan Circle (Washington DC) can make a comeback, why can?t South Dallas?

To me, there are many factors.

The Land Bank project is not working as fast as it should.  In addition, the City of Dallas, Southfair CDC, ICDC, Gateway, TR Hoover, The Dallas Black Chamber and others have the neighborhood in a hostage situation by holding onto land plots for years and not developing them or selling them. They're all holding out for their own individual paydays instead of redeveloping the communities in which they are based. Nobody wants to rehab other buildings because they're surrounded by vacant lots that attract vagrants. 

Do you really expect the Topletz family to do something about a building?  Ha ha ha ? they?re part of the problem.  The only reason they?re still in business is because of flawed prosecution and technicalities ? sort of the way Old Al Lipscomb says he?s ?been cleared?

The fact is, most elected officials in this city would rather build String Thing bridges over the Trinity Sewer (aka Trinity River) and give away city tax dollars to fancy arts district museums that serve as tax shelters for Park Cities Bubbleheads and the Preston Hollow elite instead of investing in our city?s neighborhoods.  Until that attitude changes and the mentality of the mayor and some of our City Council members changes, you will see more of the same.

I am sick of it.  Anyone who wants to make a difference in South Dallas can forward me an e-mail and let?s get things going.

Michael Davis

Editor's comment:  And the people said, AMEN!