The plan commission approved zoning changes that would allow the White Rock YMCA to construct a new building at Gaston and Loving. The approval was unanimous, according to the Lakewood Hills Facebook page.
Both Lakewood Hills and Lakewood neighbors were present at Thursday’s meeting to show support for the YMCA. The Lakewood board sent an appeal to its residents noting that along with a new Y, “a long overdue redevelopment of one of our neighborhood’s key intersections at Gaston and Garland/E. Grand hangs in the balance.”
We haven’t heard from Joe Kast since our May story profiling his struggle between knowing the Y’s move would be a good thing for the neighborhood as a whole yet would pose problems for his own property. Lakewood’s Facebook page mentions a homeowner who “has engaged an attorney in an effort to delay the YMCA’s plans. The YMCA has made numerous property improvement overtures to the homeowner, such as fences, trees, bushes, etc., which as of yet, none have been accepted.
“As your homeowners association, and indeed, one that contains conservation districts and stabilization overlays, we certainly understand the importance of protecting one’s property rights. In this case, however, the enormous potential economic impact from a bevy of new businesses, and the continued preservation of all of our property values that accompanies investment towards local residential amenities, cannot be ignored.”
The only hurdle the Y faces now is the Dallas City Council, which has the final say on the zoning change. If that domino falls, the Y will move across the street, and as Rachel Stone has already noted, it looks like Far West nightclub’s days are numbered. All of this should make way for Lincoln Property Co.’s purchase of that property, and its redevelopment of the Gaston and Garland/East Grand.
