The neighborhood sometimes referred to as “Short North Dallas” is moving toward adopting an area planned development district.

Late last month, the City Plan Commission was scheduled to hear a request to authorize a future public hearing about adopting the development district for the area bounded by Central Expressway, Washington Avenue, Ross Avenue and Thomas Street.

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This neighborhood, which is centered on Hall Street, also is sometimes referred to as the Freedmen’s Town area and is one of the City’s most historically significant neighborhoods, as well as one of our earliest African-American communities.

The historic enclave is surrounded by rapidly redeveloping areas such as the Arts District, State-Thomas, Cityplace and Deep Ellum.

Planners, housing advocates and others believe now is the time to do some sensitive redevelopment to improve the area and raise property values while preserving the area’s character and integrity.

The entire planned development district process is likely to take about a year.

Deep Ellum Redevelopment Continues

A number of Deep Ellum property owners also are considering ways to improve their area, especially to make it more hospitable to high-quality residential projects.

The challenge is to preserve the unique character of the area, which has fueled its rebirth, while stabilizing area land use and upgrading it, where possible.

The new Jefferson at Gaston Yards multifamily development is underway, and several other upscale residential projects are in the works.

Bryan Place ‘Downzoning’ Effort Launched

A Bryan Place neighborhood group is attempting to “downzone” some adjoining property from commercial and multifamily zoning to smaller-scale residential uses, especially single-family.

The group’s efforts are complicated by the fact that Bryan Place is just east of Downtown and, like Hall Street, is surrounded by recent development activity.

In fact, many believe it may make more sense for this close-in, inner-city area to become more dense, not less.

The neighborhood’s best chance for success may be negotiating the best possible deal with adjacent landowners, rather than confronting them in the political process.

Montessori School Files SUP Request

A Montessori elementary school has filed a specific use permit request to expand in space leased from the First United Lutheran Church, 6202 Mockingbird at Norris. The request is expected to be heard by the Plan Commission Nov. 30.

The school opened this fall with a license for 59 students, and now it wants to add 40 more students.

If approved by the Plan Commission, the application will go to the City Council in December or January.

Sometime in December, the Advisory Committee for the possible widening of Haskell Avenue will make its recommendation about future street alignment and width. The committee’s recommendation will go before the Council in January.

Widening Haskell Recommended

It appears likely the proposed alignment will have a 120-foot right-of-way from Peak to Parry, including six street lanes and a 40-foot wide lane for pedestrians and possible future trolley traffic.

From Live Oak to Victor, the new alignment will veer to the east to avoid existing buildings owned by some major East Dallas religious institutions.

Actual construction is unlikely to begin for seven to eight years.

Neighborhood Fair on Live Oak

A number of East Dallas neighborhood groups – larger City-wide organizations such as the Dallas Homeowners League, and other groups such as the Dallas Plan, Preservation Dallas and the Greater Dallas Planning Council – held a highly successful “neighborhood fair” for community cooperation last month on Live Oak.

The event was a great opportunity for groups to show off their neighborhoods and to share information and ideas with others.

The organizers are looking forward to sponsoring the event again next year with even more participation.