Latino Cultural Center

[rantanamo]

it is purely a mockery if that's the purpose. As others have said, such groups, museums or centers serve a purpose. I was a member of such a group in college. It was the only lifeblood of truthful information for many in the black community of austin, so I joined. There was also the matter of very few black students at UT, so it was a good information and shared experience forum in itself. We actually got out and helped people who had been misinformed about the light rail vote, and how it would actually help all of Austin. We also helped people with issues such as redlining(which still goes on :mad: ). We had a real purpose. I didn't like the fact that we designated race, but I do understand why it's there. We were encouraged to bring anyone though, and they did come. So I'm sorry, but I think it is a mockery of real groups.

[Columbus Civil]

It's hard being white these days.

[evdallas]

I really like the architecture. I'll leave you all to the politics :cool:

[aceplace]

I agree, evdallas, the architecture is stunning...

[tamtagon]

How's this place doing?

[gc]

I think it is doing pretty good. They recently hired a new director and are beginning to talk about Phase II, which would obviously expand exhibition space and add a kitchen.

[drumguy8800]

365,000 visitors a year, if I remember the article right.. that would be 1,000 per day for you math whizzes.

Phase II? Like, across the street? I wish that they would've redone the intersection (Good Latimer.. and.. what?) where this place is. And put all the utilities underground. In the Dallas CVB video, its one of the only shots with utility poles swaying in the background.

[drumguy8800]

DFWmaps has the expansion listed on their map: i don't know if that makes it any more official or not.

Currently 27000 sf, adding 22000 sf. ;)

Map (http://www.dfwmaps.com/index.asp?ExtentLeft=2487825&ExtentRight=2500871&ExtentTop=6981068.20751121&ExtentBottom=6968053.79248879&idCmd=&buffer=&x1=199&x2=258&y1=248&y2=300&tool=zoombox&click.x=228.5&click.y=274&Requests=on&selectpt.x=&selectpt.y=&selectpt.stat=&Address=&CityZip=&Label=&Cmd=ZoomIn&msize=large&mapTheme=dfwmaps&mapOption=DEVMON&DEVMON_ACTIVITY=on&DEVMONSTATUS3=Under+Construct&DEVMONSTATUS4=Announced).

[rantanamo]

Actually that's the future CityLights location

[Aggie99]

I had a tour of this facility and the expansion will be out back on the empty lot they already own. The City Lights project will be built across the street.

[tamtagon]

^?What's up with the expansion?

[Rob]

^?What's up with the expansion?

Nothing??

[ellum:onstage]

365,000 visitors a year, if I remember the article right.. that would be 1,000 per day for you math whizzes.

1000 a day? I have never seen anyone there, much less 1000 a day. I think they overshot that estimate to trump up the influence that this building would actually have on the Latino community. I haven't heard any Tejano blasting out of there yet. When do I get to go and hear the great Tejano bands?

[Rob]

I've seen large numbers of people there - usually during functions in the evenings. But certainly no where near 1000 per day.

[ellum:onstage]

I've seen large numbers of people there - usually during functions in the evenings. But certainly no where near 1000 per day.

Well, I wanna go to whatever they are doing there. I would love to see what is developing in our Latino culture. I never see anything advertised....is there a website?

[Rob]

Beats me, I just see the crowds every now and then because I live right across the street and pass it on my way back from Wholefoods.

[vman]

I pass it all the time and have commented several times to friends that there is never anything going on there. It's always dead.

[Agnus Dei]

The couple times I've gone there's been mild traffic, nothing heavy. I haven't gone to any functions, though.
I don't see how there could be a massive amount of visitors at this point, though. The space isn't that large and the exhibits are usually rather small. One of the guides/docents back in 2004 explained that more was to come so right now it was just an introductory period of sorts. Makes sense.

That meditation room (if that's the proper term) is awesome though. It's one of the coolest pieces in the metroplex.

[msutton]

meditation room? what is that?

[Agnus Dei]

It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, the room is right before you go into the theatre area. It's a small room with a high ceiling featuring some beautiful painted images. Then various lights shine on certain parts of it at intervals. So the colours are constantly changing. I think the floor pattern is tied into it somehow, but I'm not 100%. I just remember the ceiling. It sounds pretty standard for a meditation area but it's really fantastic. I remember leaving more impressed with that than the exhibit.

[RobertB]

Before they start on Phase II, they might want to do some work on Phase I. The signature purple tower is oozing some sort of white goop from cracks, making it look like it's already in disrepair. I like the external architecture, and I'm sure it will be much more popular once that corner goes from "isolated" to "integrated" with the construction of the nearby Deep Ellum DART Station (not to mention City Lights, which seems like an increasingly uncertain project).

[Rob]

It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, the room is right before you go into the theatre area. It's a small room with a high ceiling featuring some beautiful painted images. Then various lights shine on certain parts of it at intervals. So the colours are constantly changing. I think the floor pattern is tied into it somehow, but I'm not 100%. I just remember the ceiling. It sounds pretty standard for a meditation area but it's really fantastic. I remember leaving more impressed with that than the exhibit.

Except for the part about the painted images, it sounds an awful lot like a James Turrell. Of course I doubt James Turrell would be of much significance when it comes to Latino Culture.

[ellum:onstage]

^true

[jsoto3]

WFAA Video:
http://www.wfaa.com/video/politics-index.html?nvid=338830&shu=1


Latino center's bad roof means $384K for taxpayers
March 5th, 2009

The Latino Cultural Center is in the shadow of downtown Dallas. Now, city taxpayers are paying nearly $400,000 dollars to fix a problem that started at the top.

I hope the City wins its lawsuit against the contractor. The City claims that the contractor installed the roof (I assume they mean the clay tiles) with extra long screws that pierced the waterproofing membrane below rather than with the shorter nails specified by the architect. The contractor claims that they installed everything per drawings and specs and that the leak is a result of a design flaw, the roof not having sufficient slope to drain water quickly enough. The contractor's claim is BS! That roof has a slope of at least 3:12, which is more than sufficient for drainage.

[MDE]

long screws instead of shorter nails

Using nails is usually cheaper and quicker than using screws, so I'm not sure the contractor would have used them if they were not specified.