What is going on with mockingbird station?

[Boredkid]

Yesterday I went to mockingbird station to see a movie. The place is run down. Inside the angelika wall paper was coming off the wall. Out side siding was missing, there was rust on the sides of the building. Just wondering why it is in such disrepair?

[Boredkid]

I will try to run up there this afternoon and take some pics

[incrediculous]

I go to Angelika all the time, and I've noticed anything wrong with it.

[Boredkid]

Yesterday next to 7 the wall paper was coming off the wall. They that area. But still in general the entire project needs a little cleaning.

[Boredkid]

Pics just taken this morning

[Boredkid]

I was not able to get into the angelika but I may go see a movie this afternoon, if I do I will try to take some pics of the inside.

[Milkman Dan]

Email property management your pics and concerns. Follow up in a couple weeks w/ them.

[Boredkid]

can you supply me with the e-mail address?

[Columbus Civil]

That oil stain on the driveway is inexcusable.

[staplesla]

They don't have an email addy on the site, here is the phone # though.

Mockingbird Station Partners, Llp.
UC Urban, Developer
7001 Preston Road, Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75205
phone: (214)-252-1183
fax: (214)-219-2080

[Boredkid]

That oil stain on the driveway is inexcusable.

It really could look alot better being power washed every now and then.

[Boredkid]

They don't have an email addy on the site, here is the phone # though.

Mockingbird Station Partners, Llp.
UC Urban, Developer
7001 Preston Road, Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75205
phone: (214)-252-1183
fax: (214)-219-2080

Thank you, Will give them a shout and send them the pics.

[Insidetheloop]

A solid thunderstorm or two would wash away all that stuff except for the graffiti.

I thought you guys like the industrial grunge rust look.

[Boredkid]

Clean freak here. If I cant lysol or bleach it, I do not own it.

[incrediculous]

Wow. I guess I hadn't paid much attention. That rust isn't a good sign.

[Insidetheloop]

With all that rust though, I wonder how much longer the development there will last before falling apart? That building only opened 6 years ago. Either a sub contractor screwed them on construction or the design is flawed.

[Rob]

The whole plaza should be condemned.

[Boredkid]

The whole plaza should be condemned.

That might be a bit much. A good power washing, some paint and some new metal could do alot to make it cleaner. Problem is we get these nice new complexes built but they are not taken care of.

[rjlevins]

It's the Dallas philosophy. If it's not shiny and new, it must be substandard.

[drumguy8800]

That might be a bit much. A good power washing, some paint and some new metal could do alot to make it cleaner. Problem is we get these nice new complexes built but they are not taken care of.I think he was being sarcastic..

Yeah, a good power-washing is in order. Everything else seems okay, though. They'd sell that pole in the third picture at Urban Outfitters for $200. It's tres chique.

[KBilly]

Are the last 2 pics from the DART station or from the garage?

Is the MB management responsible for the DART station?

[Boredkid]

The second to last is the path way that runs along the tracks. You see if when walking over the bridge from dart to mocking birdstation. Look to your right before the angelika and you see the stairs down to it. The second was the elevators down to the train.

[SMU211]

You can try txmockingbirdstation@simpsonhousing.com

[SMU211]

Yeah, it is pretty bad up there...especially given how it is supposed to look.

www.simpsonhousing.com (in case you did not get that from the email address)

[1999McKinneyAve]

Didnt ownership recently change hands with this property?? Ive noticed a lot of dark lofts at night at Mockingbird Station, and this would be between 8-10PM...how well are they staying leased?

[hamiltonpl]

Why haven't they just bulldozed the whole place already? What a slum!

[DalMac]

Though I've lived by MS for over two years now I have only been there 2-3 times. And since it has been awhile since my last visit, I don't recall seeing these problems. It hasn't dawned on me until now, but as a fan of urban development MS should be a regular destination for me due to close proximity. Yet nothing has drawn me back consistently. The good news is that this is a pioneer development in Dallas and hopefully the Park Lane project will create a more dynamic, viable destination.

[vman]

Sometimes, I catch the train from MS to downtown for work. The escalators break all the time, and that elevator is just gross. But besides that I still love the place. I went to the Angelika Saturday night (alone...again) to see Matchpoint (I'm a huge Woody Allen fan...the movie was okay, but wasn't as good as some reviews I've read). Anyway, it looked like the asian place next to the Angelika is gone...is it?. I went there on a 1st date three years ago, and it was great. Went back this summer and it sucked. And has the retail space next to Angelika ever been rented out. If memory serves, it's been vacant since MS opened.

[Insidetheloop]

^ The asian place went out of business because the inexpensive Chinese restaurant next to the CVS(across Central in the strip shopping center) is much better and 1/2 the price. $5 for a styrofoam box of Por-fray-ras and a Shrweet Eye-tree.

Insidetheloop,

Thinks a Golden Corral would go over well there

[txRNGr]

I think some people are being too sensitive. I went to Mockingbird station over Christmas and noticed nothing wrong with it. It is a high traffic area, its gonna get alittle dirty.

[RobertB]

I think some people are being too sensitive. I went to Mockingbird station over Christmas and noticed nothing wrong with it. It is a high traffic area, its gonna get alittle dirty.
I'm with you. I was there this weekend, in the middle of the night, with my friend's three kids. Other than the fountain being turned off, I didn't see any problems. Some people have spent too much time in the mall and need to be re-introduced to the Real World.

And for what it's worth, the fountains had been drained but the coins thrown in over the months were still there! I didn't see much silver, though. :(

[tamtagon]

Didnt ownership recently change hands with this property?? Ive noticed a lot of dark lofts at night at Mockingbird Station, and this would be between 8-10PM...how well are they staying leased?

Ya, I think a European Comapny bought the place. Somewhere on this forum there's talk about the "second phase" of Mockingbird Station the new owners are working up. Seems very probable that in the next couple years the streetscape of Mockingbird from SMU to Matilda (and beyond) will undergo a rennovation of scale becoming much more pedestrian oriented. The West Village masterplan may have delayed the human scale reclaimation of Mockingbird, but Palomar seems to be jumpstarting an organic expansion by welcoming the Katy Trail extention. I'm so excited that a dedicated bridge is planned - excellent news!!!!

This area may be where a rapid development of more affordable highrise residential buildings crack into the market. Hum, the first homegrown New Urbanist Mixed Use village will soon line Mockingbird. Hopefully other DART inspired transit oriented downtown neighborhood will not take as long to evolve.

[US75Guy]

I think some people are being too sensitive. I went to Mockingbird station over Christmas and noticed nothing wrong with it. It is a high traffic area, its gonna get alittle dirty.

Agreed. THis has been a very popular development, and a few oil stains and rusty pipes seem like a questionable reason to start this thread. But, hey, I've started some lame ones too, so whatever.

By the way, I understand that DART shuts the escalators down once a month for scheduled maintenance (about a day or so), so they aren't breaking down, just upkeep. But you're right, the elevator is usually a bio-hazard, and I stay out of it.

[SMU211]

But, hey, I've started some lame ones too, so whatever.

Lame threads on here? (thinking back to page after page of discussions on a "hot" meteorologist somewhere in Waco - not that it was yours US75, just recalling another "lame" series of posts).

MS is looking a bit dingy. Any why not expect it to be well maintained and a "flagship?" It is adjacent to some of the nicest real estate in Dallas, and prior to West Village, a model for pedestrian retail commerce and entertainment (not to mention, the only one with direct DART rail service). If it does not serve its purpose well and with class, why would anyone want more of such a destination?

Come on, forum people...no post is too lame for this site (or else, half would not be on here). What's wrong with concern over the aesthetics of such a metro landmark?

[RobertB]

Come on, forum people...no post is too lame for this site (or else, half would not be on here). What's wrong with concern over the aesthetics of such a metro landmark?
I think it's just a matter of balance. Except that instead of each poster finding a balance, we all run to one side of the boat or the other... and then wonder why it takes so little to push it over. :)

[KBilly]

The second to last is the path way that runs along the tracks. You see if when walking over the bridge from dart to mocking birdstation. Look to your right before the angelika and you see the stairs down to it. The second was the elevators down to the train.
According to a friend at DART, DART is entirely responsible for the DART station and it's not part of the Mockingbird Station retail complex.

So, in the interests of fairness and whatever you are tying to accomplish with these pictures and with the MS mgt company, you should consider removing the 2 DART pics and start another thread in the transportation forum (if they still bug you). Or better yet, use these... DART Customer Response Center 214-749-3333,
CustInfo@DART.org

And, FWIW, we were there over Christmas and found it as delightful as ever. Trinity Hall was hopping, as were Rockfish and Cafe Express.

[Boredkid]

Thanks, Ya I have plenty more pics of what needs to be worked on both with MS, and the train station. Hopefully that little rain we recieved yesterday will help clean up the area a bit.

[txRNGr]

Ya, I think a European Comapny bought the place. Somewhere on this forum there's talk about the "second phase" of Mockingbird Station the new owners are working up. Seems very probable that in the next couple years the streetscape of Mockingbird from SMU to Matilda (and beyond) will undergo a rennovation of scale becoming much more pedestrian oriented. The West Village masterplan may have delayed the human scale reclaimation of Mockingbird, but Palomar seems to be jumpstarting an organic expansion by welcoming the Katy Trail extention. I'm so excited that a dedicated bridge is planned - excellent news!!!!

This area may be where a rapid development of more affordable highrise residential buildings crack into the market. Hum, the first homegrown New Urbanist Mixed Use village will soon line Mockingbird. Hopefully other DART inspired transit oriented downtown neighborhood will not take as long to evolve.
tamtagon, do you have any information I could see on this second phase, especially the bridge for the Katy Trail? This is very exciting news. I can see Dallas 50 years from now becoming a city of pedestrian friendly neighborhoods all linked together moving closer to something like Chicago...hopefully.

[Lakewooder]

Dallas Business Journal - January 16, 2006
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/01/16/newscolumn5.html




INDUSTRY WRAPUPS
From the January 13, 2006 print edition
Retail & Hospitality
Palomar, Belmont add local flair to hotel projects
Sandra Zaragoza
Staff Writer
Two local hotel developers are distinguishing their projects with homegrown flair.

Jeff Berry of Dallas-based Realty America Group says that the $90 million redevelopment at Hotel Palomar at North Central Expressway is gaining momentum and that incorporating the hotel into the Mockingbird neighborhood is part of the development's strategy.

The 185-room hotel, which includes 70 condos and 25,000 square feet of upscale retail space, is on schedule to open in July.

Realty America Group is working with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and private entities to extend the Katy Trail to a strip of land behind Hotel Palomar.

The Katy Trail is a walk-run-skate trail in a former rail corridor that begins in the West End and reaches north to Southern Methodist University and the Mockingbird DART Station.

In addition, Realty America Group also plans to collaborate with the ownership of the nearby retail area known as Mockingbird Station on a bridge that would connect both properties.

Meantime, developer Monte Anderson, president of DeSoto-based Options Real Estate, is spending a good deal of time at The Belmont Hotel at Dilbeck Court in Oak Cliff.

Anderson's $30 million Dilbeck Court development -- named after architect Charles Dilbeck -- includes the hotel, 34 townhomes, and a four-story mixed-use complex that will consist of retail, office, apartments and three penthouses.

The 68-room Belmont, a boutique hotel, has been open for business a little more than a month.

In March, the Belmont will be unveiling its 5,500-square-foot spa and health club, which will be managed by Noel Mikeska of Your Body Fitness of Dallas. The health club and spa will offer memberships.

The hotel's 1940s architecture and eclectic design is already helping to attract photographers, designers and artists to the property.

After touring the hotel recently, officials from the Dallas Market Center booked more than 100 room nights for this year, Anderson said.

Anderson says that the project has been a combined effort of local professionals, the majority from Oak Cliff, including Diggs Design, Sally Johnson and Carole Twitmyer and construction consultant Jack Hammack. Belmont's furniture was built by local artisans and the photographs decorating the hotel rooms were taken by local South Dallas artists and feature local Dallas scenes.

szaragoza@bizjournals.com

[FoUTASportscaster]

This thread seems to be a non-issue.

[clipper]

Yes, the opening of the Palomar should help Mockingbird Station. But someone needs to start thinking about a pedestrian bridge. There are some big vacant spaces in Mockingbird Station near the theater. I don't think the tenant mix has ever been as good as it could be there. And, yes, I've also noticed the apartments look pretty empty at nite.

[Lakewooder]

Does anyone know the progress of whatever is going up between the erstwhile UA Cine off Yale and Mockingbird Station?

[Agnus Dei]

tamtagon, do you have any information I could see on this second phase, especially the bridge for the Katy Trail? This is very exciting news. I can see Dallas 50 years from now becoming a city of pedestrian friendly neighborhoods all linked together moving closer to something like Chicago...hopefully.

The second phase was discussed in here http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=140&highlight=mockingbird but it looks like the images have expired. Or maybe it's just my browser.

[Lakewooder]

West Elm opens:

http://shopping.beloblog.com/archives/2006/10/west_elm_opens_1.html

[crescentboi]

Made a special trip up there yesterday to check it out and it turned out to be a great store. It actually seems a little larger than Virgin, though I could be totally wrong. Prices are good, quality is good, staff is good, it's all good. Some of the pieces seem a little small to me, but I'm also 6'5" so who knows. But there were a ton of people in there yesterday (when compaired to how there seemed to be crickets singing all over the rest of Dallas last night!) so I'm sure this place will do well.

[noelamador]

I'm sure it'll do well. yeah, all the pieces seem smaller. there made for smaller spaces and are low profile in design.

[Tnekster]

Made a special trip up there yesterday to check it out and it turned out to be a great store. It actually seems a little larger than Virgin, though I could be totally wrong.

I think you are right, I believe they added some space on the north end to make the space larger.

[banking214]

And the bathrooms used to be so clean in the Angelica. Now, I will not even follow a hottie in. Simply horrible I say.

[Boredkid]

....

[KBilly]

And the bathrooms used to be so clean in the Angelica. Now, I will not even follow a hottie in. Simply horrible I say.
It's best not to snack between meals anyway...