Uptown: Cityplace West + West Village

[tamtagon]

Like, a jumbo screen like that facing the street would probably be too imposing in downtown Dallas right now, but, Local news, the 24 hour TXCN and whatever local morning show using the backdrop of a CBD street scene - the West End for example, but most likely the new Belo Plaza - could work to improve metroplex perception of itself. That conficence booster or that difficult to attain warm & fuzzy we-are-a-big-city feeling. I guess that could also be considered another CBD destination.

That bowling alley idea, where celebrities get exposure and fans pay to get star struck would be perfect in the West Village. LoMac would be reserved for shopping, eating and spending the night, but West Village gets the chewed-up, spit out fancified Bronco Bowl. Someone needs to come up with the great idea to install a West Village concert venue.

Edit: you gotta have the celebrity bowlers or the whole thing is for not.

[psukhu]

Now that Borders/Chase is done and the Mondrian is topped out, what will be the next building to break ground in the Cityplace development?

[slfunk]

It looks like they have staked out the site right next to Chase/Borders. Drove by yesterday and saw sticks in the ground. So who knows.

[Foucault]

It looks like they have staked out the site right next to Chase/Borders. Drove by yesterday and saw sticks in the ground. So who knows.
Maybe it was a druidic rite.

[utgf]

From Steve Brown Artice in Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/sbrown/stories/081304dnbusbrown.792b.html)

West Village expansion

Speaking of retail, the Dallas City Plan Commission has approved the development plan to build an addition to the popular West Village complex in Uptown.

The expansion – which will front Blackburn Street between McKinney and Cole avenues – will contain retail space, apartments and an underground parking garage, according to the filings with the city. Developers received development and landscape plan approval from the commission on Aug. 5.

[dallastophoenix]

woo-hoo! so, which phase is this now?

[drumguy8800]

UAOSGJALSGJKLAJLDAWJGASELKG SAGJA crap on a stick. oh well, at least its more.. its a very very very small segment of it. i think they're talking about the north side of blackburn (where else? the south side is already the West Village..)

http://www.westvil.com/exprend.html

is it just those two dinky buildings?

[dallastophoenix]

yeah, it looks like that's the case... :(

[rantanamo]

I imagine they'll be bigger than those on the rendering. Those buildings don't really even justify an underground parking garage.

[gc]

This is good to hear.

[Lakewooder]

I read recently somewhere that North Dallas High School (perhaps the alums) are trying to acquire the building just to the north of this Blackburn site (was that an old 7-11?) for a college center -- I thought it already was one. It's a prime site for development, looks like they would be out-bid, unless it is eminent domain. In any case, NDHS is really getting hemmed in, there are portables all over the football field practically. The enrollment could be lessened by expanding attendance zone for Madison High, which only has 600 or so students in a school which could hold 1500 at least. But then I hear that this idea is being shot down because the school is currently all-black and any expansion would make it mostly hispanic. At least that is the unofficial lowdown.

[Lakewooder]

Also, of course, if DISD had kept Crozier Tech (there was no replacement school) it would have obviated this problem. Anyhow, if hispanic drop out rates are ever improved, several new high schools need to be built.

[crescentboi]

If NDHS is talking about purchasing that land, why don't they expand their current building and get rid of those portables, which are an eyesore in the first place. I would think a fairly large three story addition to the back of the property would be more than enough room and maybe let them reclaim some of the space from the portables back to football or such.

[rantanamo]

As more for sale units go up around this area, I wonder if NDHS will become a neighborhood school, or will the new move-ins continue to send their children to private school. My father moved in from the burbs and sent my sisters to close by schools, NDHS and Spence.

[Lakewooder]

NDHS draws mostly from Old East Dallas (Fitzhugh / Bennett apartments, etc.) down to Zaragoza Elementary (Old Crockett School) near Gaston and Carroll/ Main / Columbia-Abrams. So if CityHomes and others jump across Central, as it seems will be the trend, that could affect the numbers. However, these are large families crowded into small homes, from what I know. Look at Vickery Meadows, where one school was built recently and three more are planned, including a high school. I think the ND attendance zone also goes west over to the Cedar Springs area -- TJ district is just north of that. Woodrow is more Lakewood / M-Streets to north of Mockingbird to old Katy tracks and south to Mount Auburn / Tenison Park area.

[jsoto3]

I have been thinking for some time about the potential for NDHS renovation/expansion relative to new neighborhood development. It's a simple idea, but I think it could be nice. I imagine the new wings to be sort of industrial-modern: red brick (to match existing) on the streetside with large windows, with the classrooms single-loaded on a glass-enclosed gallery overlooking new courtyards between the new wings and the existing school. The wings would be connected to the existing school with glass bridges and glass-enclosed stairs and elevators would extend up to publicly accessible roofs with additional gardens and sporting courts. The plaza out front could have a small amphitheater for outdoor class sessions and arts performances.

http://dallasmetropolis.com/exhibitionhall/data/500/13North_Dallas_High_School_Site_Redevelopment.jpg

[utgf]

According to DISD, completion of addition to North Dallas High Shool is supposed to be completed in 2006.

DISD Bond Program Map (http://www.dallasisd.org/bond/pdf/prelim_sched_bond_add.pdf)

[utgf]

Excerpt from the Dallas Plan Commission agenda for August 5th:

A development plan and a landscape plan for the development
of retail space, an apartment unit, and an underground parking
garage use within Planned Development District No. 305 on
Blackburn Street between McKinney Avenue and Cole Avenue
Staff Recommendation: Approval
U/A from: July 22, 2004


Excerpt from the Dallas Plan Commission agenda for August 12th:

A development plan and landscape plan for the development
of retail, restaurant and residential uses for Planned
Development District No. 305 on the south corner of McKinney
Avenue and Cityplace West
Staff Recommendation: Approval


Hopefully this means they will start construction on the Blackburn site and the site north of Borders simultaneously.

[rantanamo]

Reads like mixed-use to me

[barrycb]

Nice catch, UTGF. I hope that development begins soon as well.

[psukhu]

Any updates?

So the lot directly to the north of the original West Village is the next phase?

The Mondrian is wrapping up and it will be strange to have no construction activity in that area.

[JSteffen]

The newslette rI got last week said that all of the grounbreaking should start within 18 months.... thats about 8 projects if I remember corectly.

[crescentboi]

What 8 projects exactly? 8 seperate bulidings! i hope!

Does anyone know when they're going to do the new station for Cityplace and the turntable for the trolley or whatever it's called?

[bloodandpopcorn]

All groundbreaking as in.... the entire masterplan???

[HarryMoto]

I got the same mailer. It was mostly about how cool and groovy West Village is but there was a line about there will be more and that's when they talked about groundbreaking in the next 18 months and empty lots blossoming with retail. I can't remember the exact wording but that was the idea. Then it said to check the West Village website I think to keep abreast of plans. But the mailer gave no details as to what types of retail or a timetable.

[JSteffen]

It said during the next 18 months we will see ALL 8 acres transformed...

[tamtagon]

Between Victory and West Village, it's looking like Dallas is going to be flush with a greater variety of retail stores. Victory's angle is to provide a shopping and entertainment experience unique in Dallas; does West Village have a goal, or mission statement or anything like that? I cant help but expect to see a Benneton in WV.

It also looks like Victory and West Village both plan expansion efforts to complete in 2006 - that's going to be a big year for retai/fashion in Dallas.

[rantanamo]

Hopefully they are greatly successful, and spur other areas to mimic this type of development. Would love to see the Cedars and Farmers Market area catch on with similar developments.

[jsoto3]

Last night I just noticed that there is a new fence around the WV Phase II site. I am not sure how long it has been there, but I don't recall seeing it before last night. A little bit of dirt has been pushed around too. Perhaps we will see more significant activity soon.

[cdallen2004]

Dear Fellow Forum Users,

My name is Cornelius Allen. I am originally from a small town thirty miles east of Dallas, called Terrell, Texas. Recently, I have become fascinated with Dallas' uptown (Turtle Creek/Oaklawn) communty. It is exactly the type of setting that reflects the kind of person I am. I enjoy the beautiful landscaping, mostly fine automobiles, and diversity that this area has to offer. It is absolutely wonderful!!

I am especially fond of the Turtle Creek area, where the luxurious high rise homes are hopefully, my home too! I have special admiration for the Vendome, Mayfair, and Mansion Residences properties. Therefore, I opened up an office for my business at the Park Place office building located at 2911 Turtle Creek Blvd. It has fantastic views of the Mansion on Turtle Creek. By the way, I should tell you that I am an African American male, age: 19!

I would appreciate any information that anyone has to offer to me concerning this great community. I feel privileged and honored to have a Turtle Creek address in the wonderful, bustling city of Dallas, Texas....

[jsoto3]

Ok, I am getting sick of this shameless self-promotion. This is a discussion forum, not a billboard.

[Mballar]

Yeah cdallen, you might want to cut back on your repeat postings (of the same information) on every threrad in the forum; And again, Welcome to Dallas and the forum.

[slfunk]

Last night I just noticed that there is a new fence around the WV Phase II site. I am not sure how long it has been there, but I don't recall seeing it before last night. A little bit of dirt has been pushed around too. Perhaps we will see more significant activity soon.

I have been noticing much of the same type of activity. It appears some utility work has been going on Cole street, they have been moving some dirt on the lots on either side of cole and the lot adjacent to Borders/Chase I saw surveyors out for a couple of days. We will probably see some significant work by X-mas.

[rantanamo]

ah, I miss Dallas.

[gc]

^ How long will you be gone rant?

[rantanamo]

looks like a long-long time. Might end up being a permanent move.

[freewaytincan]

looks like a long-long time. Might end up being a permanent move.

Oh no...

[slfunk]

On my way home from work drove through Cole/Blackburn. On the fence they have posted "Gables Construction."

[Kelley USA]

From Steve Brown in DMN...

Developers are about to break ground on the next phase of construction at the wildly popular West Village retail and apartment complex in Uptown.

I say wildly popular because if you're trying to eat there on a Saturday evening, you'd better plan on a late-night snack.

Soon West Village fans will have a new stretch of shops and eateries in the block north of Blackburn at McKinney.

Developers Henry S. Miller III and Robert Bagwell have tapped Gables Residential – one of the biggest landlords in Uptown – to build and operate rental units in the project.

"Yes, we are building 75 units, over 19,000 square feet of retail," said Gables' Doug Chesnut.

The expansion should be finished sometime next year.

[gc]

Very very exciting IMO...

[rantanamo]

cool. Be sure to take plent of pics.

[barrycb]

cool. Be sure to take plent of pics.

:(.

[jsoto3]

I just saw some of our urban planners in a meeting with a developer (I presume ZOM) discussing plans for the buildout of City Place West. They were working with a massing study model. There were a few towers, even on blocks 7A and 7B. Mind you, I don't know if this is contracted work or simply the developer studying their options before securing the property. Nevertheless, looks like things could get very exciting.

[Kelley USA]

I was just thinking I'd like to see one of the new developments in WV offer space on the top floor for a casual restaurant. I could only imagine how popular a place would be on top of something like The Mondrian- something with casual fare, good happy hour etc... The views alone would be worth it! I know the W has something planned- but would also like to see it over at WV...

[jsoto3]

That is a great idea. I'll pitch it to the design team.

[tamtagon]

I wonder if "they" have decided to include a hotel tower in the project yet. I've always imagined a McKinney street address would be preferred by the hotelier, but it seems most if not all McKinney streetfront has already been assigned...?

[barrycb]

I was thinking one of the towers in the WV rendering fronting 75 were meant to be hotels. You are right, though. Too bad a slender hotel won't fit in the old Jennivine space...or will it?

jsoto3,

When you say towers, how many stories are we talking about :bounce:

[jsoto3]

They appeared to be in the 20 story range.

[Columbus Civil]

20 stories :) That's awesome.

[rantanamo]

Wow, everything is sounding awesome.