Future development in Oak Cliff

[DTDdreamer]

One last stab at this: What are your views of OC now and in 5 years, 10 years. As I said before it has so much to offer but I feel like it goes a little unnoticed except by those who live there. I am encouraged; however, by the renovation of Lake Cliff Tower (forgive me if that's not the correct name), the new Grand Bank going up at Zang and Colorado, and the town homes along Bishop. I guess it just takes time but I would like to see a revitalization reach deeper into the area. I still think a street car from Downtown, across Jefferson Viaduct, down Zang to Davis, left on Polk, left on Jefferson and back to Zang would be cool but I guess we need to complete the Downtown routes first. And last but not least, please check back on the closed thread incase you missed my "open apology." That's all I have to say about that...

[AeroD]

Call me an optimist but give it time.

The Bobo population in the O.C. has increased exponentially.

Oak Cliff does not need insta-town centers. It has Jefferson Blvd. and Bishop Arts.

It has the zoo, one of the best public schools in the nation, and some of the best damn taco stands found anywhere in the Lower 48 e.g. El Si Hay Taqueria on Davis.

Sure there are some problems, most notably those hideous Perry townhomes.

But give it time.

[DTDdreamer]

Forgive my ignorance... what is Bobo population?

[Columbus Civil]

bourgeois bohemians

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobos_in_Paradise

[RobertB]

It has the zoo, one of the best public schools in the nation, and some of the best damn taco stands found anywhere in the Lower 48 e.g. El Si Hay Taqueria on Davis.
I've seen that taqueria and wondered about it. I'll tell my mom to try it. But what does it mean?

El = it/he
Si = yes
Hay = for horses
El Si Hay Taqueria = It yes, horse restaurant

Am I missing something? :) :)

[DTDdreamer]

Sure there are some problems, most notably those hideous Perry townhomes.



I agree about the aesthetics of the town homes, but I think new home construction is a vital element for revitalization... as long as they use vacant lots or tear down old strip shopping centers and don't take the Park Cities approach of tearing down the old to build the new. I can't recall what was on the Perry site before the town homes went up.

[AeroD]

I've seen that taqueria and wondered about it. I'll tell my mom to try it. But what does it mean?

El = it/he
Si = yes
Hay = for horses
El Si Hay Taqueria = It yes, horse restaurant

Am I missing something? :) :)

I usually get the lengua (tongue) tacos there. So if it were horse meat, I wouldn't be disgusted by it.

I also hear Cesar's Tacos is good.

[AeroD]

I agree about the aesthetics of the town homes, but I think new home construction is a vital element for revitalization... as long as they use vacant lots or tear down old strip shopping centers and don't take the Park Cities approach of tearing down the old to build the new. I can't recall what was on the Perry site before the town homes went up.

I don't have anything against townhomes in general. Just those Perry townhomes on Bishop.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but Jefferson Blvd. can, with some investments and sprucing up, put Uptown to shame as far as pedestrian friendly area. The sidewalks are there. The history is there. Culture is there. Granted, there are some disruptions most notably the Fiesta, McDonald's and Peter Piper Pizza, which ruin the flow of things.

Perhaps someone can help out here, but I remember before Fiesta there was a multi-story building in it's location.

[DTDdreamer]

Originally it was an old Sears but later it became Rick Furniture, an old Dallas family business that is unfortunately no longer around. I grew going to Chirst Episcopal Church (still do) and remember going over to Ricks after church to get the big jaw breakers they had at the front entry. I don't remember much about the building but in my mind's eye I can faintly see timber beam construction. Don't hold me to that though - the wood I see could be wood paneling from a bad mid-70's showroom "update." :)

[DTDdreamer]

http://www.searsarchives.com/stores/history_texas.htm

According to this it opened in 1928 so it probably wasn't timber construction but poured concrete like my building. I guess it was paneling that I was imagining.

[DTDdreamer]

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3219/jeffersonoakcliff1949smqr3.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jeffersonoakcliff1949smqr3.jpg)

Jefferson Blvd. circa 1949!!! Click for larger.

[RobertB]

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3219/jeffersonoakcliff1949smqr3.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jeffersonoakcliff1949smqr3.jpg)

Jefferson Blvd. circa 1949!!! Click for larger.
The thumbnail works, but clicking revealed the strangest imageshack error I've seen: "This page banned b/c porn, warez, or topsite". I'm sure there was porn in postwar Dallas, but warez or topsites? Prollynotsomuch.

If you can resize the image to under 100k, then you can just attach it to your post. If you're running WinXP, you probably have a program called "Microsoft Photo Editor" that will handle the reduction. Send me a PM if you need help with it.

[DTDdreamer]

Here's a bigger pic.

[xen0blue]

Call me an optimist but give it time.

The Bobo population in the O.C. has increased exponentially.

Oak Cliff does not need insta-town centers. It has Jefferson Blvd. and Bishop Arts.

It has the zoo, one of the best public schools in the nation, and some of the best damn taco stands found anywhere in the Lower 48 e.g. El Si Hay Taqueria on Davis.

Sure there are some problems, most notably those hideous Perry townhomes.

But give it time.

Wait...Oak Cliff...best public schools in the nation? You MUST be using sarcasm....

[Spjz]

Wait...Oak Cliff...best public schools in the nation? You MUST be using sarcasm....
Townview Magnet on E. 8th and I35.

[Halz3000]

DTDdreamer,

Your avatar is INCREDIBLY distracting.
I have to put my hand over it to read threads.
Nothing personal.

[Cliff Dweller]

I don't believe there was anything on the sites where the Perry Homes are now. I believe the PD in that area only allows attached residences (townhomes) on lots that were vacant at the time the PD was passed.

For whatever reason, development in OC is not focused on Jefferson. The hot areas are Beckley, Davis and Ft. Worth Avenue. Possibly because they are that much closer to downtown. All three currently have some kind of area plan and/or tax abatement in place. Expect to see a lot of activity within the next few years.

p.s. I agree, DTDdreamer, PLEASE get rid of that avatar!

[DTDdreamer]

There that should be better :) . Actually I was getting tired of the other one myself but it wasn't as bad as the dancing Chris Farley.

[Tnekster]

^Who is that person?

[DTDdreamer]

You're Mom gave me permission to use her picture. JUST KIDDING. Dude, you set me up for that... I HAD to take it. Actually I just saw her (him) and thought it was kinda funny (and disturbing)

[Halz3000]

I personally think Jefferson is fab the way it is.
If you're looking for gentrification, then you have Bishop Arts, etc.
Why ***must*** we redevelop an area that's fine (save for the aforementioned pizza joint) just the way it is—serving an established community? I mean, how many more cute boutiques and hip restaurants can the area even handle? Especially when many of the ones we already have can't afford to be open on Sunday.

Those that want to redevelop Jefferson, what would you like to happen?
Sincerely.
A West Village?

[Tnekster]

You're Mom gave me permission to use her picture. JUST KIDDING. Dude, you set me up for that... I HAD to take it. Actually I just saw her (him) and thought it was kinda funny (and disturbing)

To be honest I thought it was a guy, but funny none the less.

[AeroD]

I personally think Jefferson is fab the way it is.
If you're looking for gentrification, then you have Bishop Arts, etc.
Why ***must*** we redevelop an area that's fine (save for the aforementioned pizza joint) just the way it is—serving an established community? I mean, how many more cute boutiques and hip restaurants can the area even handle? Especially when many of the ones we already have can't afford to be open on Sunday.

Those that want to redevelop Jefferson, what would you like to happen?
Sincerely.
A West Village?

I am not saying we need West Village Parte Dos in Oak Cliff. Or simply put, Oak Cliff needs a Gap.

They should create a Bus Depot in Oak Cliff or in Dallas period, to handle El Tornado, El Conejo, Las Americas and any number of bus lines that operate near and/or on Jefferson.

Some better lighting, trees, and benches would be nice along Jefferson.

I don't want to see the herbal shops, or taquerias disappear, but personally i wouldn't cry if the pawn shops leave Jefferson.

The Latino Cultural Arts Center would have been better off here then where it is at currently.

Those are just some ideas.

[DTDdreamer]

I personally think Jefferson is fab the way it is.
If you're looking for gentrification, then you have Bishop Arts, etc.
Why ***must*** we redevelop an area that's fine (save for the aforementioned pizza joint) just the way it is—serving an established community? I mean, how many more cute boutiques and hip restaurants can the area even handle? Especially when many of the ones we already have can't afford to be open on Sunday.

Those that want to redevelop Jefferson, what would you like to happen?
Sincerely.
A West Village?

You have a point that Jefferson is serving the established community as is... maybe just add that streetcar line that I dream of so those of us Downtown can hop on board and take advantage of the yummy taco stands! As for the areas between Jefferson and Davis, yes, it would be nice to see a mix of renovated residential and "Bobo" businesses (I learned that from AeroD). West Village??? HELL NO!!!!

[DTDdreamer]

I don't want to see the herbal shops, or taquerias disappear, but personally i wouldn't cry if the pawn shops leave Jefferson.

Right on.


The Latino Cultural Arts Center would have been better off here then where it is at currently.



I've thought this many times, it's current location is pretty obscure and not as Latin as the Jefferson St. area.

[Halz3000]

The Latino Cultural Arts Center would have been better off here then where it is at currently.



Yea, that's really sad. It should be in OC.
That's too bad.

[Tnekster]

Yea, that's really sad. It should be in OC.
That's too bad.

Why in Oak Cliff?

[DTDdreamer]

The Jefferson/Zang/Davis part of OC is 99.9% Hispanic. It just makes sense to put it in that community. I can however feel the argument coming on... If we want to expose OTHER cultures to Latino arts and culture then it SHOULD be in an area other than the obvious. I just think there would be some NIMBY opposition if they had to built it at Mockingbird & Preston. :) I still think it's best located in the community or culture it is intended to highlight.

[Tnekster]

The Jefferson/Zang/Davis part of OC is 99.9% Hispanic. It just makes sense to put it in that community. I can however feel the argument coming on... If we want to expose OTHER cultures to Latino arts and culture then it SHOULD be in an area other than the obvious. I just think there would be some NIMBY opposition if they had to built it at Mockingbird & Preston. :) I still think it's best located in the community or culture it is intended to highlight.

Yes, but will it always be that way? Personally, I think it makes more sense to have it downtown close to the city center and not far from the other arts venues. Just my opinion.

[xen0blue]

DTDdreamer,

Your avatar is INCREDIBLY distracting.
I have to put my hand over it to read threads.
Nothing personal.

Funny, I didn't even notice his avatar until you mentioned it, and now I love it

[DTDdreamer]

The one that's up now is a new one. I must admit the old one (little angry jumping man) was getting old for me too...

Back on track. To answer your question Tnekster, yes, I think that part of OC will be that way for the foreseeable future. It has been for as long as I can remember and why would we want it to change (not saying you're suggesting that it does).