Dallas Old + New, Dallas, TX (2025)

06/13/2025

The City of Dallas has started the process to reform and streamline its arcane zoning code, which has not been updated in almost 40 years.

City planners and consultants kicked off the process with a community meeting at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center on Thursday night. A summary of the planned changes, printed in both English and Spanish, was provided for attendees. Additionally, the city provided a Spanish translator for non-English speakers.

While details and maps will be hashed out and presented at future meetings, the overall goal of the zoning reform is to make the code “intuitive, predictable, and easy to use for everyone” according to city planners. The zoning changes will be guided by the ForwardDallas 2.0 land use plan, which was adopted by City Council last year. The process is expected to take several years.

Residents will have the opportunity to attend four more meetings through this end of the month and consultants promised more opportunities for community input after a draft of the changes is released. Residents can sign up for updates on dallaszoningreform.com.

05/31/2025

Scooter and e-bike use is on the rise in Dallas! And the city is updating rules to encourage more usage ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Micromobility options are a vital form of transportation for people without a car, and they help reduce demand for parking in dense urban neighborhoods.

📈 Miles traveled increased year over year by 8%, from 327,945 to 353,335.
📉 Trips declined from 294,584 to 240,833.

This shift suggests riders are using scooters and e-bikes for longer, more purposeful trips like commuting, errands, or connecting to transit, rather than quick joyrides.

Other notable changes:

🏬 Operators can now deploy up to 35% of their fleet in the Central Dallas Deployment Zone (CDDZ), which includes Downtown, Uptown, Deep Ellum, Victory Park, and parts of Old East Dallas (up from 25% previously).

🛴 The vehicle cap per company doubled from 1,250 to 2,500. Today, about 2,250 vehicles from Lime, Bird, and Spin are active on Dallas streets.

💵 Scooter fees paid to the city surpassed $58,000, some of which helped fund infrastructure like parking corrals, including the one pictured above in Uptown.

What do you think of the changes? Is Dallas headed in the right direction on micromobility?

05/29/2025

New housing and retail coming to Mockingbird Lane in Northwest Dallas! 🏡

The Dallas Urban Design Peer Review Panel reviewed plans for a new development, which will include 351 homes on the site of a former office building.

A collection of one story retail buildings called “The Grove” will separate the residential buildings from the street. Many of the existing trees on the perimeter of the property will be preserved.

Residents and retail workers will be able to leverage the 057 high frequency bus route, with departures every 15 minutes during peak hours.

The Panel made the following recommendations to the developer:

🌳 The large live oak trees slated to be removed should be relocated to another part of the property.

🌿 Review the grading plan and explore creative uses for retaining walls to improve the pedestrian experience, like stepped or terraced plantings.

🚶 Add parallel parking and street trees on the north and south fire lanes for enhanced walkability.

What do you think of the plans? Comment below! ⬇️

05/21/2025

When the West Oak Cliff Area Plan (WOCAP) was adopted by the Dallas City Council in 2022, the message from residents was clear: protect single family neighborhoods while creating walkable neighborhood centers along commercial corridors.

The re-zoning of commercial properties along the Hampton-Clarendon corridor, recently approved by the Dallas City Plan Commission, does exactly that.

Here’s what you should know:

Building Heights Reduced
There won’t be any high rises along Hampton and Clarendon. The new form-based code actually reduces maximum height from 54’ to 50’ (3.5 stories at most) — and many lots will only be able to reach two stories due to residential proximity slope rules.

Walkable Neighborhood Centers Established
The rezoning allows for housing, shops, restaurants, and offices to be built along the corridor, but keeps zoning in adjacent neighborhoods intact. The form-based code also requires new buildings to be constructed closer to the street with wide sidewalks.

Largest Properties Excluded
After hearing feedback from residents, the city excluded the Tom Thumb and Su Vida Shopping Centers from the rezoning. If those properties are ever redeveloped and zoning changes are needed, the property owners will need input and support from surrounding neighborhoods.

Community Input Considered
When the city initiates a rezoning, they must send notice to nearby property owners. In this case, only 57 of 814 property owners (7%) opposed the rezoning.

Three of the five adjacent neighborhood associations submitted letters in support of the rezoning, one was neutral, and one didn’t submit a letter.

In addition to the official notice, the city held 6 public meetings and 7 meetings with neighborhood associations to present the plans and solicit feedback. The Hampton-Clarendon meetings were in addition to 14 public meetings on WOCAP, which were attended by over 900 people.

What do you think of the changes? Share your thoughts below.

📸 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9: Existing buildings
📸 2: Map of area being rezoned
📸 7: Old fire station on Hampton-12th, which still stands today
📸 8: Example of two and three story buildings on a tree lined street in Mexico City

04/25/2025

The newly renovated Reverchon Park baseball field opens this weekend—and it’s a home run for the people of Dallas. ⚾️

Originally built in 1914, the field has hosted generations of high school and amateur games, and even served as home to the SMU baseball team in the late ’70s.

In 2020, an ill-conceived plan aimed to privatize the field for 40 years to host independent league pro baseball—limiting public access and commercializing cherished park space. While Council Members Adam Bazaldua for Dallas , Omar Narvaez , Adam Medrano, and Jaime Resendez For City Council voted against it, the full council approved the deal. Fortunately, the plan fizzled out during the pandemic, and the city went back to the drawing board.

What came next? A $5 million partnership with Dallas ISD to restore the ballpark. The now-ADA compliant facility has been beautifully upgraded with Donald Judd-esque concrete dugouts and will serve as the official home of the North Dallas High School baseball team.

The last photo shows the baseball field and surrounding park in 1956.

What do you think about the updates? Weigh in below!

04/23/2025

‼️ Military Parkway in Pleasant Grove is one of the most dangerous streets in Dallas for people walking, biking, and driving—here’s how the city plans to fix it.

Transportation planners are rethinking how this corridor serves the community, especially where it connects Urbandale Park, Parkdale Park, elementary schools, and several churches. It’s also where the future Trinity Forest Spine Trail will cross. 🌳🚴🏾

Since last summer, neighbors have shown up to public meetings in both Spanish and English to share their concerns and ideas. Now, the City has presented 3 design options—and Alternative B is where it gets interesting.

Alternative B, Option 1: keeps 4 lanes for cars, but turns two-way side streets into one-way with protected bike lanes and street parking. (Diagram in Picture 3).
Option 2: adds a “chicane” on the side street—a meandering street created with bump outs and parked cars that requires drivers to slow down and pay attention. (Example in Picture 4).

Both versions of B offer safer streets for everyone, especially those walking and biking—something Pleasant Grove has been missing and that will be critical when the Trinity Forest Spine Trail opens.

Also coming: a roundabout at Urban Ave. to replace a crash-prone intersection. (Example in Photo 1, diagram in Photo 4).

The City’s survey is open until April 30th. Which design do you prefer?

04/20/2025

Designs have been finalized for the first five parks of the Dallas Greening Initiative, and they’re set to break ground this summer—with openings planned for next year!

It all started in 2022 when Mayor Eric Johnson called for an inventory of vacant city-owned land that could be transformed into public green space. Since then, Trust for Public Land and The Better Block teamed up to engage communities through pop-up parks, giving neighbors a chance to imagine what these spaces could become. Studio Outside took that feedback and brought the vision to life with final designs ready for construction.

These first five parks will bring new green space access to 14,843 Dallas residents who previously didn’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home 🚶‍♀️🌿

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, plus support from the Lyda Hill Foundation and the Meadows Foundstion, the Dallas Greening Initiative is just getting started—with plans to grow in every city council district in the years ahead!

What do you think about these parks? 🌳✨ Let us know below!

04/15/2025

📍Big news for the North Cliff neighborhood!

Thanks to years of grassroots efforts and community input, the historic intersection of Catherine and Pierce has officially been rezoned—and it’s a huge win for the neighborhood!

This rezoning breathes new life into the charming, but neglected, one-story commercial buildings that once served North Cliff streetcar commuters in the early 20th century. Mostly empty since the 1970s, these buildings can now welcome back vibrant, neighborhood-friendly uses like small restaurants, local retail, art galleries, and low-traffic offices.

Even better: homeowners can now build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right instead of being subjected to a tedious city permitting process. That means more affordable housing options, more opportunities for multigenerational living, and more reasons to invest in and preserve the homes that make North Cliff unique.

The new zoning also eliminates outdated, unwanted uses—like batch plants and fuel stations—and reduces parking minimums. Why does that matter? Because fewer parking requirements make it easier to preserve historic buildings and reuse existing spaces instead of tearing them down for lots and garages.

This change is the result of tireless work through the West Oak Cliff Area Plan, with dozens of community meetings and surveys shaping the outcome. And it wouldn’t have happened without the support of Councilmember Chad West for Dallas City Council, who championed the community’s vision every step of the way.

What do you think about these changes? Are you excited to see new life come to this historic corner of North Cliff?

04/01/2025

🏗️ Construction is wrapping up on Tower 1 of the new Hanover Turtle Creek development in Oak Lawn. The 21 story building will add 341 homes to the neighborhood, replacing low rise apartments built in the 1960s.

Next door, work continues on the second tower, which consists of 323 homes. Tower 2 is projected to open in 2026.

02/17/2025

New park coming to East Oak Cliff! 🌳⛹🏽🚴🏾

The Dallas City Council has approved construction of the new Roland G. Parrish Park at 3800 E. Kiest Blvd, which is expected to be completed later this year. The 25-acre park will feature a football field with a track, basketball court, playground, disc golf course, trails, and picnic areas. Funding includes $4 million from the City’s Equity Fund, $3 million from the Infrastructure Investment Fund, and a generous $1 million donation from businessman Roland G. Parrish.

This development brings renewal to the historic Cadillac Heights neighborhood, which has faced environmental challenges in the past. For decades, Cadillac Heights was poisoned by the Dixie Metals Lead Smelter, which operated until 1990. The community suffered from significant lead pollution, leading to health issues among residents. Additionally, the community faced constant flooding from the Trinity River due to a lack of flood control.

The establishment of the Roland G. Parrish Park on the acquired land symbolizes a new chapter for the area, transforming a site of historical adversity into a space for community and recreation.

📸 1: New park layout
📸 2: Current state of the land where the park will be located

01/25/2025

The Lucky Dog Saloon is now open at the corner of Cedar Springs and Carlisle in Uptown! Built in 1927, this two story brick building has been given a new life thanks to the owner of the Katy Trail Ice House, who acquired the property in 2022. Originally purchased to expand parking for the Ice House, the owner decided to preserve and restore the charm of this historic structure—once home to Asel Art Supply.

With branding inspired by the owner’s Australian Shepherd, the luckydogsaloon2701 combines historic charm with a laid-back tavern atmosphere. Stop by, grab a drink, and enjoy a preservation win in Uptown!

01/16/2025

A Missed Opportunity for a True Urban Village in Southwest Dallas?

The Canyon real estate development at Westmoreland and I-30 began with an ambitious vision: a walkable, sustainable urban village that prioritized environmental conservation, community connection, and thoughtful design. Master-planned by GFF, the project promised a hill country-inspired greenway as its centerpiece, surrounded by homes, offices, and shops. The plan was poised to redefine development in Southwest Dallas, offering 3,500 homes 500,000 square feet of office space, and 600,000 square feet of retail—designed to serve both locals and the broader city.

But today, that vision appears to have been watered down into something disappointingly ordinary. What was originally conceived as an interconnected, human-scaled urban village has seemingly morphed into another sprawling suburban development. Although the original plan always showed “big box” retail development and a large parking lot facing I-30, the latest site plan suggests the mixed-use, walkable dream is being traded for car-centric strip malls, cookie-cutter apartment complexes, and disconnected tracts—failing to live up to the promise of creating a cohesive community or setting a new standard for Southwest Dallas.

The Canyon was supposed to be a landmark for smart urban growth in Dallas. Instead, it risks becoming a symbol of missed opportunity.

What do you think? Should the Canyon stay true to its roots, or is suburban sprawl inevitable here? Weigh in below ⬇️

P1: rendering from original plans
P2: latest site plan from broker brochure
P3: original plan
P4: housing under construction
P5: clinic and offices under construction
P6: looking west from the corner of Colorado and Canyon Bluff Road
P7: the site, pre-development

Dallas Old + New

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