Another day, another NIMBY. It’s an old story where the interests of a few voices stand in the way of the needs of the many when it comes to growth and development.
That’s one of the reasons Californians are fleeing the Golden State to Texas, a state where they can actually afford a roof and four walls for their families.
We have to be careful that Dallas doesn’t choose to be more like Berkeley, where progressive politics and restrictive zoning that has kept house prices sky high have long gone hand in hand.
The case before us is on Forest Lane near the Dallas North Tollway. However, this is not about affordable housing. But it is about a change in attitudes towards growth that the city needs to be aware of – because it could have ramifications for home prices at all levels.
For a decade now, the city of Dallas has owned 3 acres of overgrown vacant property on the corner of Forest and Nuestra Drive. The land should be used for a new library. But plans changed and City Hall decided to sell the Forest Lane property and use the proceeds to redevelop the popular Preston Royal Branch of the Dallas Public Library.
As long as the land is not sold, the library cannot be renovated. The city now has a good offer on the table. A prerequisite, however, is a zone change in front of the city council on Thursday, which enables the development of 26 single-family homes on the site. These are high-end properties that are likely to be in the $ 1 million and rock climbing range.
As is so often the case in established areas, there is considerable resistance here. Concerns about traffic, privacy and the other usual bugabuses are becoming loud.
When looking at the plans for this development, we think the neighbors should greet them instead. The site has plenty of space to accommodate these homes. The city will benefit from both land sales and the taxes that the new homes bring into the pot. A fallow plot of land is put to productive use. And families who want to live in the area have additional choices for homes.
Is it perfect It is not. The likely prices of the houses reflect an economic reality that is driving the middle class out of the city. But a single development cannot reverse the economic forces that created this market. What can be reversed over time is an increased supply of housing. We need more places for people who want to live in Dallas.
Growth has been a north star for this city since its inception. Yes, growth has to be considered. Yes, the infrastructure has to be considered. But the densification of the development along a main thoroughfare seems to us to be the right direction for Dallas. And remember, this is not a multi-family or even a pilot series development. There are a handful of very expensive single-family homes. If you can’t build these, then how can we ever hope to see townhouses or condos offering a mix of housing options and starting to wind down the price spiral?
It is vital that the City Hall accompany the approval of this type of development with a view to pedestrians and cars. But increased traffic, while inconvenient, is a sign of success. And it’s also the way to create and maintain a variety of modes of transport in a city that relies so heavily on the car.
Change is worrying. It is life too. If we don’t change and grow, our city will suffer.
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