Barbara Dewberry: PD-15 Needs Less Density, More Green Space, But No Public Parks

Last week in a Daltxrealestate.com column, Jon Anderson stated in reference to the Jennifer Gates called community meeting on August 7^th that I said that, “the neighborhood doesn’t want green space.”

In fact, I said “We don’t want a public park,” and many people heard this.  The four acres that are proposed to be developed is too small to dedicate land to a public park and also the City has said they will not maintain it.  Thus, to have a park that outsiders will discover and have picnics, kiddie birthdays, and bring dogs and not pick up, will be an invasion into our now quiet neighborhood.  It will be very expensive to maintain.

 

I have always advocated green space around the buildings like that of the Preston Tower and the Athena which allows permeable space, which will be helpful in stopping run-off flooding.  PD-15 is experiencing flooding already and this needs to be addressed before anything is built.  I, with our neighbors, have demanded a 100-foot setback for any buildings facing South toward NW Hwy.  This would allow for more green space, guest parking and save several vintage Live Oak trees.  Our small 4 acres to be developed is not large enough to dedicate 1/3 acre to a park.  Besides, there is a lovely park at Hillcrest and W. NW Hwy.  Also I have always championed green roofs on any buildings that are built in PD- 15. We are demanding for a right in and right out opening to be made in the Pink Wall so that construction vehicles will not be wandering around decimating streets we own and breaking tree limbs.

 

The proposed park is just another device that the developers use to get additional height and density which the neighborhood is against.

The PD-15 area and other nearby areas have wide, tree-lined streets and are one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Dallas.  The condos and garden homes are spacious, well maintained, and the purchase price is very reasonable. The location is outstanding.  The City of Dallas, joining with Provident and Spanos, wants to tear down affordable homes, but give incentives to the developers to include affordable housing apartments to allow them to build outrageously tall buildings — 310 feet. Does this make sense?

 

The possibility of four high rise buildings being squeezed into PD-15 with maybe 750 units if Diamond Head chooses to develop, could mean maybe 1,500 people and 1,500 cars, which will be chaotic! Too many people in too small a space! When development is completed can you imagine the traffic?  Consider trash trucks, deliveries-UPS, FedEx, Uber, Lyft, guests, service and repair vehicles — we will need helicopters to get out of our homes.

 

If Daltxrealestate.com readers have noticed, Jon has no compassion for the neighborhood.  He appears to support anything Margot Murphy, Jennifer Gates, and the developers ask.  The height and density that will ruin our neighborhood does not affect him now as he has moved from the Athena and will not have to bear the consequences of a very bad proposed plan. Jon’s Athena unit was on the west end facing north and one of only two units on the north that have sold recently. We now have five units facing north for sale and not moving.  Is the possibility of the effects of the proposed disastrous zoning causing this?

 

Thus, is the city creating even more affordable housing because this zoning battle appears to be keeping units from selling and is lowering prices?

 

 But Jon knew when to “to fold ‘em” and left us to endure maybe five years of construction and the chaos thereafter of too much height and density – too many people, too many cars and untenable traffic. All this brought about by the outrageous zoning that Jon embraced.

 

We have one last chance to be heard by the Dallas City Council on September 11, and hopefully, they will see through the developers’  “Follywood” presentation and help us plan for development that will complement the PD-15 area now and into the future.

 

Please call or email the Council Members and ask them to save our neighborhood and deny the City Plan Commission/developers’ plan. Then let the homeowners work with developers to create a reasonable and appropriate plan for PD-15.