This is about to become a common sight in our beloved Bishop Arts District neighborhood. In fact this sight is just off Bishop, across from the Laughing Willow. There are demo’d vacant lots in the middle of neighborhoods all over North Oak Cliff’s most popular entertainment district. I’ve found three new ones within the last week. Here’s the skinny on the last 10 projects under construction now, for a grand total of 27 individual projects.
“How did this happen?” you might ask. Perhaps it was the local option election that made North Oak Cliff “wet” in 2010? Or the nearby Trinity Groves’ explosion into Dallas’ culinary scene? Or Bishop Arts’ own explosion onto the ‘great neighborhood’ scene? Maybe the Bishop/Davis Rezoning Plan in 2010 or the Oak Cliff Gateway zoning changes in 2014 (and then updated in 2015)? Or did it all start in 2002 with the Bishop Street reconstruction? Maybe it’s a bit of all of this — and great neighbors who throw great, big annual events. For sure, that.
Your favorite restaurants and shops need your support more than ever before — with all the construction, sales are down about 30 percent across the board. Seventeen (and counting) separate construction sites are underway within a half-mile of the district! From now on you need to make weekly trips — to gauge progress on these, have a bite to eat, and find something you can’t live without. There are some GREAT new shops opening too — ALL owned by Dallas and Oak Cliff locals. Legit.
In Part 1 we covered the big development projects under construction immediately around the Bishop Arts District (projects numbered 1-8 on the map.) Part 2 covered the projects mostly west of Bishop Arts (projects 9-16.) Here are projects numbered 17-26 below. (Yes! 26! Though more like 28 actually….) Note that project numbers correspond to the map above.
Project 17
The Row on Elsbeth by Larkspur
- First units completed March 2018, others completed in May
- 16 walkup luxury units for sale
- 11 under contract
- with Master Suite rooftop terraces with downtown views
- 3 story, 1,921 – 2,217 square feet, each with 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, rooftop terraces, and 2-car attached garages
Project 18
The Mayor’s House by Jim Lake Co.
- Saved from demolition! A reduction in the parking requirement by City Council in November 2017 enables restaurant use
- Spec restaurant space, now taking applications!
- Under historic renovation now
- Winter 2018 availability
- Jim Lake Co purchased in 2011 along with the Mayor Sergeant’s historic memorabilia, to be displayed within
Project 19
HighRise on Zang by Christian Chernock Properties
- 27 unit boutique apartments
- Designed by architect Dan Shipley
- Average sqft is 530, with 17 units under 450 sqft
- Units will have built in modular furniture that comes with the unit and is customizable by the tenants
- Renderings coming soon
Project 20
Mid-rise residential by InTown Homes
Houston-based developer InTown Homes has eight projects in the works in DFW, all distinctly unique. Now only in the zoning phase on Zang Blvd, plans are to construct 56 brick walk-up brownstone townhouses in Phase 1.
- Square footage from 1,400 to 3,100, with front stoops
- Prices will likely start at $350,000, but it’s too early to know for certain
- Model scheduled to open Q1 2020
- Live / Work units along Zang Blvd
- 3 and 4 floors
- Rooftop decks w/ downtown views on most
Images from other projects in DFW:
Project 21
Magnolia on Zang Apartments by Magnolia Property Company
- 43 luxury units
- Spacious floor plans with an integrated technology package
- Now leasing
- Opened May 2018
Project 22
Chijmes by Keaton Interiors for Magnolia Properties
- 1940s chapel turned event venue and boutique hotel, Chijmesdallas.com
- Opened June 2018
- 12 rooms, designed as themes from cities around the world
- Decorated with chimes collected over the years
Project 23
Zang Flats by Larkspur
- 40 unit boutique residential
- live-work units on first floor
- site planning underway
- construction planned to begin Dec 2018
- context-sensitive design and facade mimicking area historic architecture.
Project 24
Polk Townhomes by Centre Living Homes
- 13 Single Family Homes
- For Sale
- Construction to begin this summer
- Renderings available in about two weeks.
Project 25
Tyler Townhomes by Centre Living Homes
- 13 townhomes
- Construction to begin this summer
Then there are the ACRES under development at Hampton and Fort Worth Ave. (about a 2.5 mile bike ride to Lockhart in the Bishop Arts District.)
Projects 26
- 56 Townhomes by Centre Living Homes, with Roof Decks or Private Yards — currently under land development
- Lincoln Properties’ 18 acre development with onsite trail (almost complete) and the Lincoln Kessler Park apartments: one, two and three bedroom apartments with attached and detached garages leasing now
There’s also the transformation of the historic Wynnewood Village shopping Center, with 220,000 square feet of new construction, 2 miles south. That’s another $30k to the total investment in North Oak Cliff, now approaching $400 million.
That about covers it. For now. There are a few prime lots for sale and a few more recent demolitions — who knows whether they’ll flip or sit.
You should definitely take a biking tour next time you’re in the neighborhood. It’ll be completely different the next time!
