Humanizing the Trinity River Corridor Project

By Tamarind Phinisee, NDG Contributing Writer

Life for 60-something Lena Perez has been pretty routine. For more than 40 years, Perez has lived in the same neighborhood in West Dallas and she can’t imagine living anywhere else.

In fact, says Perez, she and her husband Angel have raised three children in the neighborhood. And now, they take care of her grand kids. But the city’s Trinity River Corridor Project could turn their lives upside down, says Perez.

The reason: the project is being developed just a few streets over from their home. And, Perez says, investors are already trying to buy out her neighbors.

“It’s scary because of the fact that we’re older and we don’t know how to handle a situation like this. If this had happened when we were in our 20s, it would’ve been a lot easier,” Perez says. “We need help and advice … about what to do.”

Perez says her husband Angel has been attending the local neighborhood meetings sponsored by the city about the project. But, she says, the meetings aren’t helpful.

“He’s (my husband) left the meetings with a lot of questions,” she says, adding that it would be easier if the city was honest and open with area residents about the project.

Project at a glance

The Trinity River Corridor Project will create a 20-mile corridor and 10,000-acre public space through the city’s core, which will span seven city districts, including West Dallas (now District 6). The project’s Balanced Vision Plan purports to address the areas of: flood protection; transportation; environmental restoration and management; and parks and recreation.

Last week, the city began work on a new plan called the Connected City Design Challenge (connectedcitydesign.com), which will update or replace the Balanced Vision Plan.

City Councilwoman Monica Alonzo – who is now represents District 6, which includes West Dallas – did not return calls by press time.

The targeted area in the West Dallas community includes two side-by-side neighborhoods: La Bajada (the closest area to the Trinity River) and Los Altos.

Planning for the project has been in the works for many, many years. Voters approved $246 million for improvements to the Trinity River in a 1998 bond election. These improvements include the development of hundreds of miles of a walking and biking trail network to connect several major parks around Dallas to the city’s core; the conversion of the historic Continental Bridge to a pedestrian only bridge (already underway) and Calatrava-designed bridges like the 1,870-foot-long Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge that opened in March 2012.

It is hoped, say city officials, that these improvements will spur more urban revitalization to the West Dallas neighborhood, through housing in-fill and mixed-use development. In fact, District 1 City Councilman Scott Griggs says restoration of the street grid and new residential projects are on the radar in an area south of Singleton Boulevard, between Beckley and Sylvan Roads.

But encouraging urban revitalization in an existing neighborhood, says Perez, may mean that current homeowners will be forced to sell their homes as investors seek to move in.

Of course, not all area residents and business owners see this as a bad thing.

Aaron Odom Jr., a member of the family that owns West Dallas-based Odom’s BBQ, says he’s excited about the incoming economic development. His family’s business owns a chain of barbeque restaurants, one of which sits on Singleton Boulevard which borders both neighborhoods.

Odom says the new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which sits at the mouth of Singleton Boulevard as a gateway to the West Dallas neighborhood from downtown has increased area traffic.

“We like the bridge. It brought the guy doing all the investing in the area and actually, that’s helping out our business,” Odom says. “There are a lot of people offering to buy out the area and people are willing to invest in it. …”

Edward Hadnot, who lives in the Los Altos neighborhood adjacent to Perez’s, says he’s happy that the city has turned its attention to a part of the city that has been neglected for so many years. Still, he agrees with Perez, that the city hasn’t been as honest with area residents as it could be as to the fate of their homes.

“I think it’s good for the area; it’s bringing back some economic development out there to make the community better, although I don’t know what impact that will have on me. I think the city could do a better job of doing that,” Hadnot says.

City level feedback

Aldo Fritz, chief planner in the City of Dallas’ neighborhood and planning division, concedes that the displacement of some neighborhood residents could happen as property taxes slowly rise over a period of time and residents are unable to make the payments.

“Yes, there will be an increase in property taxes; but it won’t be anything substantial or overnight. It will be a gradual change over a few years,” Fritz says. “Unfortunately, it’s a catch 22 because you want the neighborhood to improve. But how do you pay for it?”

Fritz says if a homeowner’s land is necessary for flood protection, he or she will be compensated. But, he adds, nothing like that has happened so far and the city’s goal is not to “bulldoze” existing homes. In fact, he says, the city passed an ordinance last year limiting the development of buildings in West Dallas to two floors, to push future development further south of the two neighborhoods and retain the existing residential footprint.

“We want to minimize displacement. We don’t want anyone to be forced to move out … We don’t want to kick anyone out or take anyone’s homes away,” Fritz says. “We want to empower them to live in an improved, vibrant neighborhood.”

Paula Blackmon, chief of staff in Mayor Mike Rawlings’ office, says she’s not sure as to whether or not residents will have to move.

“If they want more information or help about this issue, have them contact us; we’ll help them find the info they need,” Blackmon says.

However, Blackmon stresses that the Trinity River Corridor Project is vital to the economic development and growth of Dallas as a whole.

“The Trinity River has long bisected our community. This project will create an environment that we’re hoping will bring people to the river and the water and will create flow to (both sides of the river),” she says.