Learning From Dallas, TX
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/images/dallas_tour/Elm-Houston-Streets.jpg)
Our final installment of the Downtown Texas comparison series takes us to the big city of Dallas, TX. While Dallas is in the midst of its own revitalization process, it is an excellent example of what can happen when rail transit is introduced to a sprawling metropolitan region.
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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/247
Gotta love their signage & graffiti
Excellent tour, as usual.
I'm shocked to hear of Dallas' same goal of having 10,000 residents by 2010 to its core. I thought they certainly had many more already and would be aiming higher than that. Goes to show that the same problems in Jacksonville are being dealt with in many cities across America.
Great photo of Victory Plaza. It would be nice if Jacksonville were to have its own Times Square someday soon.
Looks like a Fort Worth blogger took a trip to Dallas as well. The commentary is more varied and extensive; thought it would be worth a look-see: http://fortworthology.com/2009/03/05/fort-worthology-goes-to-dallas/
The mural at the Elm Street Bar looks like a Baseball Fury off of the movie "The Warriors". Dallas has a good mix of old, and new high rises.
I'd also recommend checking out The Bishop Arts District: http://www.bishopartsdistrict.com/.
On the edge of downtown and bordered by an established hispanic neighborhood (go for Marissa's Tamales on Jefferson...devine) and the renewal Winnetka Heights Historic District (http://winnetkaheights.org/), its one of my favorite Dallas areas.
The commercial area used to look a lot like JAX's Main St. It's a fantatic example of how artists, a local merchants association, and a historic district commission can drive development, renew interest, and preserve a neighborhood while incorporating and respecting the area's diverse communities. SPAR and SAMBA could certainly learn a lot.
Go on Big "D!" Dallas is not a beautiful City, but it is bustling metropolis and appears to have many things to offer and much to do. It also appears downtown is just a business district, not many residents at all (little to none), so that's a problem, and also a problem in Jax and many other big or major cities. Wouldn't want to live in Dallas, but looks like really great City to visit or live if you choose.
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