Builders were ready to put up new homes on nearly two dozen vacant lots owned by the city of Dallas. But now those 23 are stalled as 34 others move forward because one Dallas city council member said ‘wait.’
Now the city council July recess will further delay progress.
The lots in the city’s ‘Land Bank’ were assembled over the years as fires or demolition cleared old, abandoned homes. The city wound up owning the land.
Stanley Perez lives on Kingsley Drive near Glendale Park, down the street from two of the vacant lots.
“It would be good to get them going, to build houses there,” he said. “It would clean up the area a little more. It would be a major improvement to what it was years ago.”
Neighbor Cedric Freeman said builders willing to construct new homes in his area should be welcomed.
“They want to build new houses, let them build new houses,” Freeman said. “What’s the delay?”
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When the May 25 vote came to approve all 57 new homes in six Dallas city council districts, all but one of the members wanted progress on the vacant lots that dot Southern Dallas inner city neighborhoods.
Councilman Eric Wilson has 17 of the lots in his far Southern Dallas District 8.
“I thought it was a great idea of taking lots that are currently not producing anything for the city but high weeds and complaints, back to turning it into a home for a family and bringing back the middle class,” Wilson said.
Before the vote, Wilson said he had time to consult with neighborhood leaders about the plans.
“I also had time to talk to the different developers and builders to see the quality of homes they're building,” Wilson said.
Several sources close to the negotiations said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other city leaders had pushed the builders to accept the program in neighborhoods that need support as part of the Mayor’s ‘Grow South’ initiative.
North Dallas Council Member Lee Kleinman spoke strongly in favor of it at the May 25 meeting.
“I don’t know any reason we want to delay or stall the development of single family homes in Southern Dallas,” Kleinman said. “This gives opportunities for home ownership. This is a very important program in the city of Dallas.”
But, Southern Dallas Council Member Carolyn King Arnold insisted that 23 lots in her Council District 4 be removed from approval that day for more study.
“Each one of us has responsibility to our constituents and I want to make sure you understand that is my goal here. It is not to win any trophies or any headlines,” she said that day.
Arnold denied hostility toward Kleinman, although she did mention the vote two weeks before, in which she strongly opposed a $3 million economic development grant for a new Costco store in Kleinman’s district, as she asked that her wishes be respected.
“There is no hidden agenda with me when it comes to District 4,” Arnold said. “So, I appreciate your support Mr. Kleinman when we move forward with economic development, and we appreciate everything that you do. We hope you’ll stay on the wagon as we push ‘Grow South’ and help us to get everything that we need in the Southern Sector.”
Records show Arnold voted to support all of the new homes on vacant lots a week before the May 25 city council vote at a committee meeting.
Thursday, Arnold said that including the lots in her district on the May agenda was the result of a “miscommunication.” She said her questions about the new home construction plans have now been answered and she hopes to see the items approved in August after the July recess.
“More in-depth briefing is needed in advance,” Arnold said.
Furthermore, Arnold said she is working to serve her District 4 better than it has been in the past by devising “big picture” projects that would make a larger impact on the community than the scattered lots to be redeveloped in current plans.
Perez said neighbors near the vacant lots are anxious for any progress.
“They want a nice area. Who wants to not come to a nice area,” he said. “I don’t see why the city would deny that.”
