tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65044916390096922362024-03-13T13:16:18.881-07:00 Deep Ellum Outdoor Market Blog Real cities around the world have markets. Let's make Dallas a real city.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-27036361613141187032013-04-09T20:38:00.000-07:002013-04-09T21:32:14.556-07:00Why have a Taco Festival?I read this tweet other day by Datahowler:<br />
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Dallas prizes big names. <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1394055/royal-honors-for-starchitect-im-pei">IM Pei</a>'s City Hall. <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-celebrity-chef-restaurants-in-dallas-fort-worth/">Celebrity Chefs</a><a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-celebrity-chef-restaurants-in-dallas-fort-worth/">'</a> new restaurants. <a href="http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2012/05/turns-out-some-very-familiar-names-are-still-interested-in-taking-over-the-downtown-farmers-market.html/">The Richards Group</a> marketing the Dallas Farmer's Market. Calatrava's <a href="http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/dallas-council-approves-funding-for-second-calatrava-bridgeamid-concerns-about-cost-over-runs-and-maintenance-price.html/">second bridge</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Odd_Couple">The Odd Couple</a> at Dallas Theater Center. And yet, many people from Dallas and outside wonder what the <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2012/02/still_think_dallas_has_no_cult.php">substance</a> of our culture is.</div>
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In defense of this city, I always tell people that Dallas ain't gonna find you, you have to find Dallas. In order to experience and enjoy the Jewel of the Flatlands, you need to have an adventurous sprit and a tolerance for highways to dig deep and discover Dallas' treasures. After all, real culture doesn't have a <a href="http://www.visitdallas.com/BIG/">marketing budget</a>. </div>
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The point of the North Texas Taco Festival, in turn, is to make disparate aspects of DFW culture accessible in a single, central location. Tacos, traditionally consumed by common people, are a perfect compliment to our mission of promoting streetlife in Dallas. </div>
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There will 15 taquerias from around DFW that range from Jefferson Ave culture to Henderson Ave culture. We've invited chefs to demonstrate their skills and panelists to discuss the social significance of tacos. We'll also have used records, local art, vintage books, and cool accessories. You will also walk through Dallas' most unique neighborhood, one of the few that's existed for 140 years. </div>
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Why have a Taco Festival? Because it just sounds fun.</div>
Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-70815566893863079072012-10-05T07:30:00.000-07:002012-10-05T07:39:04.541-07:00Let's make Dallas a real cityWow, last night's response to the <a href="http://designdistrictmarket.com/">Design District Market</a> was incredible! The crowd was great, the music was rocking, and the energy on Cole St. was palpable.<br />
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Not enough credit has been given to <a href="http://www.jimlakeco.com/">Jim Lake Companies</a> for bringing DEOM into the mix and for footing the bill of this event. But most specifically, a deep bow of gratitude goes to their marketing coordinator <a href="http://www.dallasdesigndistrict.net/">Monica Diodati</a>, who is already lining up other events to bring excitement and attention to the Design District. It's always a pleasure working with a person who not only gets stuff done, but also someone who has real passion for this line of work.<br />
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Collaboration is the key to growing these events and spreading the good word that Big D is actually a cool place. <a href="http://deepellummarket.blogspot.com/2011/03/dallas-loves-its-bubbles.html">As I've said before</a>, Dallas is a bubble city where people don't mix, don't know each other, and don't work together. It's inevitable to have a plethora of cool, intelligent, talented people in a city this size. The problem is finding them.<br />
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People are now saying around Texas that <a href="http://youtu.be/EZ5qoL8g_w0">Austin is becoming more like Dallas</a>, and Dallas is becoming more like Austin. We have a bike lane now and a bunch of <a href="http://takingthelane.com/2012/09/06/sharrows-a-mini-review/">sharrows</a>. This is the home of the <a href="http://betterblock.org/">Better Block Project</a>. More and more street festivals are popping up around DFW, like <a href="http://walkthelight.org/">Walk the Light</a> and the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/495265820503031/">Elmwood Street Fair</a>, for example. People are stirring to the idea of Dallas as a dynamic city.<br />
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"You know how real cities have markets? We intend to make Dallas a real city," has been a running joke of mine since starting the Deep Ellum Market. The thing is, this could actually happen! Things are changing in Dallas right now, and it's exciting take part in it, but again, more people need to join in. I feel now is the time to change the catchphrase: Let's make Dallas a real city.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-68857867037413448052012-09-17T13:18:00.001-07:002012-09-17T13:19:46.965-07:00Different neighborhood, same storyTwo years ago, living in my parents house for the first time in a decade, I quickly realized that running one market is certainly not enough to sustain myself and my lifestyle in Dallas. <a href="http://www.brooklynflea.com/">The Brooklyn Flea</a> guys can charge $100 a booth and hold their market every weekend, but that's New York City, and I knew that getting people to Deep Ellum would be a challenge, especially in the beginning.<br />
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That's why I set up the business to be replicable in different places. In two years of operation, we've been able to set up markets in various neighborhoods and venues, from <a href="http://untapped-festival.com/">West Dallas</a> to <a href="http://pegasusmarket.net/">Downtown</a> to <a href="http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/">Fair Park</a>. The next neighborhood and project on the list is the <a href="http://www.dallasdesigndistrict.net/">Dallas Design District</a> and the <a href="http://designdistrictmarket.com/">Design District Market</a>.<br />
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What's interesting about this project is that it's remarkably similar to starting the <a href="http://deepellummarket.com/">Deep Ellum Market</a> two years ago. Telling people about DEOM at that time, I encountered a lot of skepticism from vendors, special event producers, and people in the neighborhood. A few months removed from our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.454146321273826.101871.202084439813350&type=1">2 Year Anniversary</a>, I like to think we've proved our critics wrong.<br />
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Now, telling people about the Design District Market on October 4 produces the same blank stares and quizzical looks when DEOM was still very young. Vendors are skeptical that people will come to this area of Dallas. There are neighborhood factions with little history of working together. Even fellow urbanists question the viability of the Design District as a pedestrian friendly environment.<br />
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I see the Design District as an <a href="http://www.thegreatgodpanisdead.com/2012/09/dallas-is-jewel.html">up and coming neighborhood</a>. According to information I've received from our partners on this project, <a href="http://www.jimlakeco.com/">Jim Lake Companies</a>, the Design District now boasts almost 1,800 residents (up from 43 in the year 2000) and 1,026 businesses (80% related to decor/furniture/interior design). There are 11 restaurants, a theater,<a href="http://dallascontemporary.org/"> a museum</a>, <a href="http://peticolasbrewing.com/home.php">a brewery</a>, 22 art galleries, Trammel Crow Park, and the recently approved <a href="http://www.trinitystrand.org/">Trinity Strand Trail</a>.<br />
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Like Deep Ellum, the Design District's infilling of empty space has the potential to be something great in the City of Dallas. The challenge, again, is to show that there is another neighborhood in the Central Dallas area that exhibits signs of real, organic growth.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-62243955252361969952012-05-08T07:22:00.000-07:002012-05-08T07:24:42.171-07:00Deep Ellum as an Entertainment DistrictPlease read this blog about the <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/xn5j6">Pitfalls of "Entertainment Districts"</a>. Deep Ellum would certainly fall into the "naturally occurring" entertainment district category, as any historical reference to the neighborhood will mention it being Dallas' home of jazz and the blues in the 1920s. Long story short, Deep Ellum has been Dallas' watering hole for the better part of a century.<br />
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Luckily, Deep Ellum has not become the "overnight" example of entertainment districts, despite talk in the past of building a <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-09-11/news/deep-ellum-lives/">West Village style development in the heart of the neighborhood</a>. I remember there being a lot of opposition to this project, and rightly so, as single entity ownership limits diversity and flexibility of commercial and residential space. <br />
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But opposition to this project empowered another group, which can be called the Circa 92, or the Keep Deep Ellum Empty faction. The general belief is that if it worked in 1992 as an active collection of bars, it'll work today. What is the <a href="http://10manraiding.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/insanity_mario.jpg?w=640">definition of insanity</a> again?<br />
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Deep Ellum will never be a relevant neighborhood in Dallas if it's only seen as an entertainment district. Is the goal of the neighborhood is to be the receptacle of Dallas' debauchery? Entertainment districts are notions rooted in suburban development, which necessitates great distances between drink and home. <br />
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To revitalize a neighborhood, or to make it like any other thriving community in any city around the world, commerce needs to take place at all hours of the day. <a href="http://www.strongtowns.org/program-overview/">Attract people during the day</a>, and Deep Ellum will be a completely different place.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-84391163181222237632012-04-04T07:56:00.000-07:002012-04-04T08:08:07.893-07:00Food Trucks in Deep EllumThe <a href="http://www.deepellumfoodtrucks.com/">Deep Ellum Food Truck Rally</a> is coming to Deep Ellum! The urban activist in me is extremely pleased to shut down Main St. and turning a road normally for cars into a space for people.<br />
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It's an undeniable fact that food trucks are currently a trend and that they draw a lot people. It's also an undeniable fact that Deep Ellum needs more people in its street, so it makes sense to combine the two.<br />
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The <a href="http://deepellummarket.blogspot.com/2012/03/residence-analysis-of-deep-ellum.html">west side of Deep Ellum</a> is currently shaping up to be the commercial side of the neighborhood. Elm St. currently boasts a concentration of bars (Anvil Pub, Black Swan, La Grange, Reno's, July Alley, etc.) while Commerce has proven to be a home for restaurants (Twisted Root, Freeman, Cane Rosso, Angry Dog, St. Pete's, Buzzbrews, etc.). By natural extension, then, Main St. should be where all the retail is, and for the most part it's shaping to be that way (Lula B's, Millennium, In Accord, Dallas Pinup, Mid to Mod, etc.). But how many people relate shopping with Deep Ellum?<br />
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With the exception of an occasional crowd at the Curtain Club, Main St. remains forgotten among this crest of Deep Ellum revitalization. How can this be when Main has the widest sidewalks, the shadiest trees, and cool storefronts, making it one of the most pedestrian friendly stretches of land in the City of Dallas?<br />
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The reason is that Deep Ellum isn't relevant in a city-wide discussion of important neighborhoods, and many businesses suffer from this fact. Granted, Cane Rosso is relevant in the Dallas culinary scene, and Trees and Dada are relevant in the music scene, but there are plenty of people who still won't come here because there are plenty of other options around town that are more familiar to them.<br />
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There is currently a nationwide debate pitting <a href="http://marcussamuelsson.com/news/food-trucks-vs-brick-and-mortar-restaurants-are-up-in-arms">gourmet food trucks against brick and mortar restaurants</a>. In putting together this event, I've personally been drawn into this debate. There are many restaurant owners that see this Rally as an immediate threat to their business. My defense of this project is fivefold:<br />
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1) Ours a special event and not a daily or even weekly occurrence.</div>
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2) You cannot deny trends, and this event will bring even more people to the neighborhood.</div>
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3) If the neighborhood continues to develop as it should, there will be plenty more competition for all restaurants. This will mimic that competitive environment.</div>
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4) The advantage of Deep Ellum as a venue for a food truck event is that the neighborhood provides alternatives to a 30 min wait standing at the truck or a selection of trucks that you don't want to eat at anyways.</div>
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5) The event is designed to serve dinner and entertain people with live music, but it ends early and encourages people to stay in Deep Ellum to shop or drink.</div>
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Perhaps the fear is that one food truck will lead to two, which will lead to the entire neighborhood being overrun with mobile restaurants. But again, Deep Ellum must remain relevant to be a viable place for businesses to set up and for people to move in to.</div>
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<br /></div>Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-33491426412168287392012-03-23T07:30:00.000-07:002012-03-23T07:30:04.225-07:00Joshua King at the WAAS Gallery<a href="http://dallasaurora.com/">Aurora Dallas</a> was one of those events that makes you proud to be from Dallas. On the evening of Game 7 of the World Series last year, more than 100 light, video, and sound artists from all over the country to our <a href="http://www.thedallasartsdistrict.org/">Arts District</a>.<br />
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The reason this important to bring up again is that<a href="http://www.krop.com/joshuaking/#/"> Joshua King</a>, one of the organizers of the event, will have his first solo art exhibition "Goods and Services" at the <a href="http://waasgallery.com/">WAAS Gallery</a> just south of Deep Ellum.<br />
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For more information about the event, visit the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/224382617652473/">Facebook page here</a>. Josh plans to reprise one of his Aurora installations, and my favorite of the <a href="http://youtu.be/gcUEkSTub4A">entire event</a>. Food Trucks <a href="http://rockstarbakeshop.com/">Rockstar Bakeshop</a> and <a href="http://www.threelionstruck.com/">Three Lions Truck</a> will provide delicious delectables. Plus there will be drinks and music, as any party would require.</div>
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For more information about the artist, watch this video. </div>
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<br /></div>Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-70182508561889289242012-03-15T07:36:00.001-07:002012-03-15T08:17:53.515-07:00From Vibrant Geometry to Beige BBQ BuildingBakers Ribs is moving from its perennial location next to the Angry Dog to the corner of Main and Hall. In doing so, it displaces the work of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ricardo-Paniagua/119832538087698?sk=wall">Ricardo Paniagua</a>, local Deep Ellum Artist. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building and Artist, photo by Scot Dorn</td></tr>
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For Baker's Ribs, this is opportunity to ostensibly <a href="http://www.centraltrack.com/articleFood.php?id=531">make room for their fried pies</a>. Still Paniagua's designs weren't in line with <a href="http://www.bakersribs.com/locCaddoMills.html">typical locations of the Texas BBQ franchise</a>, and the company felt the need to alter the building's facade.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please excuse the crappy phone resolution</td></tr>
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As you can see, the building currently bears no semblance of its former self. Paniagua's "Psalm 112: An Alchemical Spacecraft" had received national acclaim, but the BBQ joint felt that the mural didn't exactly fit their branding strategy.<br />
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This situation is a microcosm of what is happening in urban areas around the country. When it comes to these old, non-suburban places, what should be done about buildings that have been there sitting empty for a long time? <br />
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While it is a tragedy that the vibrancy of that intersection is now muted, the building was un-rentable, judging by its many years of disuse. In fact, there are many buildings in the neighborhood that have been empty for a long time. Is this a cause of the times, or is this a call for new buildings?</div>Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-72499978146486847302012-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:002012-03-09T07:24:50.160-08:00Pinterest and the Deep Ellum TunnelDeep Ellum has always been a hotbed of controversy, from its freed slaves roots and criminal background of the 1920s to the <a href="http://www.robertabtahi.com/post/18514636890/a-valuable-lesson-from-uplift-education">Uplift Education debacle earlier this year</a>.<br />
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In its late 20th century heyday, Deep Ellum's most beloved icon The Tunnel was a symbol of the edginess of the neighborhood. Crossing under Central Expressway and going down Good Latimer through the Deep Ellum Tunnel meant you were crossing into another world that wasn't exactly safe and certainly not welcome to the faint of heart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/deepellummarket/deep-ellum-tunnel/">South side of the Tunnel</a></td></tr>
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The walls were decorated with murals, another sign that you were entering into a place unique to Dallas. It's understandable, then, that when DART announced it's taking the Tunnel in the name of urban redevelopment and public transportation, <a href="http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php/2104-Good-Latimer-Tunnel/page4">people were up in arms</a>.<br />
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Like the aforementioned Uplift situation, decisions were made higher up, and the people didn't have a say in what was happening in their neighborhood. Next thing you know, construction begins and the Tunnel is gone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1849941775"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N6326DWklvQ/T1oaMsEXI0I/AAAAAAAAAGs/siKZTLoeJcU/s640/DE016.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/deepellummarket/deep-ellum-tunnel/">North side of Tunnel and tons of rebar </a></td></tr>
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I prepared a photo essay a few years ago to retell this story, but there was never a convenient platform to show the pictures. Then Pinterest happened and the Uplift controversy happened, and the time felt right to tell the story once more. For more pictures, visit <a href="http://pinterest.com/deepellummarket/deep-ellum-tunnel/">the DEOM Pinterest board dedicated to the evolution of Good Latimer</a>.<br />
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I also failed to keep the photographers' names handy, so if I used your work, let me know and I'll credit you.<br />
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In the end, the only living piece of the Deep Ellum Tunnel resides across the street from the DART station, not far from where it used to stand. It's now a stump that the Traveling Man leans against.<br />
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<img height="300" src="webkit-fake-url://6377F980-0DDE-4F0E-8790-C136DB357536/image.tiff" width="400" />Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-24142549225153788832012-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:002012-03-09T00:12:47.758-08:00Residence Analysis of Deep EllumThere is a subtle underlying context to the way that Deep Ellum has developed over the years. Long story short, the neighborhood is divided in half by Hall St. Essentially, the west side is mainly businesses with a few residences, but the east side is mainly residences with a couple few businesses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9WzJayn_W8/T1kebsFVgbI/AAAAAAAAAGM/0BDPwAn8LCU/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9WzJayn_W8/T1kebsFVgbI/AAAAAAAAAGM/0BDPwAn8LCU/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue = West, Green = East, Bubble = < 3 tenants, Pin = > 3 tenants</td></tr>
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In an urban context*, it's important to look for density and concentrations of people. While there are a good number of living spaces in the west side of Deep Ellum, there are much fewer multi-residence buildings than in the east side. In other words, the west is dense with commercial space but sparse in residential.</div>
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The east, on the other hand, is replete with multi-tenant buildings and consequently have larger concentrations of people. By the way, there are no parking meters on the east side. In a comfortable, walkable community, people have all the amenities they need within a 5 minute walking distance. A 5 minute walk to the west from the Futura lofts on Commerce barely gets you to Walton St.</div>
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One of the biggest difficulties of local businesses is getting the area residences to patronize their establishments. If the businesses are outside the universal preferred walking distance of where people live, those people will most likely jump into the car. If they get into the car, they might as well go to Mockingbird lane, Greenville Ave, McKinney Ave, or Lakewood to shop, eat, or drink.</div>
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The bane of the modern city is zoning laws, which assist in the development of suburbs. Everywhere in Dallas, with the exception of Downtown and Uptown, takes pains to separate homes from businesses. It turns out, this goes against millennia of city development patterns all over the world.</div>
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*The Marquis on Gaston (pin in the top left corner) is not considered part of the urban context because it is based on the suburban fortress model of residential development and impermeable to city life. </div>Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-39320322846336861592012-03-08T11:32:00.004-08:002012-03-08T11:32:56.106-08:00Time for a ChangeThe great thing about talking to people from different places is getting their perspective on how things work in their cities. Dallas is certainly unique in many aspects, but it can also learn from other places. <br />
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V. is a recently returning Dallas native adjusting to life back home having come from the more urban, more dynamic Washington D.C. Apparently over the better part of the last decade, in D.C. there has been the ubiquitous emergence of "hyper local" blogs, from which people get their information about the city. <br />
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A Google search of "Dallas neighborhood blog" only yielded search results from the Observer, D Mag, Dallas News, and a real estate blog. Since Google doesn't recognize any Dallas neighborhood blogs, let's assume that the hyper local blog doesn't exist here. Since it doesn't exist here, let's take this opportunity to start one, or at least re-tool this one to be more useful to people.<br />
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The goal of this project is threefold: 1) excavate information and conversations that may help to make Deep Ellum a better place, 2) get more people supporting local businesses, 3) give me an outlet for my opinions. After all, it's my blog and I can do whatever I want with it.<br />
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So expect more posts. They'll be shorter with more mistakes and hopefully more pictures. If you're close to the Deep Ellum Postal Center at Main and Hall, stop by and say hi.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-8782727438162970672011-10-24T11:10:00.000-07:002011-10-24T11:41:27.543-07:00Leisure is not a luxury: Public places and cost free distractionOne of the major tenets of the New Urbanism movement is that public places need to be made for people. Taking a look at major public spaces around the world, the most common activity among them is sitting. <a href="http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=7">Washington Square Park </a>in New York City creates a respite from hectic urban life by providing many places where you can relax. Successful urban spaces allow people to change gears by offering a distraction to business, work, and domestic chores.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1997037741"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.pps.org/graphics/gpp/wash7_large" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=7">Washington Square Park </a></td></tr>
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My good friend Stacy Cherones of <a href="http://gethealthydallas.org/about.html">Get Healthy Dallas</a> says "Leisure is not a luxury." In other words, people deserve distractions from the daily grind to regardless of race, creed, or income. At <a href="http://youtu.be/HxCy4NNt3f8">Google</a>, for example, innovative work is balanced with recreation, which in turn makes employees more productive. If people enjoy their work environment, employers will see a more industrious workforce.<br />
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Every Friday this October, DEOM has teamed up with <a href="http://downtowndallas.org/">Downtown Dallas Inc.</a> to create the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=248007855248835">Pegasus Plaza Outdoor Market</a>. The mission of this project is to provide Downtown workers, residents, and tourists the distraction that urban spaces are able to provide. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZL1xMbCFDU/TqWXtG0b0SI/AAAAAAAAAFE/lOCajPEzi7E/s1600/IMAG0312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZL1xMbCFDU/TqWXtG0b0SI/AAAAAAAAAFE/lOCajPEzi7E/s320/IMAG0312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More people on construction laden sidewalk than Market</td></tr>
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Weeks before the Market, polling Downtown workers showed that they didn't know the name of the plaza and that pedestrians shuffled by with blinders on, unaware of their surroundings. In fact, the first Pegasus Market showed that people were reluctant to interact with the marketplace and took pains to avoid it.<br />
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At the first two Pegasus Markets, it was baffling that people chose to walk on the difficult terrain of the sidewalks than to walk through the closed street where we set up vendors. Perhaps these people were too used to their lunch routine, or maybe they didn't want to shop for anything. I also considered that the passersby thought that the event wasn't open to them. Despite our efforts to obstruct normal pathways, people still trudged on through.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FmkXY9jOPU/TqWXrsIWTwI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J_cKTcbgRl8/s1600/IMAG0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FmkXY9jOPU/TqWXrsIWTwI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J_cKTcbgRl8/s320/IMAG0310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People continue to walk on sidewalk despite obstruction.</td></tr>
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After the second Pegasus Market, we received news from Downtown Dallas Inc. that we were over budget and could no longer afford to close Akard as part of the Special Event Permit. The urbanism activist in me was disappointed because I believe in shutting down streets and limiting automobile access in favor of pedestrian walkways, but in this case, it was a blessing in disguise. Dallasites aren't ready to walk on the streets. They respect the car and its territory too much to question its authority in urban mobility. Still, word of mouth in combination with familiarity and with human comfort attracted more people to the third Pegasus Plaza Outdoor Market than the previous two.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ23BN7cyJg/TqWXu5WIokI/AAAAAAAAAFM/KoMgPJVHeq0/s1600/IMAG0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ23BN7cyJg/TqWXu5WIokI/AAAAAAAAAFM/KoMgPJVHeq0/s320/IMAG0315.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sidewalk is more comfortable than the street.</td></tr>
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Jane Jacobs wrote in her book <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs">The Economy of Cities</a> that diversity in cities promotes innovation and development of new work and production. The benefit of the Market in the middle of Downtown Dallas is that locally made, distinct, and unfamiliar products are given fresh exposure to a new group of people. As these entrepreneurs make sales, new products are added to the market and their manufacture can be sustained. In order for the vendors to make sales, the customers need a comfortable and inviting marketplace to come to. Long story short, people need enjoyable public spaces to contribute to local economy.<br />
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People in Dallas need re-education in the use of public space. Public places should be designed for human leisure, like eating, relaxing, and other distractions. A real city provides leisurely amenities for its people in order to benefit their well being and their economy.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-9211448621884988342011-09-07T07:30:00.000-07:002011-09-07T07:50:44.021-07:00Spandex justifies bicycling in a sprawled cityWhereas dogs make sense of their world by smell, humans make sense of their world by vision. Therefore image is everything in human environments, as our clothes, hair, and skin help define what tribes we belong to. Dallas tribes, like any culture, have interesting customs that define us as well as the city itself.<br />
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Being a city of consolidated, sprawled suburban areas, Dallas is a metropolis that features few actual city-like areas, which means that typical city-like forms of transportation are certainly underutilized. In the homeland of the <a href="http://www.30kmillionaires.com/">$30k Millionaire</a>, people can't afford to be seen walking or biking from one place to the next. The way you get around Big D indicates, for the most part, your status in our society.<br />
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<a href="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/tools/shared/mediahub/01/22/00/slideshow_1002210915_Texas_Weather.JPEG-0ceb4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/tools/shared/mediahub/01/22/00/slideshow_1002210915_Texas_Weather.JPEG-0ceb4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And yet, people still walk and bike on occasion. Given the social stigmas attached to such activities, pedestrians and velocipedists justify their choice of transportation by certain accessories. In Dallas, it's only acceptable to traverse the sidewalks when with a dog. For example, a person walking from Upper Henderson (near Central) to Lower Henderson (near New Flower Market) is ostensibly a non-Caucasian with no money. But with a dog, that person is a local resident taking care of his or her pet responsibilities. Similarly, someone walking from Downtown to Uptown is obviously on crack. But give them a canine, and they're coming back from the dog park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pixtus.com/forum/attachments/open-talk/36262d1172004836-tour-dallas-bike-ride-dsc01343-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.pixtus.com/forum/attachments/open-talk/36262d1172004836-tour-dallas-bike-ride-dsc01343-1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Likewise, riding a bike in Dallas is justified only as long as you're wearing fluorescent spandex (hipsters notwithstanding). Conversely, the more plain and baggy your clothes while riding, the lower your salary. Wearing spandex not only helps reduce chafing, but it also means that the bicyclist rides for fitness and not for transportation. After all, the well-off bike rider keeps a rack on the trunk of his car to schlepp the bike to and from White Rock Lake. It's dangerous to a person's well being to ride on the streets of Dallas; being seen and recognized is almost as perilous as being hit by a distracted driver.<br />
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These accessories give the average Dallas walker and biker the image of well-to-do recreation. Real destinations in the Jewel of the Flatlands require automobile transportation, otherwise there is no feasible way to access those places. Since dogs are never found at the grocery store, a quick jaunt for snacks requires hopping into a car. Spandex clad people are mainly seen mounting a bike, as opposed to checking out a book at the library or sipping espresso at the café. <br />
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Ultimately, this image problem hinders the viability of alternate forms of transportation. While foot traffic can only be increased with infrastructure and destination rehabilitation, bicycle use can be remedied by having different expectations. The mission of <a href="http://dallascyclechic.com/">Dallas Cycle Chic</a> is to do this exactly. Meeting friends at the restaurant is unadvisable in pastel lycra, and wearing a helmet is such a drag. The solution? Make Dallas cycle-friendly. Leave the helmet. Wear jeans on your bike. And watch this Ted Talk (courtesy of Dallas Cycle Chic):<br />
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<br />Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0Dallas, TX, USA32.802955 -96.76992332.589413 -97.08578 33.016496999999994 -96.454066000000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-67746536503277298082011-08-30T07:49:00.000-07:002011-08-30T07:57:13.254-07:00Dallas ain't Madrid, but...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.brandl-muc.de/blog/madrid/pics/bares/el_tigre_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media.brandl-muc.de/blog/madrid/pics/bares/el_tigre_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside El Tigre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I got back to Dallas from Madrid in 2006, the first business I wanted to attempt was a Spanish style tapas bar. I had in my mind <a href="http://gospain.about.com/od/madrid/ss/malasana_chueca_7.htm">El Tigre</a>, a traditional type of tapas bar in Madrid where you order a caña (small beer) and you get a tapa (free food). At any time during the day, you find theater people, musicians, gays, businessmen, punks, and <i>pijos </i>at the standing-room-only bar<i>.</i> What I wanted to bring to Dallas was a small slice of Spanish culture at its best.<br />
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After almost a year back in town, however, I realized Dallas doesn't have a single location that would sustain a business like this. After all, sprawled cities cannot support diverse communities. El Tigre attracts such a peculiar crowd because its location is within short walking distance from various popular destinations in Madrid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wuwQfHfq3E/TlxzHP3_PUI/AAAAAAAAAEo/YCqyOT1EjKs/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wuwQfHfq3E/TlxzHP3_PUI/AAAAAAAAAEo/YCqyOT1EjKs/s400/Picture+7.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madrid, Spain. El Tigre in the middle.</td></tr>
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El Tigre is located within 800ft of four different Metro stations (red diamonds on map). It's mere minutes from the Gayborhood, the Hipster District, the Theater District, a ton of shopping, and the center of the city. People go to this tapas bar because it's easy to get to, it's laid back, and the food is cheap and delicious. <br />
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In Dallas, there are plenty of places that are cheap, delicious, and laid back. But this city's biggest disadvantage is that everything and everyone is so far away from each other. Many people doubt that Big D could ever be a condensed, diverse, walkable city. Here's the thing: Dallas used to be that way.<br />
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Dallas had become a significant, bustling city after the Civil War. The brand new national railroad system made Dallas an important crossroads connecting north, south, east, and west. The Jewel of the Flatlands soon became the most important hub in the Southwest for economic activity in cotton, oil, and investment banking. That money created an urban landscape that today's blighted downtowns envy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k1c8mbKkJg/Tlz5-HU1-tI/AAAAAAAAAEs/97N9FuEGhzc/s1600/downtown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k1c8mbKkJg/Tlz5-HU1-tI/AAAAAAAAAEs/97N9FuEGhzc/s640/downtown.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Dallas. Main and Akard. November 3, 1951.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, automobile focused development killed downtowns all over the country, as highways spliced through urban areas and incentivized citizens to move further and further away. We now see the results in weakened cities, unsustainable sprawl, and a plethora of places not worth caring about. On the other hand, in spite of irresponsible urban planning, Dallas still has sections and neighborhoods that retain the spirit of good urbanism.<br />
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Four years after coming back to my hometown, I started a business that would help activate one of the few Dallas neighborhoods that retained this urban spirit. I wanted to create a place that took space away from inactive automobiles and allowed human activity to prevail. Instead of a car soaking sunlight, an artist would use the space for self expression. <br />
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Deep Ellum is a place worth caring about. Not only is its history important to the character of the neighborhood, but also its future is directly tied to the kind of city Dallas becomes. As developments within the city grasp at straws to figure out how to create a place where people want to be, Deep Ellum already has the shape and infrastructure to show a sprawled town what a real city looks like. Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-24408122350609465432011-05-27T09:37:00.000-07:002011-05-27T09:39:44.372-07:00Dallas police reaction to recent special eventsThe past few weeks, I attended the Homegrown Music Fest in Downtown, the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market (of course), and the Brew Riot in Bishop Arts. Security is key to all outdoor events, such that the City of Dallas requires Dallas Police presence to ensure the safety of all in attendance. From an event coordinators perspective, this is an expensive but necessary cost, as it's important to have a smooth running event.<br />
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It's even better when the police have a positive comments of the event. Packing up our booth at Homegrown, I overheard a few cops saying how it was a well run event with a good crowd that didn't cause trouble. As I handed our officer his check and thanked him for coming out, he told me that he looks forward to the Market every month. At Brew Riot, surrounded by hundreds of people drinking, I witnessed a few cops joking around with each other knowing that vigilance was not a priority on the day.<br />
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It's crucial that people have a good time at these events, but it's even more important that everyone feel safe, and if we make the cops' jobs easier, then we make it easier to pull off these special events in the future. Most importantly, the people who come out to these events, I've observed, appreciate the quality of experience and respect the work it takes it pull these things off.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-29246615411166438592011-04-12T14:27:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:27:52.741-07:00Impact city neighborhoods by creating public space.Before attending the <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/04/elm_street_improvements_treate.php">City of Dallas' Deep Ellum Area Revitalization project presentation</a> last week, I would have signed off on improved streetscaping and bike lane installation without even thinking. Indeed, I am always in favor of walkability and bikeability in neighborhood design, but the point of these <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2011/apr/08/deep-ellum-elm-commerce-two-way/?refscroll=0">meetings</a> is to get everyone's perspective on the project and to be open to contrary opinions. Many why's, who's, and how's were asked, but there were a few objections to the plan that stood out to me.<br />
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To paraphrase: Where are the people going to come from when the plan eliminates street parking crucial to the businesses on Elm St.? Who says there will be bicyclists and pedestrians? Furthermore, why would street improvements attract more business to Deep Ellum? The plan, as it stands, will eliminate 24 street parking spots from Good Latimer to Hall. These spaces create easy access to the establishments up and down this corridor of Elm St. Additionally, there is skepticism that widening sidewalks would actually promote pedestrian activity.<br />
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This got me thinking about the DART Rail and the strategy for its implementation. DART won an award for building the longest light rail public transportation in the United States but experienced a <a href="http://www.dart.org/newsroom/dartrailfacts.asp">drop in ridership from 2009 to 2010 </a>despite extending the Green Line just before wintertime. And this when gas has become more expensive! The DART Rail is an example of infrastructure development before destination development. <br />
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The lesson to be learned from DART is connecting sites is not as important as connecting destinations. Following a trend and implementing a greener technology does not necessarily make people buy your product. Granted, this rail system exists, but does it take you to <a href="http://dallasbyrail.com/">places that you want to go to</a>? To apply this to the streetscaping plans, is it reasonable to believe people will want to walk the Deep Ellum sidewalks just because the pavement is wide and a bike can share the road with a car? It is much more reasonable to believe that people will walk to and from a <i>desirable destination</i> for the simple pleasure of doing so.<br />
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The question now is how do you develop a destination? To quote the authors of <u>Suburban Nation</u>:<br />
<blockquote>"Just as it is difficult to imagine the concept of <i>family</i> independent of the home, it is near-impossible to imagine <i>community</i> independent of the town square...In the absence of walkable public places - streets, squares, and parks, the <i>public realm</i> - people of diverse ages, races, and beliefs are unlikely to meet and talk."</blockquote>Any visitor to New York City will see how crucial <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_Park">Washington Square Park</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Square_%28New_York_City%29">Union Square</a> are to their respective communities. Both are comfortable and inviting public spaces that give people access to other people, things to do, and other places around the city<br />
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There is currently a lack of these kinds of places throughout Dallas, but Deep Ellum is a perfect candidate to feature such a public space. Deep Ellum feels divided by Hall St. where the west side of the neighborhood features most of the eateries, drinking holes, and metered parking, as opposed to the east side, where most people live and don't pay to park. A public space would connect these places and provide a communal area to enjoy at any hour of the day, much like how the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Street_Garden_Park">Main Street Garden Park </a>serves Downtown Dallas today. Imagine the sight in Deep Ellum of residents, Downtown visitors, and Baylor folk communing in a comfortable and shady environment. <br />
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As it stands, most of the activities in the neighborhood are on the west side of Deep Ellum where parking is at a premium because of the expectation of convenient, direct to the door, parking. A walkable streetplan would open up the rest of the neighborhood to foot traffic and incentivize people to park farther and walk longer. In truth, there's scant reason nowadays for a person to park near Undermain Theater to watch a show at Trees, even though the walk takes less than 10 minutes. To promote this kind of pedestrian activity, make it worth that person's time to stroll through an area worth caring about.<br />
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How about holding off on the monstrous task of reformatting Elm St. and develop a public space that will not handicap the businesses that are currently thriving in the renewed interest in Deep Ellum? It is such a crucial time for the businesses trying to gain a foothold in the local economy that hindering access to them is dangerous. Since the City of Dallas has money to spend on Deep Ellum, develop a project that helps the local businesses, encourages residents out of their lofts, and attracts people from neighboring communities.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-4933488797331702672011-03-22T13:08:00.000-07:002011-03-22T13:08:57.884-07:00The complications of food in Dallas public markets.It's easy to compare Big D with the Weird City down south, and the general conclusion is that Dallas isn't as cool as Austin. The Capitol of Texas is lucky to be located in beautiful Hill Country, to house the University of Texas, and to have flexible laws that allow for creative use of space. Food trucks and farmers markets are all the rage nowadays, and whereas one Texan city has been open to their use, another to the north has made them more difficult than they need to be.<br />
<br />
We had a nerve wracking visit from Code Compliance last Saturday at the Market. We were prepared, having applied for and received a Temporary Food Service Permit (TFSP) for the one vendor we thought would actually need it. The last time I talked to someone at the Health Department at Goforth Rd. in December, the supervisor told me that 1) a properly licensed food truck would not need a TFSP when used in conjunction with a Special Event Permit, 2) a vendor selling closed food products did not need a TFSP, and 3) a vendor selling produce would need a TFSP. Apparently, it really matters who talks to you at the City of Dallas because the ginger haired code inspector who came by knew nothing of this supervisor who had promised an easy time having food at the Market.<br />
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The ginger inspector informed me that the Food Truck indeed needed its own TFSP. Also, the vendors who give out samples of their food also require a TFSP. If they sold jars of their product without letting people sample them, then no TFSP would be necessary.<br />
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I understand the need to regulate the food that people are consuming at a public event. Being the one responsible for the Market, the last thing I want to see is someone getting sick off the food being served. What is prohibitive about this process is the cost and confusion of doing it right by the City. The TFSP costs $190 and can cover up to 5 vendors for $5 per vendor. In other words a permit for 5 vendors costs $215, but a permit for 2 vendors costs $200, so a permit for 7 vendors is $415.<br />
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The permit does not differentiate between food producers whose ingredients do or do not include potentially harmful food (PHF). If it is consumable, it needs a permit, including coffee or tea. Even pickles and jelly, which are foodstuffs developed over the course of human history as a form of food preservation, are lumped together with perishable meats and cheeses. As a result, DEOM is restricted to booking food vendors at multiples of 5.<br />
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As is in Dallas, it's impossible for food trucks and markets (nationwide trends) to operate within the Central Business District. If a food vendor wants to sell anywhere else in Dallas, they need a markets permit ($100 for the first and $50 for each additional market) and a TFSP on top of a food managers license, food manufacturing permit, certified kitchen information, and food handlers license. Luckily, a market director is allowed to file the TFSP to alleviate a little bit of this cost.<br />
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What I wish for is a simpler and more cost and time efficient way of getting permitted. I would like an organized governing body for this, so that Special Events, Health Department, Code Compliance, and Farmers Market can figure out what the other guy is telling people. I would like to give input on a proper way of licensing these types of events that protects the City and also allows vendors to make money. Dallas is literally the only City in the US that makes its food vendors pay $200 for the privilege of selling their delicious delectables. Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-62235153955006894342011-03-15T17:46:00.000-07:002013-02-17T17:09:28.005-08:00The City of Dallas' attempt at progressIn 2010, the City of Dallas had enacted a moratorium on public markets. They had suspended the licensing of markets in general to figure how they wanted to legislate their implementation. Given the increased interest in community gardens, the City wanted to make sure that the permitting of neighborhood markets was done responsibly and that the new markets did not interfere with the already established Dallas Farmers Market.<br />
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Recently in 2011, the City of Dallas has allowed a new permit for "Neighborhood Farmers Markets" (Chapter 29A, Code Compliance), which is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for the promotion of local economy, sustainable living, and a positive image for the City. Knowing that Dallas was working towards this end, we were excited by the prospect of progressive legislation that would accommodate the growing interest in public markets within DFW. Unfortunately, we were disappointed when the provisions of the licensing were published. The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market apparently does not fit the City's definition of a "Neighborhood Farmers Market."<br />
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First and foremost, an NFM must be outside the Central Business District and, therefore, does not pose a threat to the Dallas Farmers Market. An NFM does not exceed 50 vendors, and a vendor does not use a space more that 10ft x 10ft. An NFM does not take up more than 25% of the entire area of a parking lot. An NFM is not a flea market, and therefore no more than 50% of the vendors may sell non-food items, additionally no products may be offered for resale. An NFM does not project to attract more than 1000 people including vendors and market staff in a given day. Finally, a market coordinator may not file for a Neighborhood Farmers Market Permit at a separate location.<br />
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The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market fails to meet these provisions. The White Rock Local Market, a fine example of a public market, had to turn regular vendors away last weekend because of the stipulations of the City. If the number of vendors you are allowed to have is capped by the product they sell, what happens in extreme weather when produce is scarce? What if the neighborhood where your market is located is a dense one of more than 1000 residents within a square mile?<br />
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The way I see it, if you keep telling people what they cannot do, it will make them give up attempting what they want to do. The right thing for a city is to implement a regulatory approach that eschews policing people in favor of establishing rules that follow priorities. Let public intentions and creativity define policy because these specific restrictions hinder growth. This form of legislation is akin to locking the door to paths of progress. In other words, get your greasy fingers out of my business and let me put on a market.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-15072727495454455022011-03-09T07:38:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:38:11.123-08:00The Upcycling Revolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zmWbSbegXLc/TXeeOHW_qNI/AAAAAAAAACs/oPf7HMZgZ1w/s1600/NiteOwl+Z-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Recycling is the processing of used material into something more useful. The products of recycling fall into two categories: 1) Downcycling - creating products of lower value, and 2) Upcycling - creating products of higher value. An example of downcycling would be processing used office paper into toilet paper, while examples of upcycling can be found in multiple booth spaces at the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market.<br />
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Upcycling is the repurposing of an excess of unused resources into something usable. The common expression is "one man's waste is another man's treasure," but upcyclers see it a different way. To the upcycler, waste or unused material doesn't immediately convert to treasure, rather, the product goes through a transformation according to the vision of the artist. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zmWbSbegXLc/TXeeOHW_qNI/AAAAAAAAACs/oPf7HMZgZ1w/s1600/NiteOwl+Z-3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zmWbSbegXLc/TXeeOHW_qNI/AAAAAAAAACs/oPf7HMZgZ1w/s200/NiteOwl+Z-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NiteOwl Z-3 by Red Ranger Rayguns<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Recycle, repurpose, recreate is the mantra at the heart of this movement. Melanie Woods of threeRdesigns refashions old records, cassette tape inserts, and chip bags into wallets, notebooks, and purses. Caleb Massey of Red Ranger Rayguns transforms otherwise useless gun-shaped tools and toys into Atomic Disintegrators and other futuristic imaginings.<br />
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Recycling is all about reducing the rate of consumption of raw materials, while upcycling does this and increases the value of the product at the same time. Nowadays, reusing quality, older paraphernalia outweighs the expense of utilizing raw materials.<br />
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The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market itself is a reinvention of public space. What was otherwise 5000 square feet of car shade is now a place of commerce and a reason to inhabit a space of little use. What we intend to do is produce a quality, positive experience to attract a lot of people, in other words, to upcycle the parking lot.<br />
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Deep Ellum has the advantage of being a place that has been attractive to people ever since Bonnie and Clyde terrorized Texas banks in the early 20th century. Over time, the buildings have been repurposed to fit the needs of the contemporary generation. So, what does this generation need, and how can we use the resources available to us to make it happen?Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-48940168702530046772011-03-09T07:34:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:34:09.504-08:00Driving Ettiquette: The Lane Change***Originally posted January 6, 2011***<br />
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Despite being a proponent of public transportation and alternative means of getting around, I personally am tied to my car. Living in Plano but working in Dallas, a lot of my time on a daily basis is spent in the car. To make up for this 1 1/2 hours of loneliness in my automobile, I listen to talk radio and try to communicate with fellow drivers by hand signal and flashing lights.<br />
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Perhaps the most frustrating maneuver to perform while traversing the motorways is the lane change. What makes it so difficult is anticipating the expectations of the drivers in the desired lane. In other words, is that dude (not to be gender specific) gonna let me in, or is he gonna make me work for it?<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hc7931O5Vik/TXedkOT_3EI/AAAAAAAAACo/cihpidpGbW4/s1600/lanechange.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hc7931O5Vik/TXedkOT_3EI/AAAAAAAAACo/cihpidpGbW4/s200/lanechange.jpg" width="200" /></a>My intention is rather clear by the turn signal: I need to move over. But what will be the reaction of the driver? It would really help me out if the driver slows down a little bit to clear a space that would ease my lane change. More often than not in this damn city, however, the driver speeds up and blocks a clear path to the next lane.<br />
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If this is the status quo in drivers' etiquette, what does that say about our expectations from each other when we're not in our cars? Is this why it's so difficult to pursue progress in Dallas? In the pursuit of change in lanes or civic mentality, why does blocking a clear path become an instant, initial obstacle?Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-39240926908846037922011-03-09T07:30:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:30:51.555-08:00The Philosophy of the Suburb part 1: The Cul-de-Sac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***Originally posted November 30, 2010***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lltFyC7LfaM/TXeboHuH9xI/AAAAAAAAACg/Z49-ROdoBLs/s1600/155226_164540870248492_113166938719219_269745_734254_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xSZsnjbCXfs/TXebov_wJPI/AAAAAAAAACk/zde3LdihZiI/s1600/148650_164536673582245_113166938719219_269741_6528427_a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market represents a common occurrence that happens in neighborhoods primed to be successful urban areas. It's important, then, to look at areas not primed to be successful public places to help define what we need urban spaces to be.<br />
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Dallas is a place with many people in the suburbs and few public spaces in urban areas. Over the course of a few entries, I'll be breaking down the suburbs into component parts to figure out what is the ultimate goal of the suburb. If an ideal urban neighborhood seeks to bring people together, what does a suburban neighborhood seek to do?<br />
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The first component of suburbia I will cover is the cul-de-sac. It's a French word that means bottom of the bag, but it's also a staple of subdivision design ubiquitous in any suburban neighborhood in any town in the nation.<br />
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A cul-de-sac is a street that ends with a bunch of houses circling the truncated area. They were implemented in American subdivision development after World War II with the intention of limiting through-traffic in residential areas. <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xSZsnjbCXfs/TXebov_wJPI/AAAAAAAAACk/zde3LdihZiI/s1600/148650_164536673582245_113166938719219_269741_6528427_a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xSZsnjbCXfs/TXebov_wJPI/AAAAAAAAACk/zde3LdihZiI/s1600/148650_164536673582245_113166938719219_269741_6528427_a.jpg" /></a>There's no reason to drive down a cul-de-sac if you don't live in that pocket of houses, so cars are filtered out into busier capillary streets. Traffic, in turn, concentrated in streets that led out of the subdivision, thereby reducing noise, traffic, and air pollution for those lucky to buy up the real estate in less traveled areas.<br />
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The cul-de-sac also allows developers to pack more families into irregular plots of land. Instead of allowing people access to larger thoroughfares, developers could fit in a few more houses within the subdivision. If the developers' layout met a particular quota, there were Federal Housing Administration incentives for people to buy homes in these particular subdivisions.<br />
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Let's take a look at the cul-de-sac in it's extreme form. Here is a satellite photo of a subdivision in West Plano.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lltFyC7LfaM/TXeboHuH9xI/AAAAAAAAACg/Z49-ROdoBLs/s1600/155226_164540870248492_113166938719219_269745_734254_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lltFyC7LfaM/TXeboHuH9xI/AAAAAAAAACg/Z49-ROdoBLs/s640/155226_164540870248492_113166938719219_269745_734254_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
SW of Parker and Preston. 1/2 mile east to west, 1/4 mile north to south.<br />
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In this photograph, it's easy to spot no fewer than 9 cul-de-sacs in the neighborhood. The cul-de-sac design accomplishes its mission by restricting flow into and out of the area to only four roads: Sleepy Hollow Dr., Silver Creek Dr., Coventry Ln, and Bellaire Dr. Only two of them reach out to one of the main thoroughfares, Parker Road! In this case, inner neighborhood traffic is limited to these few roads while the other streets are free from traffic.<br />
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The drivers traveling on Parker and Preston, in turn, are completely oblivious to the residents of the neighborhood as those cars race by in a 45mph zone.<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gttcRXR6b4E/TXebnSMBNyI/AAAAAAAAACc/rNpsFy12AdA/s1600/155626_164593276909918_113166938719219_269897_121248_a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gttcRXR6b4E/TXebnSMBNyI/AAAAAAAAACc/rNpsFy12AdA/s1600/155626_164593276909918_113166938719219_269897_121248_a.jpg" /></a>Additionally, there are long stretches of sidewalk bordered by a brick barrier protecting the subdivision in a way that no wall ever protected the Alamo. Pedestrians within the subdivision, like cars, can only leave the neighborhood through one of the 4 roads listed above. A church-goer living in the subdivision would have to drive to the church at Parker and Preston lest they sully their Sunday best clothes climbing the wall to escape the neighborhood.<br />
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The developers of this subdivision seem to have left out a human perspective in the design of the place, as the streets certainly cater to the conveniences of the automobile and not the pedestrian. In reference to Jane Jacob's four components of a successful neighborhood, this subdivision follows none of those tenets:<br />
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1) There are no mixed use buildings. The closest retail store is farther away than the church and most certainly a drivable distance. <br />
2) There is a lack of interconnected streets. That there are only 2 roads that access the closest major street makes walking in this neighborhood a chore, since there is literally nowhere to walk to. <br />
3) Because there is nowhere to walk to, there are no people on the street. The closest gathering place, the church, is empty save for a few services a week.<br />
4) There is no mix of old and new buildings. The subdivision was created less than a decade ago, so all buildings are of similar age.<br />
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When the components of successful public space are completely ignored, we have the modern subdivision, centered around the suburban cul-de-sac, which can be appropriately designated by this street sign:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JPslIe2_gwM/TXebnIHHdzI/AAAAAAAAACY/LER55yhlxOY/s1600/155034_164687416900504_113166938719219_270219_7473002_a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JPslIe2_gwM/TXebnIHHdzI/AAAAAAAAACY/LER55yhlxOY/s1600/155034_164687416900504_113166938719219_270219_7473002_a.jpg" /></a></div>Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-59399702459598174342011-03-09T07:20:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:20:06.131-08:00The Benefits of Markets***Originally posted November 19, 2010***<br />
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Throughout history, public markets have been essential to human commerce. From camel caravans, to<br />
Barcelona market halls, to the streets of Deep Ellum, markets have been an ever present companion to the exchange of local and foreign goods.<br />
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Since World War II, however, American culture has tended towards car-centric development where lateral expansion is favored over dense urbanization. Commerce has been relegated to strip malls that necessitate parking requirements, whereas markets have been forgotten as we've been pulled further and further away from our neighbors.<br />
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Despite a plethora of competition for commerce and retailing, especially here in Dallas, public markets are important resources that give value to a place. Markets have three potential benefits: 1) creating dynamic places, 2) providing economic opportunity, and 3) inspiring social contact.<br />
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1) Positive public activities are crucial to the revitalization of a neighborhood void of urban development. To entice people back onto the streets, they need places to go to that are designed for them to use and enjoy. The objective is to create an inviting, convivial space in otherwise forgotten areas.<br />
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2) Public markets provide a venue for small businesses to develop, incubate, and experiment without the risk of occupying a brick and mortar location. Entrepreneurs benefit from exposure and contact with people, as customers can talk directly to business owners and product creators. Additionally, the businesses within the surrounding community can benefit from the market's drawing power.<br />
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3) In a time when human interaction is filtered through screens, handheld and otherwise, public markets offer neutral ground where it's acceptable to talk to strangers. Buying, selling, and socializing are activities that encourage the gathering of disparate peoples, the discovery of similarities, and the enjoyment of connections made.<br />
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The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market was created with this philosophy in mind. Ultimately, the Market's goals are to spur economic development and to put feet on the streets of Deep Ellum. The challenge we face is persuading people to eschew the status quo, leave their social bubble, and support local economy.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-39193486919752252672011-03-09T07:14:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:20:47.757-08:00Deep Ellum as an Urban Ideal***Originally posted November 12, 2010*** <br />
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Any healthy city should have multiple destinations that reflect each neighborhood's personality and offers people from other communities an alternative to what they are used to. Dallas boasts quite a few destinations: Lower Greenville, Uptown, Cedar Springs, Knox-Henderson, Victory Park, Downtown, and Deep Ellum of course. But taking a look at the various locations throughout the city, it is interesting to note the limitations of geography and infrastructure that determine the size and growth potential of each neighborhood.<br />
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In Google mapping each of the areas listed above, each neighborhood has something in common except for Deep Ellum, whose geography and infrastructure are certainly unique. Seen from above, Lower Greenville is pretty much only Greenville Ave. Uptown's commercial activity centers around McKinney Ave. The Cedar Springs area centers around Cedar Springs. Knox-Henderson is just that. Victory Park is centered around itself and doesn't connect with its surroundings. And Downtown action centers around Main Street, for the most part. All these areas are dependent on one street for commerce.<br />
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What sets Deep Ellum apart is that the neighborhood consists of 4 main streets: Elm Street, Main Street, Commerce, and Canton. Then Pryor, Crowdus, Malcolm X, Walton, Hall, Murray, and Exposition split up the long thoroughfares to create many useable blocks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uqzu-Q8L1hc/TXeYgqHkdwI/AAAAAAAAACU/lGxoFpzje0c/s1600/DEOM_spring_2011_flyer_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uqzu-Q8L1hc/TXeYgqHkdwI/AAAAAAAAACU/lGxoFpzje0c/s320/DEOM_spring_2011_flyer_back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The types of buildings also set Deep Ellum apart from the other neighborhoods. The mixed use buildings around the neighborhood provide space for many storefronts intermingled among various types of housing, from loft space and converted warehouse space, to tall, multi-tenant apartment buildings. <br />
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Taking cues from Jane Jacobs and her 4 factors of a successful urban area (as discussed in the previous post), we see that Deep Ellum already provides the most difficult components in infrastructure and architecture. Fulfilling the missing ingredient has proven to be a tricky problem that we are actively trying to tackle. <br />
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Recent discussion for the reformatting of Greenville Ave (<a href="http://www.angelahunt.com/2010/11/10/greenville-transformation-begins-block-block/">http://www.angelahunt.com/2010/11/10/greenville-transformation-begins-block-block/</a>) shows that walkable, urban spaces are wanted. The thing is they have to wait until next summer to start construction on what they want. Deep Ellum doesn't have to wait at all.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-48903487367358937892011-03-09T07:04:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:04:35.143-08:00Why a market in Deep Ellum?***Originally posted November 5, 2010 (different account)***<br />
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This question is not simple, nor is the answer. Here is the most succinct way to put it:<br />
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In 1961, American-born Jane Jacobs wrote the urbanists' handbook <u>The Death and Life of Great American Cities</u>. The book looked at specific examples of successful and unsuccessful cities and drew conclusions detailing what factors determined the liveliness and deadliness of an urban area.<br />
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To summarize, here are the four factors that contribute to successful urban life: 1) Mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, 2) Active sidewalk life, 3) Short city blocks, 4) Mix of old and new buildings.<br />
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1) Live, work, and play. In traditional neighborhood design, people are within walking distance of retail stores and things to do. Consumerism is so important to our economy that it should be easy for people to spend money at any time of day. A place should attract different people at different hours so that the area remains lively day and night.<br />
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2) The excitement of city life is often embodied in the busyness of people on the sidewalk. People buzzing around provides commerce to businesses lining the streets, but also an important and subtle amount of socialization takes place: getting to know your neighbors. Visible city life lends to trust on the streets, which leads to even more activity and comfort on the sidewalks.<br />
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3) Pedestrian activity is vital to the life on the street, which is virtually eliminated when the sidewalks don't take you anywhere. Very long city blocks do no offer many options for getting from one place to another. A vibrant walking community features multiple paths for walking from one destination to the next. And short city blocks create an abundance of street corners, which provides plenty of potential for storefronts.<br />
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4) A mix of old and new buildings gives residents and business owners different options for space rental. Older places tend to be less expensive than newer ones, but the spaces provided can match what the renter is looking for based on the price point of the person's budget. The idea is for the neighborhood to embrace diversity of people and the businesses they attract.<br />
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Recent efforts within the Central Business District of Dallas notwithstanding, there remains a lack of such types of places around Dallas with one glaring exception: Deep Ellum. Deep Ellum has the mixed use buildings, the interconnected sidewalks and streets, and the mix of old and new buildings. What the neighborhood is obviously lacking at this point in time is vibrant sidewalk life throughout the day.<br />
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The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market was created to serve this purpose. For residents, tourists, and nostalgists to repopulate the streets of the neighborhood one weekend afternoon at a time until the spark the Market provides gives opportunity to more people and businesses to create a better city.Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-57433044973653767532011-03-08T14:48:00.000-08:002011-03-08T14:48:05.959-08:00Interstates and Urban Sprawl***Originally poster April 20, 2010***<br />
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When I first moved back to Dallas in 2006, it was evident to me that people my age had left the Metroplex years before to later return to the Jewel of the Flatlands after seeing a bit of the world. a visit to Chicago, New York City, or Boston reveals Dallas to be an expansive, sprawling monster traversable only by car. In that case, let's take a look at highways and their relationship to urban sprawl.<br />
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The first multi-lane limited access highway was constructed during the Weimar Republic years of 1930's Germany. the Autobahn then became one of Hitler's most useful assets as its creation bolstered the economy and later facilitated the transportation of troops during World War II. As supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower was impressed by the network of highways that empowered Germany's national defense system and realized that America must have its own version. What resulted from the President's European inspiration was a federally funded, nationwide web of crisscrossing freeways. <br />
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As interstates spliced through urban centers, people saw that property taxes down the road were much more favorable than what they contemporaneously were paying. Urban sprawl quickly followed, and blocks and blocks of subdivisions sprang forth with strip malls fueling the consumption of suburban populations. <br />
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What has failed to happen is a curtailment of wealth spreading further and further away from urban centers. In other words it's more profitable to encourage the dilapidation of outdated buildings in favor of newer commercial and residential projects because the state raises taxes as a property's value appreciates.<br />
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It is easy to surmise that there hasn't been incentives to fuel the preservation and development of Dallas urban centers since World War II, whereas there has indeed been a significant funding in the motorization of the United States. President Eisenhower realized his 'Grand Plan' for highways by paying for 90% of 41,000 miles worth of interstates with the Federal Highway Act of 1956. <br />
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Urban sprawl works in direct contrast with the 4 components of a successful city, but there are too many financial incentives to eschew suburban development. What would the motivation be, then, for Dallas to develop urban centers for itself ?Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504491639009692236.post-8321891577267434702011-03-08T14:36:00.000-08:002011-03-08T14:37:01.874-08:004 Components of a Successful City***Originally posted April 6, 2010***<br />
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Jane Jacobs wrote a book in 1961 called the <u>Death and Life of Great American Cities</u>. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs#The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs#The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities</a>) Despite having been written 50 years ago, the ideas Jacobs wrote about are applicable today, as her observations of successful and unseccussful urban areas are still visible in any city.<br />
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Like <u>Guns, Germs, and Steel</u>, on the other hand, the book can be a bit repetitive at times, so I'd like to bring a brief summation of the major points to the table. This is a list of factors that contribute to successful urban life: 1) mixed-use commercial and residential buildings 2) vibrant sidewalk life 3) abundancy of streets 4) co-mingling of old and new buildings.<br />
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1) Urban dwellings should be mixed with businesses, as people should be within walking distance of places to spend money. Consumerism is vital to our economy, so make it easy for people to buy things.<br />
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2) The excitement of city life is often embodied in the busyness of people on the sidewalk. People buzzing around provides commerce to businesses lining the streets, but also an important and subtle amount of socialization takes place: getting to know your neighbors. <br />
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3) Pedestrian activity is vital to the life of sidewalks, which is virtually eliminated when there's nowhere to walk to. An abundance of streets in a small area creates a webbed network allowing for multiple ways to traverse the grid and potential places to put up storefronts.<br />
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4) What helps to maintain diversity of residential and commercial tennants is diversity of cost of where they can be located. Age of a building is often inversely proportional to the cost of occupying it, and variety is maintained by offering spaces that appeal to different contingencies.<br />
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Compare the cities you've been to and observe what made one city or neighborhood more successful than another. Did these factors have anything to do with it?Deep Ellum Outdoor Markethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585743501830715528noreply@blogger.com0