You can’t stop the march of progress; you can only slow it down. That’s what the opponents of a project on Henderson Avenue in East Dallas found out the hard way. 

The project has been up for debate since 2012, when investors and developers bought up more than two dozen properties between U.S. 75 and Ross Avenue. They had grand plans to redevelop the stretch of land, but residents complained it would bring too much traffic to the area. The project has been on hold ever since, hanging in the balance while the city and developers were hashing it out. And now the Dallas City Council has finally approved the project to move forward, though a few changes were made.

Community Concerns Fuel Opposition

Rendering courtesy of GFF

The Dallas-based Open Realty Advisors owns the properties on the Henderson corridor, along with Los Angeles-based CIM Group. The owners originally requested zoning changes which would allow the development of a park, retail, restaurants, and offices. While some residents were open to the idea of the new developments, many were vocally opposed. The opposition claimed that so much new development would significantly increase traffic and make their neighborhood busier and noisier. 

The final vote on zoning changes still reflects how contentious the issue was and how much the locals care about their community. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano received 51 emails in support of the developer’s original plan, and 29 emails opposed to it. 

Downsizing the East Dallas Development

Rendering courtesy of GFF

In the end, the project was approved once it was scaled back in size and height, but it was still a hard-fought battle. The total square footage was cut twice from an original size of 190,000 square feet to 156,500 square feet. The project will include 72,000 square feet each of retail and office space, and 12,000 square feet for restaurant use. 

The total retail space is approximately equal to the size of a supermarket, but instead will be divided into small shops along Henderson Avenue. The number of spaces in a proposed underground parking garage was decreased from 820 to 575 spaces.

Although City Council finally came to an agreement based on a downsized version of the original plans, the issue still represents a substantial division among residents and city planners. As is true in pretty much every other corner of Dallas and Fort Worth, there’s a heavy demand for sights that can be redeveloped and expanded. But longtime residents of established, popular neighborhoods in East Dallas like Lakewood and Lower Greenville are particularly resistant to such changes, fearing they could change the unique character of their neighborhoods. 

The Future of Henderson Avenue

Rendering courtesy of GFF

Although some residents cite concerns about increased traffic, proponents of change say that the real issue is that wealthy homeowners want to maintain the exclusivity of their neighborhoods. In not wanting the neighborhoods to change, residents want the areas to continue being the bedroom communities that they were several decades ago. But one thing is certain in DFW—there’s a demand for new housing. Therefore, it seems those who don’t want things to change will be swept along with the times.