Dallas' City Design Studio: Planning for the Future

It seems like the City Design Studio has been garnering all kinds of attention this summer. http://www.dallascityhall.com/citydesign_studio/index.html The Studio was formed in October 2009 as the result of a grant from the Trinity Trust Foundation with a goal of "bridging the gap" (pardon my Trinity pun) between City Hall and the communities along the Trinity. This private funding permits the Studio some freedom as it functions independently from the City, while actually being housed within City Hall.

Recently, the North Texas chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism hosted members of the Studio, including City Planner Larry Beasley of Vancouver fame, for a community gathering at the Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff to speak with Dallasites about what they are doing in the Studio, their philosophy on city planning, and specifically their vision for the City. I was able to attend the event, and was blown away by the large turnout, and the general awareness that most attendees had about city design and the importance of smart, urban growth for Dallas in the coming years.

Mr. Beasley did not disappoint, giving a passionate introduction about the importance of smart design and how it affects community in a City. http://www.cnuntx.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66 He encouraged the audience to continue to think outside the box. Additionally, Brent Brown and David Whitley gave specifics about plans for the communities along the river. The community forums they have hosted with residents have encouraged a sense that the City's future is a choice for everyone, rather than change that will be forced from the top down. It is apparent that Oak Cliff and West Dallas residents have appreciated the chance to participate in shaping their City's future. Residents were offered an additional opportunity to listen and voice opinions at last Wednesday's Oak Cliff Chamber morning gathering where the City Design Studio members were in attendance again.

An important point made at the event related to the stunning population growth being experienced in Dallas. http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/23/real_estate/city_population_census_funding/index.htm New residents continue to move to Dallas seeking job opportunities and a high standard of living. Much of the impetus behind the Trinity Trust, the Studio, and the Trinity River Project in general is the realization that the land along the Trinity is generally under-developed.

Part of the Studio's recommendations involve high-density residential development. The fact of the matter is that the City must be proactive when planning for the future. The growth continues, and it is unlikely to slow. Where will these new citizens live? How do we draw the best and brightest to Dallas? How will be keep our transportation system functioning? How can we maximize tax revenues for the City with these new residents? What will additional citizens mean to our environment, particularly our air quality? Smart, walkable, urban development with public transit isn't just a luxury - for Dallas, it is quickly becoming a necessity. What do you want the Dallas of the future to look like?