The Green: Building A Viable Program For Forgotten Public Space In Uptown Dallas
Sturgess, Larry Biff
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The Uptown area of Dallas has seen rapid and drastic change over the last fifteen years. The conversion of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (KATY) Railroad line into the KATY Trail has instigated measurable increases in adjacent property values, while new middle and high-end condominiums and townhomes have replaced older and often dilapidated single- and multi-family structures. Extended trolley service and new light rail service now provide multiple means of access into the area from further-reaching regions. The overall result has provided Uptown with a vibrant mix of new residential, retail and business opportunities, with a quality of life that has visible appeal. While private development in Uptown has given the area a new appeal, public and non-secular developments have remained as they have been for many years. One particular area is a concomitant cluster of such properties lying midway between two of the most active regions of redevelopment within the Uptown area. These properties abut U.S. 75, a clearly carved edge of Uptown, and are further shaped by street patterns from the original grid However, public and non-secular developments have remained as they have been for many system. Properties constituting this unique space include North Dallas High School, Cole Park, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, and The First Seventh Adventists Church of Dallas. These properties serve as a connection--much like a village green--between the Park Cities and Uptown, and between Uptown and the slower-to-develop regions east of U.S. 75. Because of their location, and for purposes of this research, these properties are referred to as "The Green." This study establishes a program for future growth and overall master planning for The Green. It does this by identifying the inertia and initiative affecting the area. The study concludes that through further development and enhancement of The Green, surrounding developments can see additional increases in value and use, and The Green can better serve the neighborhood and area constituents, enriching an urban life already identified with the area.