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| Letter from the President |
 Happy New Year from the Oak Cliff Chamber! As we enter 2012, the Oak Cliff community has many reasons to be optimistic about its future. Not only do we reside in the most economically vibrant area in the nation, we are also experienceing a local renaissance that is unprecendented. This is not just coincidence, it is the result of the diligent efforts of many individuals and organizations over a long period of time for which I am very grateful. I am proud that in most of these efforts, this Chamber has played a pivotal role. Allow me to make a partial list of projects, initiatives and plans that I believe will contribute to a most exciting and positive year for Oak Cliff...
First, new developments are popping up all over Oak Cliff, with plans for more underway. These new projects will replace previously unused or under-used properties and help make Oak Cliff a more balanced and sustainable community. Here are just a few that we can expect to hear more about:
- Zang Triangle - Urban-style apartments located on the to-be-constructed streetcar route
- Sylvan/Thirty - a mixed-used development connecting Oak Cliff and West Dallas
- Glen Oaks Crossing Shopping Center - A regional shopping area at Ledbetter and I-35 anchored by a Walmart supercenter with a series of other retail and restaurants soon-to-be announced
- The Collective - a planned multi-use development straddling Fort Worth Ave., just west of Colorado Blvd.
- Alta West Davis - Soon-to-break-ground apartment buildings on W. Davis by Wood Partners
Oak Cliff continues to be the model for community-based planning that allows us to control the redevelopment of our communities. Efforts have already been made for Ft. Worth Avenue and the Bishop-Davis corridors that are resulting in many new developments, businesses and residents. Currently, efforts are well underway for the Oak Cliff Gateway, and recently (as in the last few weeks) an initiative have been started for the Jefferson Blvd. corridor. This year we at the Chamber hope to convince other parts of Oak Cliff to learn from these efforts and move forward to control their own future.
The best plans only work if the economics work too, so this Chamber is acutely focused on issues that will help dictate the current and future viability of our area. We have taken lead roles to:
- Streamline and modernize the building permitting, inspection and zoning processes
- Insure that the implementation of new storm water regulations do no stifle our ability to develop areas such as UNT Dallas
- Leverage the tree ordinance to provide incentives for greener, more sustainable developments and bring development costs in Oak Cliff closer to those in the rest of Dallas
- Focus the City's upcoming bond program on those issues that we believe will have the greatest positive impact
- Implement transporation projects (streetcars, bridges, bike lanes, freeways, etc.) to allow greater mobility that enhance quality of life and economic viability
Lastly, we will be continuing our efforts to have the City of Dallas and the State of Texas adopt policies that will build more sustainable balanced communities, areas that have enough jobs, services and tax base to support its population. Their current policy of saturating certain areas of Dallas with government subsidized low-income housing is not conducive to moving parts of Oak Cliff in a positive direction. You will be hearing more on this issue over the next few months. There are, of course, a plethora of other issues and projects which are coming forward to make 2012 a banner year for our community. To my friends in Oak Cliff, all I can say is keep doing what you're doing. Your efforts are paying off!
Best wishes,
Bob Stimson,
Oak Cliff Chamber President |
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2012 Community Guide & Business Directory
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Deadline for ads is January 20th.
Promote your business in the 2012 Annual Oak Cliff Community Guide and Business Directory, reaching the area's business decision makers, business leaders, and many area residents - both in print AND online! Major improvements this year include a full online edition and more affordable ad pricing. Read more>>
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