Lake Highlands - Lakewood | August 2023

CITY & COUNTY

News from Dallas, Dallas County & Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Dallas City Council will meet Aug. 23 and Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. at 1500 Marilla St., Dallas. www.dallascityhall.com Dallas ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. at 5151 Samuell Blvd., Dallas. www.dallasisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT The transportation agency plans to add more than 100 transit security ocers to its eet, ocials announced July 25. The new ocers will focus on Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s light rail vehicles and platforms, along with the Trinity Railway Express. They will monitor violations to DART’s code of conduct and any unlawful activities on DART property. Funded by DART’s Ridership Improvement Funds, the program will cost $15.3 million in its rst year, a spokesperson said. The new program, which is expected to be fully staed by mid-August, is one of a series of planned DART security improvements over the next several months, including technology enhancements, physical deterrents and collaborative partnerships. QUOTE OF NOTE “AFFORDABILITY WAS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. WE HAD LOTS OF NEW UNITS FOR EVERY NEW RESIDENT COMING IN FROM 200009. THAT WAS NOT TRUE FROM 2010 AND BEYOND.” ASHLEY FLORES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB

City faces low-income rental decit DALLAS The city is facing a growing decit of nearly 34,000 rental units BY CECILIA LENZEN units have been deed-restricted to remain aordable to low- or moder- ate-income households, according to the report.

HOUSING COST BURDEN

Renters are considered housing cost- burdened if they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This is the breakdown of the percentage of renters who are cost-burdened in Dallas by City Council district in the Lake Highlands and Lakewood area.

for households with low incomes, according to a new report from nonprot Child Poverty Action Lab. The decit leaves thousands of Dallas residents paying more than they can aord for housing. The big picture: In Dallas, four main factors drive the housing gap, according to the report, including rapid regional growth, prevalence of low-wage jobs, lack of delivery on aordable units and rapid rent increases. North Texas was the seventh fastest-growing large metro in the U.S., growing over 20% in the last decade. Since 2010, 10% of new rental

By the numbers: Using 2021 data, CPAL experts noted Dallas has a 33,660-unit supply gap for residents earning 50% or less of the area’s median income. They project that gap to increase to 83,503 units by 2030. By 2030, households earning up to 80% of the area’s median income could face a shortage of 23,300 units. Who it aects: Ashley Flores, CPAL executive director, said during the webinar that 48%, of Dallas’ renters are considered cost-burdened, with Black renters, households with kids and seniors aected the most.

Average of all 14 districts

District 9 District 10

44% 53%

53.6%

NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS

District 9 District 10 Average of all 14 districts 16,956 36,854 23,752

SOURCE: CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB COMMUNITY IMPACT

West Nile virus reported in Dallas

New apartments proposed for Vickery Meadow in Dallas

BY CECILIA LENZEN

DALLAS COUNTY The Health and Human Services department reported seven human cases of West Nile virus in July, more than double the count from all of 2022. DCHHS spokesperson Christian Grisales said the higher case count this year could be attributed to a number of factors, including a higher number of people outdoors and a lower use of bug repellent. This year in Lake Highlands and Lakewood, mosquitos have tested positive for West Nile virus in ZIP codes 75214, 75231, 75238 and 75243.

BY CECILIA LENZEN

The Hill shopping center is host to many businesses and open space.

DALLAS The owners of the The Hill shopping center in Vickery Meadow have applied to rezone the property for mixed use, allowing for the development of apartments and other commercial uses. The property is currently zoned to allow retail, restaurant and oce uses. The details: Approval of the zoning proposal, which was recommended by the City Plan Commission,

CECILIA LENZENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

would allow the construction of up to 1,200 multifamily units if priced at market rates or up to 1,740 multifamily units if mixed-income housing is provided, according to City Plan Commission documents. What’s next: City Council could vote on it in the future, but has not set a consideration date.

LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023