State Bird Not Flocking South
In the 80's, the crane was often referred to as the state bird of Texas. I did pass Texas History in the 7th grade, and any native Texan would know that the State Bird of Texas is the mockingbird. However, the tongue in cheek mention of the crane refers to the building bonanza that was happening throughout the state, prior to the big real estate bust. Construction cranes dotted the skylines of Texas cities, as speculators built on any available space.
In Dallas, after years of stagnant growth, there are a number of new building projects around town. If you want to find where the action is taking place, look towards the sky and find the cranes, they will lead you to progress. Downtown Dallas, the Arts District, as well as Uptown have a number of new projects underway, including condos, entertainment complexes, and office buildings. You can find cranes working on the Ritz-Carlton in Uptown, the Hunt Consolidated Headquarters Building downtown, One Arts Plaza in the Arts District, and Victory Park will be a sanctuary for cranes as the area builds on the success of The W Hotel.
To be fair, the majority of commercial construction is taking place downtown. Traveling in any direction there is not a lot of big activity. However, you will soon see a flurry of activity at the corner of Park and Central, as a huge mixed-use development is being constructed across the highway from NorthPark Center.
Looking south, the major commercial projects have been confined to churches, schools, and medical facilities. As a matter of fact, the two big cranes in the south right now are working on additions near Charlton Methodist Hospital. Other big projects have been an education addtion at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Friendship-West Baptist Church and Conference Center opened last January, the brand new Clay Academy opened this week by The Potter's House.
Commercial construction is important because jobs follow. One of the many problems facing young black men who are out of work is disconnection from the areas where the jobs are located. Besides the fact that they don't live in China or Mexico where most of the jobs are going, locally there are a disproportionate number of new jobs created miles away from predominantly black neighborhoods.
Pinnacle Park has become the default success story as it relates to commercial success down south. But in my view, if it was such a success why have there not been follow up projects? Why are there so many DART rail related projects on the north lines -Mockingbird Station, Galatyn Park, Downtown Plano-, and nothing but concrete around southern stops. Why is Southwest Center Mall on life support? What's going to happen to Wynnwood Village? Why does every major American city have neighborhoods with high concentrations or poor black folks?
These are important questions that are not being addressed. If local, state, and national officials won't address them, why are they in place? I want answers in November, but I won't hold my breath. Individuals, as well as faith-based, non-profit, and grassroots organization must do their share, but we all have to get back to holding elected officials accountable to the people, not just corporations, lobbyists, and donors.
