Does Porn Count As Economic Development?

I have to say I was shocked when I found out that New Fine Arts would soon be a neighbor of mine. As politicians talk about economic development and bringing businesses to the so-called “Southern Sector,” I didn’t think that a sexually oriented business was what they had in mind. I mean UNT-Dallas – good, Executive Airport expansion – good, pornography and sex toy shop a quarter-mile from a charter school – VERY BAD.

Yet as you can see, progress is being made, and the building is going up. I was first alerted to the situation when I heard I missed a protest while I was out of town this past weekend. Me being me, I’m always up for a good protest…right. But then I was told the protest was in regards to a New Fine Arts store being built on Westmoreland near Red Bird Lane.

So on my way to work Monday, I drove down Westmoreland and there it was. A sign was posted stating that this building would be a “sexually oriented business.” Question: if this building is going to have a Westmoreland address, why is the sign pointed towards the less traveled Platinum rather than the well traveled Westmoreland?

Anyway, I got out and snapped a few photos, and got back in my car to see exactly how close A.W. Brown Charter School was to this location. It was exactly 1/4 mile. I saw a mother and son walking from the bus stop and wondered what she would say a few months from now when he asks what kind of store is New Fine Arts.

Again, me being me, I called the store to see what there plans were and I was put through to the voicemail of one of their owners. Gary, called me back, and we had a discussion. Gary was pretty defensive, probably thinking I was looking for a fight, which I was not. I just wanted some info.

Gary, true to form, highlighted what he thought were positives about the project while minimizing the concerns that I raised to him. These positives would include:

* The property will be well-landscaped, well-lit and fenced in.

* They would be providing jobs to people in the community.

* Their other locations (Mockingbird near Love Field, Northwest Highway near 635) have not had an effect on the ability to rent surrounding buildings and have not affected property values.

Gary said the city (Dallas) provided a map with areas where they could locate, and this is the one they picked. When I raised a concern about the school he stated that they were a ways down the road, but did say 1/4 mile. When I said I was a neighbor within two miles, his response was “not exactly around the corner.” And he said no one would even know they were there to which I responded “…oh, you’re not going to have signs out front?”

But again, my problem is not with Gary, but with the City, who would allow this to business to locate so near to a good neighbor like A.W. Brown. I talked to Mike Davis at Dallas Progress about this, and he spoke to me about this among other projects getting the green light at City Hall with no one even bothering to check them out. Mike and Dwaine Caraway have been on a kick against hot-sheet motels and the influx of storage barns that seem to be the only businesses that come our way.

Someone at City Hall needs to answer for this, and for me “they followed due process,” won’t be enough. Every candidate for mayor as well as potential councilpersons in the South will run on a platform of improving the underserved area. Is this anybody’s idea of improvement?

Gary deserves to make a dollar just like the check cashing place that’s a quarter mile north on Westmoreland. If there wasn’t a demand, he would have no one to supply. But it doesn’t have to be in our neighborhood, and it doesn’t have to be so close to A.W.Brown.