This past year, we saw big changes begin to take shape around Preston Hollow, including key retail developments, a new freeway and more, plus a couple of neighborhood natives who had some time in the spotlight. Here are some of our news highlights from 2013:
In March, the gourmet grocer confirmed plans to open a store at Inwood Village, which will make two locations in our neighborhood alone. In May 2012, it was announced that TJs would anchor the high-profile Preston Hollow Village development under construction at Walnut Hill and Central. Both stores are shooting for a 2014 opening.
The aforementioned development at Walnut Hill and Central finally began construction on its first phase this past summer, including the Trader Joe’s anchor and 500 residential units within three seven-story residential towers. It will take several years to complete the entire thing. For a refresher, the walkable 42-acre site will have 46,000 square feet of office space and more than 60,000 square feet of restaurant retail (no big-box retailers, they say). Our October 2013 cover story outlined these and more plans for development and redevelopment in our neighborhood.
We got 2 new city council members
In May, voters injected some new blood into the Dallas City Council, including both districts that cover Preston Hollow. Former park bard member Lee Kleinman and civic volunteer Jennifer Staubach Gates easily won the District 11 and 13 seats. Since then, Kleinman has been an outspoken newcomer on the council while Gates has continued looking at street reconstruction, noise and other issues. In November, she also found some time to save a man from choking at The Mercury.
This just happened and marks a huge milestone in the reconstruction of one of the most tortured freeways in the region. It also introduce a new toll pricing system, the effects of which are yet to be seen. Instead of a flat fee, toll prices fluctuate based on traffic volume and speed.
Yes, these things take time. But in 2013, we at least heard a projection for the next phase of the Northaven Trail. Plans have begun on extending the White Rock Creek Trail farther north. As city officials have told us, trails (or linear parks) are some of the only ways to expand green space in our area. In fact, the city’s ParkScore, a national system that measures cities’ amount of public green space, dropped. The parks department pointed at North Dallas.
Our public schools embarked on the road to International Baccalaureate
Dallas ISD approved funding for an IB program in the Hillcrest community, including Franklin Middle School and Preston Hollow Elementary. The program has made waves for Woodrow Wilson High School in East Dallas, but this one will roll out a little differently, from elementary to high school, instead of the other way around. PHE’s application is due in April, so much remains to be seen.
The name Terrance Williams is pretty recognizable now that he’s a key player for the Dallas Cowboys. The 2008 W.T. White High School alumnus received a personal phone from Jerry Jones himself confirming his draft as wide receiver.
One neighborhood boy’s glitzy bar mitzvah went viral
We all remember “bar mitzvah boy” Sam Horowitz, right? Not only did his over-the-top, pop-culture-inspired bar mitzvah celebration go viral on You Tube, but the Parish Episcopal eighth-grader made it into You Tube Rewind, a compilation of the year’s most-viewed videos.
