The thing that you need to know about where we are in the Convention Center Hotel process: it ain't over. The city has spent about $500,000 to "tie up" an 8.34-acre tract of land on Young Street between Market and Lamar that is a privately owned parking lot. This was the subject of a Dallas Morning News article last weekend (Did anyone else notice the WFAA sign that was prominently featured in the picture of that site?) Dave Levinthal and Rudolph Bush report that the city has until Sept. 30 to decide whether to purchase the land from Cincinnati-based CP-Dallas L & Y LP at a fixed price just under $40 million. If they don't, the $500,000 goes down the drain. Now let's revisit the South Side Convention Center option. First let me make something clear.  Unlike what has been reported and assumed, the south side option is not on the opposite side of I-30 from the center. The proposed site is where Eddie Deans Ranch is currently located, including the huge parking lot behind it. To be more specific, the hotel would be bordered by Memorial Drive, Griffin, Street, Canton Street, and South Lamar. The firm who owns this property is ...

I know there have been important developments in the Dallas Convention Center Hotel situation and I plan to comment soon.  Check back on Friday (PM) and I should have my thoughts together by then. SW

Last week Kirby Warnock continued to make the case for improved services in Southern Dallas via a thoughtful Dallas Morning News.  Here are some highlights from Mr. Warnock's column: What has become painfully obvious to me is that there are two Dallases, and I'm not talking about the racial divide. I'm speaking of basic city services: roads, parks and code enforcement. The city cannot do anything about the demographic makeup of my neighborhood, but it can do something about the roads and parks. First, our roads. They are in worse shape than our northern neighbors'. Oak Cliff has more streets that require resurfacing, more that lack curbs and sidewalks, and more without street lights than north Dallas. These statistics come from the city of Dallas' Web site, under "unfunded needs." Why can't the city pave and repair our roads with as much vigor as it does the northern half? Second, our parks. A visit to Kidd Springs Rec Center in Oak Cliff should be contrasted with a visit to the Churchill Rec Center in North Dallas. Don't our children deserve a decent, well-maintained rec center, too? A quick check of the Dallas ...

This is a column that I wrote which appeared in the Dallas Morning News on Thursday.  Dallas South readers saw most of this last week.  There are however a couple of points that I didn't make in last week's post. Plans for a Dallas Convention Center hotel are moving forward, and Mayor Tom Leppert would like to see it built before the Super Bowl comes to town in 2011. While the city looks into financing the project, the discussion will soon move to where the hotel should be located. For those who have dared to dream of a hotel constructed near the convention center, the vision usually includes a structure on the "front," or downtown side, of the building. I've always thought the same thing. But over the weeks since I wrote my first Viewpoints column on the hotel, another potential site has emerged. Imagine, if you will, a hotel erected on the southern side of the convention center. Use Eddie Deen's Ranch as a reference point. In that initial Viewpoints column, I made the following argument: Convention visitors judge a host city by what goes on each day after the meetings are over. Where do we eat? Is there ...

On Thursday January 31, State Senator Royce West will host the Grand Opening of his 2nd District Office.  The Deep Ellum office is located at 2612 Main Street in Dallas. The public is invited to come out an meet Sen. West and his staff, share in food and fun, as well as discuss ideas and concerns regarding the district.  The grand opening is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.  For more information call 214-741-0123.

I finally have an accurate tenant list for Wheatland Town Crossing that's going up just north of I-20 in Southern Dallas.  Here are the current tenants scheduled to open in the shopping center.                               In addition to these businesses, there are 12 retail sites still available for more tenants.  This is positive news in the way of economic development for Southern Dallas.  Target is scheduled to open this March.

Plans for a Dallas Convention Center hotel are moving forward, and mayor Tom Leppert would like to see it built before the Super Bowl comes to town in 2011. While the city looks into financing the project, the discussion will soon move to where the hotel should be located. For those who have dared to dream of a hotel constructed near the convention center, the vision usually includes a structure on the "front" or downtown side of the building. In my mind, I've always thought the same thing. But over the weeks that have passed since I wrote a Dallas Morning News article on this subject, another potential site has emerged. Imagine if you will a hotel erected on the southern side of the convention center. For the sake of this post, use Eddie Deen's Ranch as a reference point. In the Viewpoints column that I wrote for The News, I made the following argument: Convention visitors judge a host city by what goes on each day after the meetings are over. Where do we eat? Is there anywhere to shop? How long does it take to get to the hottest night spot? ...consider (San Diego's) Gaslamp Quarter, within ...

Due to the fact that Dallas Cowboys news will dominate everything else on Monday, I'm going to hold off on my convention center hotel post until Tuesday.

Since my Dallas Morning News Viewpoints article advocating a convention center hotel, I've had the chance to examine the issue a little closer.  On Monday, I will launch a campaign regarding the proposed hotel that is consistent with the mission of this site.   Please check back Monday morning (or Sunday night) for the news.

All accounts say that grocery chain Aldi is locating a store in Dallas - Oak Cliff to be exact.  The new store is said to be part of a shopping center that is coming up off I-20 near Wheatland and Hampton.  The retail center is anchored by a Target store that is expected to open in March. Whenever I talk to people about this, the first thing they say is "what is Aldi?"  I never have a good answer, so I went to the company website and here's what I found. (From the Aldi Website)  ALDI entered the U.S. market in 1976, with a handful of stores in southeastern Iowa. Now, more than 850 U.S. ALDI stores are spreading the savings from Kansas to the East Coast. In its 2007 report, Supermarket News ranked ALDI 24th in U.S. grocery chains in terms of gross sales—a considerable accomplishment given our limited assortment and low prices. We concentrate purchasing power, carrying only 1,300 or so of your most frequently purchased grocery and household items, nearly all under our own private labels. As a result, we get the lowest prices from our suppliers—and pass the savings on to ...