North Dallas
Neighborhood Alliance

 

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Thursday, July 18, 2019

Hello District 12!

I am excited to represent you and serve the residents of the City of Dallas. The 2019-2021 Dallas City Council was sworn in last Monday and it includes 6 new council members plus a new mayor, along with 8 returning council members. A photo of the new council is at the bottom of this email. There is a great feeling of optimism and a focus on working together to address important issues facing Dallas. 

Our District 12 office at City Hall has moved from the north side of the building to the south. There are still many boxes to unpack, but we're already hard at work. If you've ever worked with Navaz Kayani-Irani, you'll be glad to know that she is continuing as District Liaison. Joining the staff is Elysia Martin, Council Assistant. We congratulate Cherelle Belcher, as she transitions out of the Council Assistant role. Cherelle just completed her nursing degree and will be taking a job in her new field. Updated contact information is at the bottom of this message.

Attend Your Event as a Speaker

If you would like me to come speak with your group or your group would like to visit City Hall, please send a request by email. 

Run for the Blue 5k and 1 Mile Run/Walk

On July 6th, Run for the Blue is happening in Dallas. This run raises funds for the families of slain and injured police officers through the Blue Guardian Foundation (a 501c3). This event is in memory of the five officers who were killed and eight officers who were injured on July 7, 2016 in Dallas. Entry is FREE, but registration is required. They need additional volunteers for the event, and I have signed up to help with registration. Here is the link if you'd like to be part of this meaningful event: https://raceroster.com/events/2019/23425/run-for-the-blue-dallas-2019.

DART/Cotton Belt

There are two new groups of homeowners that have formed to address the Cotton Belt rail line. One group is working to get the best mitigation and betterments available for Far North Dallas in cooperation with DART. They have a Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/NeighborsSharingCottonBeltInformation. The second group is working to cancel the Cotton Belt and reform DART to better serve the core purpose of a regional transportation entity. Their website is www.dart-rider.org. I am working to have DART held accountable for each of the items passed in the Cotton Belt resolution by Dallas City Council. DART is not currently following the provisions of this resolution. 

Serving on a Board or Commission

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer appointee on a board or commission, please apply by July 5th. Positions and descriptions, as well as instructions on how to get started with the application process, are listed on the District 12 webpage at: https://dallascityhall.com/government/citycouncil/district12

Dallas Animal Services

Our animal shelter is at 105% capacity and they are working hard to find forever homes for cats and dogs. We are so lucky to have Petsmart at Coit and Campbell that serves as a northern adoption center. If you've been thinking that you have room in your home and life for a new best friend, please stop by and fall in love with one of our furry friends. Also, if you have a son, daughter, or group that is looking for Eagle/Gold Award/Service projects, please email our office as we have several ideas that may interest you.

Bulk Trash/Landscape Debris

Every street has an incredible amount of landscape debris from the recent storms. The city is working hard to pick up everything as quickly as possible. Please separate tree debris from other trash and plastic bags. Only storm debris will be picked up in July. Normal bulk and brush pick up will resume in August. 

Need a New Toilet?

The City of Dallas has a program to replace up to 2 toilets in your home for FREE if they were installed prior to 1994. To learn more and apply, call (214) 670-3155 or go to www.SaveDallasWater.com.

Senior Safety Summit

The City of Dallas' Senior Services, the Dallas Police Department, and AARP Texas are hosting an informational workshop about some of the dangers older adults face and how to protect against them. Lunch is included with registration. FREE, but RSVP needed. Thursday, June 27, 9 am - 1 pm, Lakewest YMCA. RSVP at 1-877-926-8300 or www.aarp.cvent.com/sss_2K19. Main topics are hoarding, financial exploitation, home and personal safety.

NextDoor Social Media

Unless you live very close to my neighborhood, I can't see your posts on NextDoor. If you'd like to share with me something that is going on, please email or text. 

Need Help, Have a Question, Got a Gripe or Special Request? 

Please send an email to cara.mendelsohn@dallascityhall.com.

Special Note - Sandy Greyson

A special thank you to Sandy Greyson for her 16 years of service to the residents of District 12 and the City of Dallas. She has served our district admirably and her depth of knowledge and history on issues facing the city will be missed. If you see her out and about, please take a moment to shake her hand and thank her for her service. 

Cara Mendelsohn, Dallas City Council, District 12
Office (214) 670-4064, Cell/text (214) 490-1036
cara.mendelsohn@dallascityhall.com                  

 

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Summer ReadingDallas Library

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Dallas Neighborhood Organizations Map

Thank you for adding your neighborhood to the Dallas Neighborhood Organizations Map! Check out the map here.


Click Here for the Flyer (pdf) and Click Here for the Class Schedule (pdf)

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 Cotton Belt Update

Presentations at the December 11th DART Board Meeting reflected the projected cost of $27M that would be needed to double-track the rail line through North Dallas. What drives part of that cost is terrain through the North Dallas area where grade changes and bridges require special attention (from Knoll Trail to Coit).
Currently, DART plans to run trains every 30 minutes. Double tracking would allow operations to occur every 20 minutes.

The DART Board also approved Archer Western Herzog’s bid to serve as the primary construction contractor.
The Federal loan (RRIF loan) DART has requested to finance the construction is progressing and is scheduled to be finalized sometime between the 20th and 28th of December.

Many of the noise, vibration, and safety concerns Sandy Greyson, the City of Dallas, and our Cottonbelt Concerned Citizens Coalition have advocated are included in the mitigation plans. Those items include such things as 15-foot-high sound-blocking walls, special absorption measures (to minimize vibration), double-gating at crossings (to protect children/pedestrians at crossings), directional bells, etc.

If you want to learn more details, go to the DART website (Click here for the Cotton Belt section) and pull up the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Study).  

May 20th, 2019

Update for the HILLCREST VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER
at HILLCREST and ARAPAHO

Although it may seem like nothing is happening, there's actually a lot going on with Hillcrest Village Shopping Center.  Construction plans are complete.  Repairs to the roof and other miscellaneous maintenance work will be starting late this month or in early June.  Construction on the shopping center is projected to start in July.  

Design of the park is complete and an artist has been chosen to create the public art piece that will front the park on Arapaho. Park construction is projected to start in the fall and be completed around the same time as the shopping center renovation wraps up in late spring of 2020. 

Because the park will be a public city park, its construction will be managed by the Dallas Park Department.

With regard to the vacant grocery store, negotiations between the owner and a potential lessee are ongoing. On a related note, Code Enforcement has been in discussions with the grocery store property manager about not allowing overnight truck parking on the Hillcrest side of the property. When I drove by a few evenings ago, nine 18-wheelers and a pickup truck were parked there. Because it's private commercial property, Code cannot cite for the parking if the owner chooses to allow it. However, the property owners have now contracted with a towing company to assist with removing the trailers off the lot.  

Sandy Greyson
Dallas City Council, District 12 

COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE

Re-development of the

HILLCREST VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER

If you missed the October 16th meeting regarding the re-development of Hillcrest Village here is a link that provides information about the re-development plans.

Click Here to download the information presented at the meeting (pdf).
 
 


Planning and Urban Design gave us the following two useful URLs.

The first one lists upcoming street repaving.  

http://dallascityhall.com/departments/public-works/Pages/pavement-management.aspx   

The next one is a bit harder to use/follow, but it covers the proposed alley work.

http://dallascityhall.com/departments/public-works/dallasbondprogram/Pages/proposition-detail.aspx?proposition=A  

The alleys were the ones identified in the 2017 bond package.

NDNA Membership

If your homeowner's association would like to become an NDNA Member, just click here and find your homeowner's association and then complete the 2019 Membership Application.

If you were a member in 2018 and have not updated your registration by March 30th, 2019, you will not be able to visit the Member's Only web pages without updating your registration and paying the annual dues. Just log into the "Members Only" web and then click on Complete NDNA 2019 Membership Form or if you were the President or the NDNA Designated Representative you can easily update your Membership by clicking on the Update Your HOA Membership Information link.

Please save the date - upcoming NDNA Meetings:

  • February 19th - General membership Meeting

Unless otherwise noted NDNA meetings are held in the community room at the North Central Dallas Police station (Hillcrest and McCallum).

The programs for NDNA’s upcoming meeting are still being developed. If you have an idea for a meeting program please share it with us at: President@ndna-tx.org

Thank you for your participation!
 
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FBI's Most Recent Press Releases for Thursday, July 18, 2019
FBI's Most Recent Press Releases for
Thursday, July 18, 2019