Munger Place Historic District

Munger Place is a historic district in East Dallas. It lies directly next to Junius Heights, another historic district, and, according to its website, is the nation's largest collection of Prarie-Style homes. Munger Place was turned into a historic district in 1980, long before it's "little brother" Junius Heights in 2005. Still, I love how these two neighborhoods co-mingle. Although they're divided by the fairly busy Munger Blvd, they share the same defining streets, such as Reiger, Victor, Tremont, Worth, and Junius.

On a personal note, it's hard to walk through Munger Place and not be awe-struck by its beauty. Nearly every home's exterior is nicely renovated and the yards well maintained.

East Dallas continually fascinates me with its two worlds: the beauty, history, and wealth of Munger Place and Swiss Avenue mixed in with poverty-stricken apartment complexes along Columbia and Gaston. While there are plenty of properties that lie in-between these two extremes, the differences can remain fairly stark. I'm making no judgments...just an observation regarding one of the more fascinating areas of Dallas.

Nice streetscape. Big yards. I like the streetlamps at night.

Directly next to the opulence of Munger Place, poverty-stricken apartments.

Among the single-family residences are some historic apartments. I think this one, like many around here, are managed by Power Properties.

The Trolley Expansion & Arts District

The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority (MATA), also known as the "M-Line" or simple the "McKinney Avenue Trolley", is a nonprofit that maintains and runs a collection of historic trolleys through the affluent Uptown neighborhood. After Dallas' trolley system was done away with in the mid-Twentieth Century, these trolleys were restored and put back to work in 1989 on uncovered trolley lines along McKinney Avenue. It should be noted that the trolleys are 100% free (although donations are accepted), and they operate 365 days a year.

The M-Line runs from Uptown to the northern edge of Downtown, stopping at St. Paul and Ross Ave. (behind the Dallas Museum of Art). Since the opening of the Klyde Warren Park in the Arts District, construction has begun in order to expand the trolley line to create a loop. The expansion will bring the trolley further south along St. Paul, turning on Federal St., and then looping north along Olive St. and back up to McKinney Ave. This will bring the trolley further into Downtown (within sight of the DART rail), through the heart of the Arts District, and through the middle of Klyde Warren Park.

The trolley expansion will happen in two phases, the first of which will open sometime in 2013. Although the first phase will only be a section of the proposed loop, it will bring the trolley down Olive St. through the middle of the park and Arts District. Here is a map from MATA's website which makes it all clear: Trolley Map (including expansions).

Seeing the trolley pass by the Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher will also add intrigue to the Arts District. Currently, people go to a museum or performance in the Arts District and then promptly hop in their cars and head home. Why? Like much of Downtown, there hasn't been anything else to do--no pedestrian-friendly activity and no desirable restaurants or retail. Now that the trolley line will be running through, coupled with Klyde Warren Park, and there's a chance the Arts District will become more of place to roam rather than a "pit stop" for the arts. Add in the fact that the Dallas Museum of Art will be permanently free as of January 21, 2013, and I'm starting to wonder if the Arts District could become a more lively place.

The adorable McKinney Avenue Trolley heading north on St. Paul.

Looking at Olive St., which divides Klyde Warren Park...this is where the McKinney Avenue Trolley will run through in 2013. 

Facing the Klyde Warren Park along Olive St., you can see that the trolley lines have already been completed.

The trolley line mostly complete on Olive St. between Ross Ave. and San Jacinto St. 

On Olive St. between San Jacinto St. and Federal St..

The first phase of trolley line expansion will stop here at Federal St. You can see that it's just one street over from Bryan, where the DART rail runs (in the background). Easy walking distance!

Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park opened on October 27, 2012. It lies on the north side of Downtown Dallas in the city's Arts District. It's smack dab next to the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, and the new (and infamous for its art-destroying glare) Museum Tower. 

So, you may know the story already: they built an urban park on top of a recessed highway. Yep, the park just floats in the air while the cars whiz underneath. Some call it an engineering feat. Actually, thousands do. This park has proven within months of opening that it is the big daddy of Dallas parks. Well, in terms of popularity at least.

I didn't know what to think when I first heard about it. I thought it could turn out to be another tacky Dallas attraction with more glitz than substance. And, while it is packed with sleek amenities (Dallas can't do anything minimal), I have to say...it worked.

It worked! But just how did it work? Is it that people are really moving back Downtown? Does it do as it proposed and actually connect Downtown with Uptown? Well, I didn't realize how close (10 min walk) the beautiful State-Thomas neighborhood (a semi-hidden enclave in Uptown) was to the park until a couple weeks ago. My guess is that it's a mix of Downtown and Uptown residents, as well as those closer to the urban core (think: East Dallas, Oak Lawn).

However and from wherever the people come...they come. Trust me, I've been a regular fixture since its opening, having graced the park 6 or 7 times in the last few months. On a sunny day, Klyde Warren Park is filled with droves of people. They walk around. Their kids play on the impressive playground. Families or friends play frisbee and toss footballs on the Great Lawn. And it's not just rich Downtown/Uptown people--it's a healthy mix.

I get all sappy when I come here. It's a refreshing addition to our urban environment.

The Great Lawn is probably the biggest physical feature of the park. It's a big, open lawn that is approachable and often filled with families tossing footballs or frisbees.

The immense skyline lurks in the background. Quite pretty, to be honest.

Archways and Red Oaks frame a nice walkway which goes around the perimeter of much of the park.

Food trucks have become a permanent fixture on the South side of the Great Lawn.

By the Nasher Sculpture Garden, next to Klyde Warren Park

Junius Heights

Junius Heights is a historic district in East Dallas. The neighborhood's website (www.juniusheights.org) says it obtained designation as a historic district in May, 2005, which makes it the newest historic district in Dallas. It not only claims to be the largest historic district in Dallas, it also boasts having the largest collection of Arts & Crafts/Craftsman homes in the southwest.

I've only lived in Junius Heights for a few months, but have already found it to be a quiet neighborhood with a decent sense of community. Many of the homes are beautifully renovated with well-manicured landscaping. Some homes are in disrepair, and there is a smattering of homes/apartments that stick out from the unified historic appearance, having been altered or built before the historic designation. Still, and without being too stuck up about things, it's a beautiful neighborhood with lots of character.

A close friend grew up in this neighborhood in the 1980s and said the area used to be plagued by crime. Another friend who lives a few blocks away in the Munger Place neighborhood confirmed this. He said 15 or 20 years ago, gunshots were a regular occurrence on the weekends.

East Dallas remains a strange animal. Affluent, historic homes and poverty-stricken properties co-exist. While most of these two populations are tolerant of each other, the cultures can still come across as largely segregated. 

Cute 8-plex from the 1930s-ish era.

I don't think I saw a single Romney/Ryan sign in Junius Heights during the election.

Beautiful houses with big porches abound

At Junius and Henderson, in the middle of the residential area, there's an old building with cute storefronts. The Garden Cafe boasts a large garden in the back from which they get some of their ingredients.

Old East Dallas

Urbano Cafe - I hear it's adorable, tiny, with impeccable food (around the corner from Jimmy's Food Store on Bryan & Fitzhugh)

Spiceman's FM 1410 - they have a little storefront next to Urbano Cafe. Their business is selling herbs/veggies to local restaurants... the lady was kind enough to let me wander through their garden.

Around the corner from Spiceman's private garden is a community garden. Yep - that's an adorable li'l coincidence. This community garden was founded to help the Southeast Asian refugee community in Dallas.

On the ever-hip Henderson Ave., this is the artistic parking lot next to We Are 1976, The Pearl Cup, Milk and Honey Boutique, etc... great stretch of independent shops.

My camera ran out of batteries... so you only get one pic of the greatest shop in all of Dallas/Fort Worth... yep, it's We Are 1976

A historic old building on Columbia Ave.

Santa Fe Trail - Dallas, TX (part 2)

Here are the rest of my photos from my first trip to the Santa Fe Trail:

If you're heading toward White Rock Lake from Lindsley Park, you'll notice a clearing to your right (before the fences begin). I was curious about what lay beyond this natural "doorway." Lo and behold...

... it's a beautiful field of wild grasses, trees, and oh yeah - throw in a quaint pond to make it just perfect.

Heading back to the path, another work of art.

The Santa Fe bridge over Garland Rd. right before it forks into East Grand and Gaston.

From the bridge: there's East Grand with Gaston veering off to the right.

Santa Fe Trail - Dallas, TX

For whatever reason, I've been obsessed with the Santa Fe Trail since hearing about it a few months ago. I think the idea of a nature trail running through East Dallas (my favorite hipster haven) just sounded awesome. Oh, and it connects White Rock Lake with Deep Ellum you say? Well that's just downright badass.

I finally made it over today... it's good to have some free time after a busy semester. Let me just say - it exceeded my expectations. Big, beautiful, peaceful, and I only saw a little sliver. Here are some pics:

As mentioned in my previous post, I parked at Lindsley Park and walked over to the trail. From here I took the trail East, which then formed a 'V' and kind of looped back up toward White Rock Lake. It was a beautiful stretch. Both sides of the trail were walled-off by huge trees, shrubs, and wild greenery.

Cute signs

I loved this graffiti-encounter while curving North on the trail. Some artistic tags and some nice obscenities.

Love it.

It was an overcast evening, creating a great ambiance.

Hollywood Heights/Santa Monica

On my way to check out the Santa Fe Trail in East Dallas, I happened upon the gorgeous neighborhoods of Hollywood Heights and Santa Monica. Wait...Santa Fe, Hollywood, and Santa Monica? That's a little confusing, but yes, this is still Dallas.

I left my car at Lindsley Park and walked around the block before venturing onto the trail. Here are a few of the sights:

Cute houses everywhere. Giant trees and well-thought-out landscaping.

I want to go to there.

No, you're not in Cali. Hollywood and Santa Monica are also endearing neighborhoods in East Dallas.

Why am I not a trust-fund baby?

Urbanized

(Pssst!... this movie is available to stream on Netflix...)

Today I watched Urbanized - an intriguing, well-made documentary about how urban environments and development affect society and people's lives around the world. It featured both high and low points of urban planning and design.

Some of the high points mentioned:
The High Line in New York City - smart city planners and citizens took advantage of an old forgotten elevated freight line and turned it into a beautiful public park and trail. Since it was built on the freight line, the park is elevated and overlooks the west side of Manhattan.

Bicycle-friendly Copenhagen, Denmark - a vast number of people bike in Copenhagen. The streets are designed so that the bike lanes are inside the line of parked cars. That way, the parked cars serve as a safe barrier between bikers and moving vehicles.

Some of the low points:
Brasilia, Brazil - criticized for being too grand and too disconnected. Brasilia was built in a modern style with large monumental structures. The problem is: they were built too far apart, leading to a total lack of walkability. To get from one monument to the next... just hop in a car.

Phoenix, Arizona - although Phoenix has apparently been criticized as the poster-child of sprawl, I liked that the documentary interviewed a guy who defended the city, saying that while he thought living in a condo was cute, he enjoyed his 2 acre plot of land and pool. I guess it's different strokes for different folks. (We can always bring up the topic of sprawl in Dallas/Fort Worth by the way, and I intend on writing about that.)

Beijing, China - massive, overpopulated, not planned with pedestrians in mind...

Sights around the Design District

While we were creeping around the Design District and soaking up the art, I couldn't help but notice the intriguing atmosphere of the neighborhood...

This was a wild discovery. Near the Dallas Contemporary, on the outskirts of the Design District, was this building... which was more like the shell of a building. You could see straight through where the doorways and windows used to be. I stepped inside one of the doorways, and there was a cute entryway with a full-grown tree. It seemed strangely desolate but undeniably attractive.