To the irate commenters, and the more-active members of homeowner association social media pages and the more-vocal complainers about the rundown apartments and the seedy stores and the payday lenders … this is your chance to be involved in the solution.
It’s not the first and probably won’t be the last meeting involving the public, but if you can make it, the community open house, Saturday, May 18 at Forest Lane Academy, will focus on the future of the LBJ/Skillman area of Lake Highlands. It’s an exciting time for those of us who live and/or work in the area.
As a component of the LBJ/Skillman Urban Planning Initiative, the Texas Department of Transportation is preparing for the reconstruction of the intersection at Skillman Street and LBJ — a project which, according to the press release, “has the potential to enhance the flow of traffic through the intersection and improve the overall livable environment within the area.”
Or, at least, to “apply basic logic to retail access points” (that’s from a recent editorial featuring quotes form committee member, resident and small business owner Cindy Causey.)
Preliminary draft concepts that could be implemented in the area in the future will be discussed at the open house May 18. The concepts are based on input received at a community visioning event in January 2013, as well as detailed consultant research regarding the area’s demographics and business environment. At the January 2013 event, transportation and planning officials heard from more than130 residents, business owners and others about their concerns and desires for this important gateway area of Dallas. A community survey was also conducted between December 1, 2012 and February 2013 to gather input.
Here are some interesting results about the demographics in the area.
The May 18 open house will serve as a follow-up to an earlier community visioning event. Two identical sessions, one 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and the other 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., will include the same presentation and breakout group discussions. Forest Lane Academy is located at 9663 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas 75243.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the City of Dallas are jointly sponsoring the LBJ/Skillman Urban Planning Initiative. More info here.
Anyone needing special accommodations for a disability or language interpretation at the event is asked to contact Judy Meyer at 214.499.4661 at least 72 hours prior to the event. Reasonable accommodations will be made.
