If you travel through the Kingsley-Audelia intersection in the near future, be prepared for some changes. With a unanimous vote of the Dallas City Council, Kingsley Park North Apartments was rezoned and the stage is set for one of our biggest “eyesores” to become an asset.

A huge thank you goes out to Bill Blaydes, the Lake Highlands Homeowner Association, residents of the adjacent neighborhood and John Goodman, the property’s owner. They all worked together to make this possible.

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The redevelopment plan includes the removal of 113 units on site. After demolishing several buildings toward the back of the property, the owners plans to install a landscape buffer to the single family residential area. The remaining open space will be used for a playground and other recreation activities. The entire perimeter will be enclosed by a wrought iron fence with controlled access gates. Gabled roofs will replace the existing roof lines and the interiors will be completely redone.

More important than any physical changes on the site are the commitments made to quality of life issues. The owner has agreed to participate in the existing neighborhood crime watch organization and form a crime watch group on site. By agreeing to specific occupancy levels, the owner is committed to not allowing overcrowding on this property. Annual inspections by the police and code enforcement are also part of the management principles that the owner has adopted for this property.

After visiting with people who are active at Northlake Elementary, the owner volunteered to do all that he can to ensure that Kingsley Park North does not contribute to mobility problems at the school. Leases for families with children will expire during the summer months. Management will work with the school and neighborhood to promote stability and learning opportunities.

John Goodman, like Jim Mattingly at Highland Crest Apartments, is the kind of multi-family property owner that we welcome in Lake Highlands.

Let’s hope that others like them come along soon and rescue some of our other problem properties.

A Temporary Aggravation at Kingsley and Plano

Just when we thought that all legal maneuvers had been attempted with the apartments at Kingsley and Plano, the owner has been granted a temporary restraining order on the demolition of the north side. While we see this as nothing more than a temporary aggravation, I’ll keep you posted.