Douglas Newby

Insights, Musings, Reflections

Douglas Newby

Dallas Neighborhoods

Anchor Neighborhoods are Threatened by Shifting Dallas Downtown Density

Anchor neighborhoods zoned MF2, made up of architecturally significant modern townhouses, condominiums, attached single-family, and single-family homes, are being threatened by the shifting downtown Dallas density and proposed mid-rise and high-rise zoning. Downtown Dallas Density Keeps Moving Towards Our MF2 Anchor Neighborhoods Downtown Dallas keeps creeping away from the original Central Business District on Main…

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Short-Term Rentals are Assault on Homeownership and Single-Family Zoning

Why do single-family occupied homes matter and need to be protected? Homeowners are the heart and soul of the city. When homeowners start leaving a neighborhood, the neighborhood declines. When homeowners have confidence in the future of a neighborhood, they buy a home in that neighborhood or reinvest in the home they already own in…

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Homeowner’s Greatest Property Right is Single-Family Zoning

Some Confuse a Homeowner’s Greatest Property Right With How Many Uses the Homeowner can Utilize for Their Home A homeowner’s greatest property right is not how many uses a homeowner can use their home, in addition to that as a home, such as a tavern, rooming house, short term rentals (STRs), office suites, pharmaceutical production…

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Fair Park First – Single Family Neighborhood Homes Last

Fair Park First Might Prompt 21st Century Urban Renewal Wiping Out Neighborhoods Recently, exciting plans for Fair Park were unveiled at an architectural forum by Fair Park First, the nonprofit selected to transform and manage Fair Park’s transformation. The elements of the proposed transformation are ambitious and have great potential for Fair Park, the surrounding…

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Each STR Will Cause Decline in Home Values Across Dallas

Everyone knows that a single-family home loses value if an STR (short-term rental) opens up next door. Homebuyers will pass over the STR-compromised home for other comparable homes desired by homeowners. And another thing happens. Dallas is losing population and, even more important, losing homeowners. An STR opening on a block might be so disturbing…

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Organic Urbanism is the Cure for New Urbanism

New Urbanism is Like a Virus New Urbanism is a virus that keeps coming back in mutated forms – Organic Urbanism is the cure – Douglas Newby Why Does New Urbanism Need a Cure? New Urbanism is like a virus. For 50 year it keeps coming back in mutated forms. It needs a cure. First,…

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Why There Is an Acceleration of Highland Park Homes Being Torn Down

For decades, Highland Park homes have been torn down, however, this year this activity has accelerated . Perhaps new residents have had an impact. For instance, the great influx of home buyers from California to Dallas has created many benefits for Dallas and has exacerbated some problems.  The greatest negative effect on our urban landscape…

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Highland Park Teardown or Architecturally Significant Survival?

A Highland Park teardown is just another old, out-of-date house or it is an architectural accomplishment designed by one of the best architects in Dallas or the country, and the former home of prominent residents.  An insignificant Highland Park teardown makes room for a new architect-inspired home. An architecturally significant home that becomes another Highland…

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Highland Park Preservation Success

Historically and Architecturally Significant Home is Celebrated and Saved in Highland Park Preservation Success is achieved in Highland Park! Many consider this Highland Park home designed by Mark Lemmon to be the most historically significant home in Highland Park and maybe even in Dallas and North Texas. Highland Park, University Park, the State of Texas,…

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Swiss Avenue Architectural Exclamation Mark

Swiss Avenue boulevard was created as the grandest street in Munger Place, the first deed restricted neighborhood in Dallas, where every home was required to be designed by an architect. In the early 1900s, Munger Place was considered the finest residence park in the Southland. Prominent Architects Designed Architecturally Significant Homes on Swiss Avenue That…

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Greenlining is Remedy for Redlining and Bluelining

Greenlining designated areas of Southern Dallas for new and renovated single-family homes would give that neighborhood a positive direction, an economic thrust, homeowner confidence that propels a neighborhood and a certainty of success.  The More Homeownership in a Neighborhood, the Stronger the Neighborhood The strength, safety and viability of a neighborhood increases with the rise…

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Inspired Architecture Benefits Shelter in Place

Shelter in place has us focused on the characteristics of a home that makes us happy. What makes us happy in a home has not changed, but since we are spending more time in a home than ever, we are focused on what makes us happy in a home. Neighborhoods become more important during shelter…

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Holy Grail of Homes Buyers Desire During the Pandemic

When sheltering at home people think about their homes differently.  Nature, views, sunlight permeate their thoughts.  Previously content homeowners become buyers during the pandemic.  This is a specific examples of homes buyers desire that has all the characteristics of home people love , even more during a pandemic. Homebuyers Want Their Home to Look Over…

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Northern Hills: Why is it a Favorite Dallas Neighborhood and Crown Jewel of Original Land Grant?

In the 1920s, Northern Hills was described by the McNeny brothers much like I described the Northern Hills neighborhood in the 1986 book I wrote on the older neighborhoods in Dallas and in my 2020 video on Northern Hills.  Regardless of where Northern Hills was in its evolution, in its infancy in the 1920s, re-emerging…

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Patchwork Quilt of Backyards is Dallas’ Central Park

In 1990, when Dallas was going through its great economic depression, it actually had a chance to have more than just backyards and trees.  It had a chance to have a version of New York’s Central Park.  Southland Corporation had assembled 200 acres one small lot at a time. After the devastating economic downturn, this…

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