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Standing for Oak Cliff - OOCCL and Gas Drilling

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2012 Architecture at Risk List

OOCCL is very excited to be compiling our 3rd annual Architecture at Risk List for 2012. If you know of a particularly worthwhile or iconic property that you feel is at Risk due to neglect or aggressive zoning please write and tell us about it at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We'll unveil our list at our June General Meeting at Turner House on June 11 at 7:00. We'll also be awarding our 2012 neighborhood grants so you won't want to miss this meeting.

Because this property may be demolished by the time we unveil our list, we wanted to share this preview with you today.

1. HUMBLE OIL SERVICE STATION - ZANG AND BECKLEY - 1929

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Humble Oil Service Station - Zang and Beckley

Humble Oil was founded in Texas in 1911. Their stations were once found throughout the state. They later merged with Standard Oil and were rebranded as Exxon in 1972. It took the Humble Oil Company almost 6 months to gain permission to build their art deco service station at the corner of Zang and Beckley.

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Humble Oil Ad - 1930

Plans to turn Beckley into State Hwy. 4 to Lancaster made the spot desirable for such an enterprise but residents residing within 300 feet of the corner were not having it. Dallas Mayor R.E. Burt vetoed the Humble application on September 28th 1928. Humble filed an injunction and Judge Claude McCallum of the 101st District Court ordered a building permit issued on March 29, 1929. The Judge remarked, “I did it because it was the law and I could not help myself.”

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With Bulldozer 4/27/12

Likewise it will be the law if the Humble Service Station’s new owner demolishes the property in the near future to make way for the Payless Beer and Wine Store on the same corner. The station is not protected and an Oncor representative was on the property cutting the power lines on April 27th, 2012 and said it was only a matter of time. The Humble Station is not only unique in its architecture and style but also in its location, it rests directly across the street from the Oswald Rooming House in the Lake Cliff Historic District.

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The new owner's business in Balch Springs

The Oak Cliff Gateway Committee said at a recent public meeting they were rezoning the Oswald House so that it might be a museum one day. That seems much less likely if this happens. The recent success of the Zang Triangle with Spiral Diner, Jonathon’s and Campo has the area on a very positive path but it is a fragile one.

Councilwoman Delia Jasso has promised a meeting with the developer and we will keep you posted as soon as we hear anything.

San Antonio claims their almost identical station is the last remaining Humble Service Station in the state of Texas and they may very soon be correct.

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Humble Oil Station in San Antonio

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OOCCL Survey Results

On Saturday, April 14th ~ Neighborhoods throughout Oak Cliff joined in community conversations at the annual OOCCL Neighborhood Symposium held at Turner House. We took the opportunity to survey some of the participants about our community. These are the results. They are in a raw form ~ so you can see the variety and the diversity of the comments. FYI ~ OOCCL is reviewing the responses and will consider the possibility for implementing some of the ideas. Your follow up comments and ideas are welcomed!

1) Please tell us the 3 most important issues facing your neighborhood today. (Crime, Code Problems, Traffic, Zoning, City Services, etc.)

v Speeding Cars

v I-30 Expansion

v The effects of beginning a Conservation District

v Preservation of Historic Buildings

v Crime (multiple responses)

v Beginning Neighborhood Stabilization Process

v Rental Properties

v Code Compliance (junk motor vehicles, parking, home maintenance) (multiple responses)

v City Services

v Traffic, Heavy Park Traffic & Cruising

v Illegal Cart Vendors on Streets

v Garbage / Dumping

v Stray Dogs

v Zoning

v City Water Service Upgrade Project

v How to Handle the transition of the Davis Commercial District

v Adequate Parking for Businesses

v Preservation of Historic Buildings

2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of your Neighborhood Association? How would you like to see it improve?

v Strong Board / Leadership (multiple responses)

v Just reorganized neighborhood and feel it will be strong once right leaders are in place

v Good volunteers / good organization. (Multiple responses)

v Need more involvement from wider range of homeowners (multiple responses)

v Existing membership is positive and works together to solve problems; group is growing with more members willing to volunteer time; Great ideas. Lack of funds and know how in beginning stages of forming an NA is a weakness.

v Good communication.

v Good ideas / Creativity

v More initiative

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Tenth St. Historic District Community Meeting

About 40 Tenth St. Historic District area residents attended a meeting at Greater El Bethel Baptist Church led by Brent Brown of the City Design Studio. The meeting was also attended by District 4 council member Carolyn Davis, Senior City Staff Historic Planner Mark Doty, Preservation Dallas, OOCCL Secretary and Tenth St. Historic District Task Force member Alicia Quintans and OOCCL Past President Michael Amonett.

The Tenth St. Historic District was on the OOCCL 2010 Architecture at Risk list HERE. Dallas' 12th historic district was adopted in 1993. One of the only remaining intact Freedman's Towns in the nation. It is a cohesive collection of modest folk and vernacular dwellings dating from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. In this neighborhood there are domestic structures, commercial structures, institutional structures and one cemetery.

Residents broke up into focus groups and worked on common concerns and desires for the area which the Design Studio will work on incorporating into a new master plan.

Concerns:

DISD's decision to close Harlee Elementary on 8th by Oak Cliff Cemetery and the possible negative impact it could have on the community.
Abandoned historic structures in the area and the negative impact of squatters taking up in them has on the area. Some squatters even have unauthorized electricity in these homes.
The negative impact of the Classic Motel across from Townview High and the drug and prostitution problems that come with it.
Alleys that have been closed by the city but that are not maintained.
Security and lighting concerns.

Desires:

Stepped up police patrols.
Speed bumps for speeding vehicles for area children's safety.
An area Neighborhood Association
An area grocer.
The ability to contact off site property owners about problems with renters.

Councilwoman Davis gave her commitment to the area even though it will pass to Dwayne Caraway in 2013 due to redistricting. She promised more meetings on residents concerns and an area clean up in October.

2000 Roses Inc, a non-profit committed to helping women find work and shelter after incarceration is planning to purchase many homes in the area for residential opportunities for their clients. 2000 Roses operates the popular Rose Garden resale boutique on Davis and Tyler.

Another positive to the area is the Meadows Foundation desire to do restoration work on El Bethel. El Bethel was one of the original churches of Tenth St. Many of the older residents present remembered how connected they felt to Jefferson Blvd. before the construction of Interstate 35 separated them from the rest of North Oak Cliff. OOCCL is committed to helping the Tenth St. Historic District any way we can.

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OOCCL Grants Due June 1st

Applications for 2012 Neighborhood Supplemental Grants are due by June 1st.

DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES HERE

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE

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2012 OOCCL Architecture at Risk List

OOCCL is now accepting nominations for this year's Architecture at Risk list. If there is a particular piece of iconic or historic architecture in Oak Cliff that you feel is at risk of extinction due to neglect, demolition or aggressive developers... WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Drop Michael Amonett and Alicia Quintans an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will investigate and your property may make our list.

See previous year's lists HERE.

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Dallas Mexican American Historical League Exhibit February 10 - May 27

The Dallas Mexican American Historical League is presenting "We Came, We Built, We Prospered: 100 Years Of Mexican American History In Dallas ", now open for admission.

Witness a showcase of significant events, places and people as the story of Mexican Americans in Dallas unfolds before your eyes. Major moments in migration and labor exemplify the struggles and successes of an ever expanding culture. The DMAHL and the Old Red Museum proudly present a photographic exhibition charting 100 years of progress. Including lectures on topics like Eagle Ford, Pike Park and Little Mexico.

Some Old Red Museum details: The museum is located in downtown Dallas, at 100 S. Houston Street. Admission to the DMAHL exhibit is $3.00. If you wish to see the entire museum, including their permanent exhibit, admission is $8.00 and includes admission to the DMAHL exhibit. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week. Parking is available underground at Old Red and, with a voucher purchased in the lobby of the museum, the cost is $2.00.

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