Claire St. Amant of the OC People Newspaper reported this month that the Sylvan Thirty zoning has been approved. Despite some opposition, the committee approved the zoning with the caveat that buildings not exceed 70ft in height, and to include sidewalk widths of 15 feet along Ft. Worth Avenue and 11feet, 6 inches along Sylvan.
Concerns from opposition were possible obstructed views of downtown. The original proposal from the developer was to allow buildings of 79 feet in height, and opposition requested that it be decreased to 60 feet. The commission saw both sides of the argument, hence arriving to a 70 foot compromise.
Another issue discussed and concluded was the Ft Worth Ave Special Purpose district that says no more than 20% of street facing facade may be flat or corrugated metal panels. The committee also upheld the ordinance that will keep screening walls around dumpster and storage areas made of the materials to match the main structure of the building. One good thing to come of this is that residents will be assured that trash and storage will not be an eye sore when the project is complete. Or will they?
That might be a broad statement considering the word “match” is in the phrase, and who is to determine what “matches?” Green matches brown and red matches purple depending on who you talk to.
All in all, the city has given the go ahead on a great project that will include Cox Farm Grocery, numerous retail shops and housing, all with one of the greatest views of downtown Dallas the city has to offer. This is definitely a good sign of the things to come for Oak Cliff.
