Nathaniel Barrett
@ncoxbarrett.bsky.social
Dallas developer, urban orchardist, cargo bike rider, parking reformer. Building a better Dallas, one lot at a time.
If we have a half empty library and there's not enough space at City Hall for all of City Staff, it seems like there's a pretty obvious solution here.
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
“Many of the building’s key systems, such as electrical, plumbing and elevators, are beyond their expected useful life, [and] the longer they go without upgrade and replacement, the more likely they are to fail.”
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Do the downtown library and Dallas City Hall share the same fate?
It’s either the worst-kept secret in Dallas or the most repeated rumor around; in this small town pretending like it’s a big city, it’s sometimes hard to tell...
www.dallasnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
If we have a half empty library and there's not enough space at City Hall for all of City Staff, it seems like there's a pretty obvious solution here.
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
Headline makes it sound like the roundabout is causing crashes but crashes are down 50% since it was installed.
They need to add traffic calming leading up to the roundabout.
They need to add traffic calming leading up to the roundabout.
November 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Headline makes it sound like the roundabout is causing crashes but crashes are down 50% since it was installed.
They need to add traffic calming leading up to the roundabout.
They need to add traffic calming leading up to the roundabout.
Funding shall remain on the bicentennial plan.
A draft of the first-of-its-kind Texas Department of Transportation plan released in October outlines the need for boosted public transportation in rural and smaller urban areas as well as a greater array of travel options, including rail, between the state’s major urban centers.
TxDOT: Car-dominant Texas needs more public transit
As the state’s population grows, more travel options are needed in rural and smaller urban areas and between major cities, according to a draft of the first-of-its-kind plan.
www.texastribune.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Funding shall remain on the bicentennial plan.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
This Wednesday, the City Council will vote on a resolution that could be the first nail in the coffin of the nearly 50-year-old I.M. Pei building. Should the city scrap the building to allow for redevelopment, or save it and plan on maintaining it?
This week could mark beginning of the end of Dallas City Hall
This Wednesday, the City Council will vote on a resolution that could be the first nail in the coffin of the nearly 50-year-old I.M. Pei building.
www.dmagazine.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This Wednesday, the City Council will vote on a resolution that could be the first nail in the coffin of the nearly 50-year-old I.M. Pei building. Should the city scrap the building to allow for redevelopment, or save it and plan on maintaining it?
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
From today’s DMN, letters to the editor. “We” and “University Park.”
November 9, 2025 at 11:01 PM
From today’s DMN, letters to the editor. “We” and “University Park.”
For some reason I find the "TrumpRx" name and website very funny.
November 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
For some reason I find the "TrumpRx" name and website very funny.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
After six hours of testimony and discussion, the 12 members of the City Council present -- none of whom were the mayor -- unanimously concurred with the chief that Dallas police will NOT partner with ICE. Their final act was to table the subject indefinitely so it will never reach a council agenda.
The joint committee meeting, called by Mayor Eric Johnson, is now hearing from public speakers -- nearly every one opposed to this partnership. Said one speaker, "Eric Johnson is not known for making good decisions for our city." Council discussion to follow.
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
November 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
After six hours of testimony and discussion, the 12 members of the City Council present -- none of whom were the mayor -- unanimously concurred with the chief that Dallas police will NOT partner with ICE. Their final act was to table the subject indefinitely so it will never reach a council agenda.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
👀https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-elections-republicans-democrats-2026-21129181.php
November 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
👀https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-elections-republicans-democrats-2026-21129181.php
I was doing great until this house in Austin came up. Prices still have further to fall in Central Texas.
November 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I was doing great until this house in Austin came up. Prices still have further to fall in Central Texas.
Excellent episode that really goes into the specific differences between IRC/IBC that raise costs on small projects.
When we did Dallas' "8-units under the IRC" code change this year, we consulted with Memphis officials to help scale our building code to the risk level.
When we did Dallas' "8-units under the IRC" code change this year, we consulted with Memphis officials to help scale our building code to the risk level.
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Excellent episode that really goes into the specific differences between IRC/IBC that raise costs on small projects.
When we did Dallas' "8-units under the IRC" code change this year, we consulted with Memphis officials to help scale our building code to the risk level.
When we did Dallas' "8-units under the IRC" code change this year, we consulted with Memphis officials to help scale our building code to the risk level.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
New working paper studying project permitting in Seattle estimates that design review as part of the development process increased review time by 4 to 5 months. Author's model estimates that design review was associated with a 3% decline in the number of units permitted.
static1.squarespace.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
New working paper studying project permitting in Seattle estimates that design review as part of the development process increased review time by 4 to 5 months. Author's model estimates that design review was associated with a 3% decline in the number of units permitted.
Keep it up. Public shaming is the best tool to keep city council members from doing something stupid.
A prominent Australian architecture professor is urging the Dallas City Council to save its iconic I.M. Pei-designed City Hall building from a potential demolition, calling it an internationally important symbol of the city and democracy.
International expert astounded Dallas might demolish City Hall
A prominent Australian architecture professor is urging the Dallas City Council to save its iconic I.M. Pei-designed City Hall building from a potential demolition, calling it an internationally important symbol of the city and democracy.
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Keep it up. Public shaming is the best tool to keep city council members from doing something stupid.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
The mayor of Somerville, MA, wrote a whole op-ed about transformer costs. This comes up in city after city. If you know anybody who’d like to make research about this their day job, I have an idea for who would fund it. www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/143...
A Hidden Risk to Climate Goals: The Transformer Roadblock
(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, i...
www.thesomervilletimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The mayor of Somerville, MA, wrote a whole op-ed about transformer costs. This comes up in city after city. If you know anybody who’d like to make research about this their day job, I have an idea for who would fund it. www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/143...
One of the most important steps towards making Dallas a more functional democracy is improving voter turnout. That starts by moving our elections to November.
ACTION ITEM: Take 30 seconds to email Dallas City Council your support for moving city elections from May to November starting in 2027! actionnetwork.org/letters/incr...
Increase Dallas Voter Turnout
For city council and mayoral elections, Dallas is one of, if not the lowest voting cities in the US. A big reason for that is the May election date. But we can change that by moving elections to Novem...
actionnetwork.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
One of the most important steps towards making Dallas a more functional democracy is improving voter turnout. That starts by moving our elections to November.
Someone needs to alert the Brutalism Action Network that there's a non-zero chance Dallas city hall gets pawned off and demolished. That exists right? Or is it just @jmings.bsky.social?
At a meeting to gather community input speakers unanimously supported preserving the building.
Tear down Dallas City Hall? No thanks, say these residents
At a meeting to gather community input speakers unanimously supported preserving the building.
bit.ly
November 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Someone needs to alert the Brutalism Action Network that there's a non-zero chance Dallas city hall gets pawned off and demolished. That exists right? Or is it just @jmings.bsky.social?
Getting civic in the neighborhood!
November 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Getting civic in the neighborhood!
At first I was encouraged to hear that so many other people were asking the right questions.
Now, though, i'm discouraged, because Council Members and staff are smart enough to ask these same questions and they are not, which means they do not care about the merits.
Something else is driving this.
Now, though, i'm discouraged, because Council Members and staff are smart enough to ask these same questions and they are not, which means they do not care about the merits.
Something else is driving this.
Comments consistently showing that folks know what's up: the decision is rushed, we don't have any information on actual costs, and it's driven by other needs.
November 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
At first I was encouraged to hear that so many other people were asking the right questions.
Now, though, i'm discouraged, because Council Members and staff are smart enough to ask these same questions and they are not, which means they do not care about the merits.
Something else is driving this.
Now, though, i'm discouraged, because Council Members and staff are smart enough to ask these same questions and they are not, which means they do not care about the merits.
Something else is driving this.
Isn't our title system great? Expensive AND ineffective
November 4, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Isn't our title system great? Expensive AND ineffective
I'm here at the Save City Hall public meeting. Looking around it's the same 80 people who always show up to fight obviously bad ideas from city hall (plus preservationists).
November 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I'm here at the Save City Hall public meeting. Looking around it's the same 80 people who always show up to fight obviously bad ideas from city hall (plus preservationists).
If there was an honest accounting of Eco Dev money, we'd realize we've been setting money on fire for decades but Dallas did just authorize $3.7B on a convention center, so.
The other part is the eco dev but some of that will be in closed session.
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
If there was an honest accounting of Eco Dev money, we'd realize we've been setting money on fire for decades but Dallas did just authorize $3.7B on a convention center, so.
Here's a comparison of a 10yr hold vs 30yr hold under the "low" repair scenario with "low amenity" lease, assuming 2% rent growth.
The main thing that jumps out at me is the astounding cost assumed for security and operations at $26psf annually.
The main thing that jumps out at me is the astounding cost assumed for security and operations at $26psf annually.
November 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Here's a comparison of a 10yr hold vs 30yr hold under the "low" repair scenario with "low amenity" lease, assuming 2% rent growth.
The main thing that jumps out at me is the astounding cost assumed for security and operations at $26psf annually.
The main thing that jumps out at me is the astounding cost assumed for security and operations at $26psf annually.
Council is letting themselves be handled by staff. Don't ask for easily gamed numbers (economic impacts), staff can make them say whatever they want.
I notice they compare a 10-yr lease to a repair solution. Ofc a 10yr lease is going to be cheaper, it's only 10 years vs a 30+ year hold.
I notice they compare a 10-yr lease to a repair solution. Ofc a 10yr lease is going to be cheaper, it's only 10 years vs a 30+ year hold.
Today’s phrase that pays: “a series of unknowns,” said the city’s head of facilities. But sure. Let’s rush the decision. Sure seems like council members are eager to sell City Hall.
Staff's numbers are inflated and should be treated as poorly informed at best.
I'd put the necessary & reasonable items at $30-60M. By far the largest category of costs are things that are wildly inflated and largely unnecessary.
It just doesn't pass the smell test (cont)
I'd put the necessary & reasonable items at $30-60M. By far the largest category of costs are things that are wildly inflated and largely unnecessary.
It just doesn't pass the smell test (cont)
November 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Council is letting themselves be handled by staff. Don't ask for easily gamed numbers (economic impacts), staff can make them say whatever they want.
I notice they compare a 10-yr lease to a repair solution. Ofc a 10yr lease is going to be cheaper, it's only 10 years vs a 30+ year hold.
I notice they compare a 10-yr lease to a repair solution. Ofc a 10yr lease is going to be cheaper, it's only 10 years vs a 30+ year hold.
For some reason we are hearing from the Convention Center people, who operate in the absolute fantasy land of numbers and falsehoods (losing out on conventions due to poor connectivity with Southern Dallas???)
November 3, 2025 at 7:36 PM
For some reason we are hearing from the Convention Center people, who operate in the absolute fantasy land of numbers and falsehoods (losing out on conventions due to poor connectivity with Southern Dallas???)