Dallas Dirt

In a recent episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sat down with Paul Ridley, the District 14 Dallas City Councilman, to unpack the newly approved ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan, why Dallas needs more housing — of all kinds, and his plans for re-election. 

In this episode of Dallas Dirt, Candy Evans sits down with Abteen Vaziri, founder and CEO of Uptown Companies Incorporated, and a recent New York transplant on a mission to transform Dallas's real estate landscape. 

Vaziri's explains the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, designed to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. 

Vaziri also discusses the dynamic between public and private sectors in fostering real estate growth. He highlights successful models of public-private partnerships like the resurgence of the Statler Hotel project that benefitted from multiple funding sources, including EB-5 financing and historical tax credits.

 Join Candy Evans on this episode of Dallas Dirt as she interviews the dynamic real estate duo, Brit Ewers and Zach Staats of the Ewers team. Specializing in Las Colinas, Irving, and Dallas, Britt and Zach share their journey of real estate mastery, from their beginnings to their innovative marketing strategies. Discover insights into the transformation of Las Colinas and the Dallas Medical District, the appeal of townhomes, and the booming amenities in these communities. Plus, learn valuable tips on maintaining client relationships and hear about the Ewers team's exciting projects and personal pursuits in the Dallas area. 

 Dallas Dirt Host Candy Evans engages with Elizabeth Beck, District 9 Fort Worth City Council representative, and Wes Hoblit, Managing Director of the Fort Worth Master Plan office. The discussion highlights Fort Worth's burgeoning real estate market, the impact of the DFW airport, the challenges of urban planning, responding to rapid population growth, and the importance of maintaining housing affordability. Beck and Hoblit also emphasize the efficiency of Fort Worth’s permitting process compared to Dallas, and discuss the city's strategic initiatives, including a new land trust and transit projects like the Tex Rail extension. The episode underscores Fort Worth's appeal as a livable city with diverse housing options, historical significance, and future developments like Panther Island. 

 In this episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sits down with District 9 Councilwoman Paula Blackman to discuss the latest happenings at City Hall. Topics include the recent bond election results and their impact on White Rock Lake and District 9, the comprehensive land use plan ForwardDallas 2.0, homelessness initiatives, the city's Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic fatalities, and the city manager search. Blackman also shares insights into budgeting priorities and ongoing projects aimed at improving the community.  

Wondering what's been happening with the torn-down Valley View Center? It’s been a year and a half since an early morning fire there at Preston and 635 accelerated the developer Scott Beck’s timeline for demolition. Host April Towery sat down with Beck, the CEO of Beck Ventures, for an update and a better understanding of the property's tumultuous development timeline.

Beck discusses the development of Dallas Midtown, formerly known as Valley View Mall, which aims to create a walkable mixed-use neighborhood with high-rise buildings and additional tax base for the city. Beck explains the challenges faced during the demolition of the mall, including asbestos issues and homeless encampments. He also addresses the issue of affordable housing in the district and the importance of starting with market-rate apartments to drive density and retain population within the city.

 In this episode of Dallas Dirt, we delve into the development of Fields, a 2,500-acre property in North Texas, with special guests Lee Osteguin and Grady Yates from Ebby Halliday Realtors. The conversation explores the ambitious vision for Frisco’s growth, the luxurious amenities within Fields Frisco, and the exclusive gated community known as The Preserve. Lee and Grady also discuss the significant involvement of the Hunt family and Hunt Companies in this transformative project, which promises to elevate high-end living in the region. 

 Host Candy Evans sat down with Fred Balda, President of Hillwood Communities, for this episode of Dallas Dirt to discuss housing en masse, particularly their new developments at Harvest, Tree Line, and Landmark. The Fort Worth-based Perot company specializes in master-planned communities, which include signature developments like AllianceTexas, Circle T Ranch, and Frisco Station. 

Every time a contentious zoning case goes before the Dallas City Council, Dallas City Plan Commissioner Melissa Kingston has already seen it, likely heard from angry citizens about it, and voted on it. In this episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sat down with Kingston to discuss ForwardDallas and give a look behind the scenes of how the City Plan Commission works. The episode, which was recorded in May, comes on the heels of many highly contentious neighborhood meetings, where factions have formed. Kingston shares her take on these pro-neighborhood and pro-housing parties that have been a vocal minority of voting Dallas homeowners, what city staff have done, and what some possible solutions are.