Building Dallas

From Lawyer to Developer: Chad West on Building Dallas’ Future


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In this episode of Building Dallas, we sit down with Chad West — Army veteran, real estate developer, and Oak Cliff’s District 1 City Council member — to talk about the future of real estate and development in Dallas.

Chad shares how he transitioned from a legal career to real estate investing, why commercial real estate is more stable than the stock market, and what major developments are shaping West Dallas and Oak Cliff.


🎯 Topics Covered:

  • Why Chad trusts real estate over stocks in DFW
  • How adaptive reuse transformed Oak Cliff properties
  • What Triple Net leases mean for landlords
  • The next hotspots for Dallas growth
  • How residents can influence development decisions
  • The debate over highways vs neighborhoods in Dallas

📍 Whether you’re a homeowner, builder, or developer in North Texas, you’ll love this deep dive into the city's future.


 Presented by Arrington Roofing, proudly serving North Texas property owners for 40+ years.

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Keep up with Chad West
Website: https://chadwestdallas.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chadwestdallas

Click here to watch a video of this episode.


  • (00:00) - Why DFW Real Estate Will Boom for the Next 10 Years
  • (00:45) - Meet Chad West: Army Vet, Lawyer, Developer, Councilman
  • (02:00) - How a Bad Landlord Experience Led to Real Estate Success
  • (04:00) - Inside Chad’s First Adaptive Reuse Project in Oak Cliff
  • (06:00) - Why Commercial Real Estate Beats Stocks in Dallas
  • (07:15) - Triple Net Leases Explained: How Commercial Real Estate Works
  • (09:00) - Are Commercial Property Owners Really Happier?
  • (10:00) - Is West Dallas Already the Next Hotspot?
  • (11:30) - Hidden Gems: The Future of West Oak Cliff Development
  • (13:50) - New Sprouts in West Dallas? Here’s How It Happened
  • (15:00) - Why Oak Cliff Still Lacks Enough Grocery Stores
  • (17:00) - What’s Blocking Trader Joe’s and HEB from Moving to Oak Cliff?
  • (19:00) - How Road Infrastructure Impacts Home Value in Dallas
  • (21:00) - Why Chad West Chose Public Service Over Private Wealth
  • (22:30) - The Origin of Dash for the Beads Race in Oak Cliff
  • (24:30) - How Community Events Shape Stronger Dallas Neighborhoods
  • (26:00) - Will Dallas Expand Its Streetcar System? Here’s the Plan
  • (28:00) - Can Dallas Ever Compete with European Public Transit?
  • (29:45) - Why Parking Reform Matters for Small Businesses in Dallas
  • (31:00) - How Parking Rules Hurt Entrepreneurs and Investors
  • (34:30) - The Big Debate: Should Dallas Remove Highways Over Downtown?
  • (36:00) - 5 Million People Are Moving to DFW — What Happens Next?
  • (38:00) - What Kind of City Do Dallas Residents Really Want?
  • (40:00) - How Residents Can Influence City Planning (and Why It’s Hard)
  • (43:00) - The Truth About How Decisions Are Made in Dallas Government
  • (45:00) - Why Chad Believes in Preserving Oak Cliff’s Entrepreneurial Spirit
  • ...more
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    Building DallasBy Arrington Roofing