District 14 is a remarkably diverse area of Dallas, with strong neighborhoods and exciting economic growth.  Our district encompasses the northeastern half of Downtown, Uptown, the Arts District, much of old east Dallas, parts of Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Love Field Airport, and the neighborhoods between Love Field and the Park Cities.

With its twisting boundaries, some might say District 14 is the result of gerrymandering, and with that I agree:   When the district lines were drawn, we got the best of everything.  We’ve got some of the most active neighborhood groups in the city who are passionate about protecting and improving their community.  Most of the city’s historic and conservation districts are in District 14 — the stately homes of Swiss Avenue, the Prairie Four Squares of Munger Place, the Tudor Cottages of the M Streets, and the Craftsman homes of Vickery Place all provide a living snapshot of Dallas’ architecture through the last century.

Living in the heart of Dallas means we get to enjoy a very urban (and urbane) lifestyle.  Many of our neighborhoods have become more dense, such as Oak Lawn and Uptown, creating exciting and vibrant live-work-play communities.  Downtown’s transformation over the last decade has been remarkable, thanks in large part to the adaptive reuse of forgotten landmarks like the Mercantile Tower, the Davis Building, and the Interurban Building, to name just a few.  Main Street Garden and Woodall Rodgers Park will be great additions to our urban landscape.

District 14 is also home to Dallas’ Arts District — four blocks of museums, theaters, and performance halls and a diverse array of arts organizations.  Acolytes of modern design will appreciate the Arts District’s collection of four buildings by internationally renown, Pritzker Prize-winning architects.

Cedar Springs and Oak Lawn in the western part of our district, long a hub of gay businesses and nightlife, is enjoying a renaissance with new residential and mixed-use development.  Nearby Love Field Airport is ungoing a half billion dollar renovation plan, which will modernize the airport and reconfigure the terminals.

District 14 plays a critical role in the economic health of our city, representing one fifth of the city’s tax base ($16.5 billion).  Much of our tax base is in Downtown Dallas, where new residential development, retail, boutique hotels, affordable housing, and business relocations have revitalized the heart of our city.  In the future, a new DART rail line and a system of modern streetcars will connect Downtown’s islands of activity — from Farmers Market, to the Arts District, to Main Street retail and beyond.

There is no council district more exciting and challenging to represent, and it is my honor to serve as councilmember for District 14.