Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 25/06/2026Funny they literally turned all the parking into trees. West End looks like a forest. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 24/06/2026@jeffspeck.bsky.social In a footnote in your book Walkable City, you mention talking to the team behind WalkScore.com about a new algorithm they're working on that accounts for more than just quantity of amenities. Do you know if anything's changed since? 210
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 23/06/2026BTW here's said article by the late Wick Allison for @dmagazine.bsky.social in 2009. @thedotcity.bsky.social would you agree the two projects are comparable?dmagazine.comThe Failure of Victory ParkIt is sleek, chic, and modernist. Translated, that means it is cold, barren, and unfriendly. How Victory Park’s designers stumbled by ignoring how cities work. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 23/06/2026In 2009, Wick Allison wrote "The Failure of Victory Park," wherein he claimed Jane Jacobs "would have been appalled at Victory. It is out of scale. It is not comfortable. It does not invite." Is Leland Burk's plan for Preston Hollow a repeat of all Ross Perot Jr's mistakes?substack.comNeighbors in Preston Hollow are worried proposed $800m towers are too tall... and this time they might be rightThe debate at Preston & Royal in North Dallas is about more than height. What do we gain or lose from allowing another billion-dollar destination on the tollway in the middle of a suburb without rail? 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 15/06/2026I wonder how many Japanese people came to Dallas for three reasons: World Cup, birthplace of 7-Eleven, and Kinki Sharyo SLRVs. Happy 30th Birthday to DART Light Rail!!! 🎂 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 07/04/2026I went into Pixar's "Hoppers" expecting a silly date night movie with cute animals. To my surprise, the plot is so anti-highway you'd think @thedotcity.bsky.social wrote this for his kids. This scene is in the first 15 minutes, and establishes the central conflict for the rest of the movie:youtube.comHoppers HD Clip: Mabel tries to stop mayor Jerry from building his highwayYouTube video by Random Cat 010
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026Actually, rereading that passage I realize Pei said that at the 20th anniversary, not just before he died in 2019 Interesting he already expressed some regrets after just two decades. Makes me wish the timing was such that could've designed us a City Hall more like his later, non-brutalist work 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026Yes! I'm genuinely excited that we're moving on from the urban renewal, concrete jungle craze of the 60-70s. Before I.M. Pei died, he said it was "more muscular and aggressive than I'd do today." It would be interesting to see something gentler take its place. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026I genuinely look forward to having shorter walk to Mavs games! I have more fond memories tied to the team & the activity than to City Hall. I know this makes me sound like a billionaire shill, but having both Mavs & City Hall walkable for residents is a huge boost for my QOL. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026How is your post an example of me setting a goalpost? 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026Okay? The trustworthiness of DDI isn't precluded by the malice of the Adelsons DDI has daily presence dtown & is actively improving QOL for dtown residents like me I, a member of public, had my stance on CH5 before DDI announced theirs. So I cite them to validate that my stance isn't an anomaly 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026Did I set any goalposts to begin with? I haven't deleted any posts. Can you screenshot and point to the original goalpost that I originally set? 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026Is DDI heavily influenced by corporations & business interests? Yup That's how they're able to fund all the fun & free services, amenities, and QOL improvements for dtown residents like me. I trust their take on City Hall bc they're doing the work. If u don't trust DDI that's understandable & ok 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 05/03/2026I don't expect u to believe anything. I didn't ask for debate. DDI funds & operates public activities, art, cleanings, security & events for dtown residents, biz, & tourists alike. Not infallible but I think their pulse on public demand is better than most. Can't change ur mind if you disagree. 210
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026For all Victory Park's failures - in another context I can list plenty - there are many people who chose to live in VP specifically for proximity to Mavs/Stars games. Never met anyone who chose to live downtown because of City Hall unless they worked there. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026- Model-city "Stockholm has taken steps to reverse it." - Local architects excluded "owing to a directive from Jonsson" - No local input on design at any point - Designed for tunnels, which Laura M called "worst urban planning decision that Dallas has ever made" Not much to like about CH5 process 110
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Agree process is problem. Process for CH5 also highly problematic, no? In defense of City Hall, Lamster wrote how - Bizman Erik J. "willed it into being" - modeled after Stockholm, which "literally bulldozed the center of town to make way for the highways" www.dallasnews.com/arts-enterta...dallasnews.comDallas City Hall: Why the city’s most hated building might be its greatest masterpieceArchitecture critic Mark Lamster on I. M. Pei’s brutalist landmark. 200
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026I never said there was public support for demolishing City Hall. I said there is public demand for higher use of the land. And that choice of words is in line with what CH5 supporters are also calling for (their vision is for KWP-style reimagining of Akard Plaza) 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026You're asking me to prove the nonexistence of something? 200
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Right. But in that case it would be a problem dealt with by the new owner on the new owner's dime and without risking the health and safety of city employees just to save money on temporarily relocating them during repairs. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Inverse is also the case. Where is poll showing majority of residents favor saving it? If poll were to go out, it should include proposed alternative (why I also support transparency & believe city should own up to Mavs role in process) so voters understand it's not "City Hall vs No City Hall" 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Problems exist with internal and external design. Due to poured-in-place concrete construction, any renovation will require major disruption & heavy machinery. And because asbestos found everywhere, it wont be safe for any part of building to be occupied while HVAC and other systems are repaired. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026There is public demand for a more productive use of the land currently occupied by CH5, as articulated by DDI President Jennifer Scripps. Whether CH5 stays or goes, supporters & opponents agree that it's not living up to its full potential and a lot about it needs to change. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026It's not just about disliking brutalism. The design of the building and plaza is dysfunctional and has a net negative impact on walkability downtown. scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...scholar.smu.edu 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Mentioned in another response, my stance is not teardown CH5 at any cost. But if sell & teardown happens to be more affordable to taxpayers, then an arena development is an opportunity (risks withstanding) to utilize private capital to fix CH5's mistakes. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Strong agree they got lot of things wrong w/ Victory Park. Taking into account how VP still suffers for those wrong decisions, urban design of CH5 is 10x worse and has none of VP's redeeming qualities (transit & density) scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...scholar.smu.edu 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026I agree we shouldn't tear down historic structures at whim of billionaires. But CH5 is not in the same class of historic public buildings as, say, the Old Red Courthouse, which unlike CH5 is - Adaptable to new use - Born of public necessity - Widely considered beautiful by non-architect locals 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026I say there was no public demand for CH5 because while a new city hall was considered multiple times during life of CH4, building CH5 was always deemed unnecessary & too expensive until Erik Jonsson basically willed CH5 into existence. CH5 is not a landmark, it's another millionaire's pet project. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026City used proceeds from selling CH3 to buy land and construct City Hall 4, which also has landmark status and still stands today. CH5 wouldn't exist if not for political maneuvering of business tycoon, founder of Texas Instruments, Erik Jonsson. There was no public demand for CH5 otherwise. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026CH5 never received landmark status. Further, many actual landmarks were born this way. Case in point: Adolphus Hotel is a registered landmark, was the "first skyscraper" in Texas, and it wouldn't exist if city didn't sell City Hall 3 to Busch. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Where is this assertion that we pay for the demolition come from? 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026There are two separate arguments: (A) Whether CH5 is intrinsically worth saving (B) Whether it makes financial sense to sell and move on The answer to (B) is still TBD. But my answer to (A) is a hard no for all the reasons I post about. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Oh don't get me wrong, I'm FOR slowing down the whole process, demanding transparency, and making the the most financially responsible decision. My stance is if the final numbers reveal it's cheaper to move, then we move. The building isn't worth saving for it's own sake. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026That said, agreeing that transit connectivity is as terrible as you described... Why is that status quo suddenly acceptable for City Hall? 7 blocks is NBD for leisure travelers. But it's a huge deal for those traveling to city hall out of necessity. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026By time arena opens, closest station will be Conv Center station, closer than 7 blocks. And just as new CC is catalyst for Jack Matthews to sponsor a streetcar between CC and his Cedars developments, it's conceivable new area could bring streetcar between CC, arena, and Farmers Market. 200
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026There are no guarantees to whether the placemaking will be good or bad. The Perot family that built all those bland office parks in Plano is the same family behind the AAC. If preservationists fight as hard for good placemaking of new arena as they do to save CH5, then chances are it'll be good. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Yes? Because the whole point of choosing downtown is it flows both ways: visitors to Adelson development patronize other parts of downtown before & after games, conversely residents and patrons of homes, hotels, and retail on EMC, convention center, Farmers Market, etc, patronize the arena. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026I don't remember where I read it, but I recall this point being raised and it being pointed out that technically Akard Plaza never received official designation as a park, so parkland restrictions don't apply. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Speaking of City Nerd rankings, worth mentioning Mavs/Stars current home, AAC, already ranks in separate arena list. I'm hopeful AAC either becomes home to another returning/new sports franchise or gets adapted to new use e.g. residential (see other post w/ link on profile) youtu.be/Tpg7atI59A0youtu.be10 Arenas That Fit Their Cities Seamlessly -- and 4 That Don't (NBA/NHL Arenas Ranked!)YouTube video by Ray Delahanty | CityNerd 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Biggest problems w/ sports arenas are typically 2-fold: 1. Public subsidy 2. Suburban parking crater Yet to be seen how 1st issue plays out; will judge critically when time comes. For 2nd issue, this is chance to fix our ranking in another @nerd4cities.bsky.social list youtu.be/EtGUxnH01rs?...youtu.beTen Cities That Do Sports Venues the Best (and Some Terrible Ones)YouTube video by Ray Delahanty | CityNerd 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Adolphus Hotel exists bc City Hall 3 was sold to beer-baron Adolphus Busch. Of all ways history could repeat, this is a nicer one. Evening foot traffic from Mavs/Stars/Wings combined w/ day traffic of City Hall returning to Elm-Main-Commerce could tip scales to fill many vacant retail space on EMC. 100
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026If I were Team Save City Hall, I'd find scene in original "Dallas" TV show when CH5 makes appearance. I'm not, so won't scrub thru episodes to find it. But for love of the game I'll give tip: search seasons 2 & 3. IIRC one of Ewings meets someone at plaza & shakes hands. 000
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 04/03/2026Team "Save City Hall" paid for ad w/ droid from Robocop. From fun art perspective, I think it's cute! But also it's a reminder of another reason I'm cool w/ tearing it down: if CH5 is a DALLAS icon, why is it most known for being the HQ of an evil mega-corporation in crime-ridden DETROIT? 300
Reposted by HexelSuburbanista @suburbanista.bsky.social · 02/03/2026DTS was indoctrinating children long before DART's Student Art Contest was a thing. Want to raise Dallas' youth on anti-social behavior like interacting with strangers in public? Just dress up your anti-motorist agenda like a cute little bunny! Look at its little whiskers! Pure evil. 071
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 02/03/20261AM shower thought: city planners were the first to "vibe-code" when they invented parking ratios in the 1960s. 030
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 28/02/2026See yet another example of what AI can't do: sit back and relax on a Friday afternoon 010
Hexel @hexel.dallasurbanists.org · 28/02/2026If only I.M. Pei were alive today, he could design us a new city hall at Valley View Mall. 020
Reposted by HexelThe Dallas Morning News @dallasnews.com · 27/02/2026Dallas lost over half of its rental units priced under $1,000 over a period of two years, leaving a gap between what many renters can afford and what’s available. dallasnews.comDallas rental units under $1K drop by over 50% Dallas lost over half of its rental units priced under $1,000 over a period of two years, leaving a gap between what many renters can afford and what’s... 022
