Developers Are Advocating 'Gentlefication', Small-Scale Development in Dallas

An influx of socially conscious urbanists and developers have been trying to bring a smaller, slower approach to designing the city known for its grand scale since the early 1980s.

Entrepreneur Brandon Castillo targeted Deep Ellum in the Metroplex and its stock of old buildings for a new outdoor market in 2010. “When I opened the market at 8 a.m., there was nobody on the streets,” he told Curbed, adding, “I’d pretty much be the only person out other than wedding photographers doing engagement photos. They intrinsically knew it was just a cool place, but nobody else was there.”

“Dallas is always chasing the chance to be a modern, cosmopolitan city, and not to be thought of as a small country town,” says Jason Roberts, a local urbanist. “We tore down our building stock and pushed modernity. There’s always been a desire to be seen as a player and force on the world stage, along with a lack of self-awareness.”

Read more