WHO CAN BE HEROES?

You’ll probably enjoy this month’s cover story about high school students who have beaten the odds and come out on the “right” side of difficult situations.

It has all the elements of a compelling story: Bad things happening to good people. Neighbors taking an interest in those whom others have ignored. Heroes who have overcome the odds.

And that is the point of each high school senior’s story: Each student has turned lemons into lemonade pretty much on his or her own terms.

We’ve written stories similar to these for the past few years; most people can’t resist reading about those who can’t and won’t be kept down by bad luck, people who have the will and the determination to turn something bad into something better.

The true test of this kind of story, though, is how you and I relate to the hero. We’ve seen what the hero does with his or her life, how things have been turned around against all odds. We’ve read about the causes, the betrayals, the strategies, the hard work and the ultimate victory, of a sort, over what seemed to be a foregone failure.

So the question we then ask ourselves, or at least the question we should be asking ourselves, is: Could we have done as well, given the same circumstances?

Or maybe not “could” we have done as well, but whether “would” we have done as well.

Because reading a story about incredible intestinal fortitude is easy. Reshaping your life while facing down impending failure is a more difficult task and, dare I say, most of us simply couldn’t do it ourselves.

We like to think we could pull the rabbit out of the hat, but the magician who does so has spent literally hundreds of hours learning the trick.

We like to think we could sink the tournament-winning putt or drain the gamewinning shot, but these athletes have given up their lives to practice and plan and prepare to achieve this ultimate goal.

Mostly what you and I do is dream. We don’t put in the time. We don’t do the work. We haven’t faced the situation because, for whatever reason, we haven’t been called to do so.

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BRITTANY NUNN

And those mental gymnastics support a good measure of baseless confidence, leading us to believe that when the bell rings and it’s time to step up, we can be heroes, too. We’ve seen it done thousands of times. We’ve read about and watched plenty of others do it. Who’s to say we couldn’t overcome the odds, too?

It’s something to think about, though. Put ourselves in the shoes of any of the students we wrote about this month, and then ask ourselves that question: Could we have done what they did?

Be honest, now. Could we really have done what they’ve done and accomplished what they’ve accomplished?

I like to think so. But I’m not 100 percent sure.

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Remodeling & New Construction Talk...

There’s Always a Solution

Whatever you think you can’t do to increase your home’s beauty, functionality and value, chances are you can do it; and chances are Bella Vista has done it. With today’s best-of-breed renovation techniques, there’s a solution to virtually any design challenge. Use these examples to envision the possibilities in your home:

Challenges:

Compartmentalized kitchen with too many walls and odd angles that cramped the functional space. Dim lighting, lack of functional cooking areas, and antiquated style.

Solutions:

We removed the clipped angles and walls to expand the functional space, updated the cabinetry, ventilation system, appliances and lighting. Even added windows to make this kitchen the functional and entertaining hub our clients envisioned.

Challenges:

Solutions:

We are expanding the living space and beautifying the exterior – in part by building an additional story, all with architectural elements that are consistent with the surrounding community.

Client needed more square footage and livable space but was concerned about creating a McMansion look that clashed with the surrounding architecture. They also didn’t want to tear up any of their landscape.

Challenges:

Bathroom lacked square footage and usable floor, counter, and vanity space. Needed modern, yet classic style to complement the rest of the home.

Solutions:

We made the space more functional by reorganizing the overall layout. The new design fit the home’s existing architecture while adding modern style.

Sprouts Lake Highlands: Certificate of Occupancy approved

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TOP 5 MOST-READ STORIES THE DIALOGUE

on “Sprouts Lake Highlands: Certificate of Occupancy approved at 6770 Abrams” GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS?

“This is NOT absolutely fantastic news, if anyone is concerned about the continued prospects at the LH Town Center. A Sprouts at Abrams & Skillman makes the LH Town Center an even less attractive location for any sort of a decent grocery anchor, especially since Sprouts will have had a year or so head start on developing a loyal customer base.” —CircleK27

“There’s little data that suggests that the two locations, in such close proximity, and given the demographics in this area, could support two developments with competing quality grocery stores.” —sonic_dad

“Regarding the LHTC, I’m more hopeful about the leasing aspect now that Trammel Crow has become involved. I think it requires some thinking ‘out of the box’ to find that kind of tenant.” —LHhomeowner

WANT MORE?

Q&A: Kathy Stewart

All about the Lake Highlands Public Improvement District (PID) and how it is going to make our lives better

Several years ago when developers began planning the Lake Highlands Town Center, they initiated the process of creating a Public Improvement District, commonly known as a PID, around the property. A PID, an agreement between landowners and local government, provides an avenue for the improvement of infrastructure, safety and economic growth in an established area. While Lake Highlands boasts a wealth of beautiful homes, parks and trails, reputable schools and development potential, it also includes plenty of problematic apartment and condominium properties, families living in poverty, sketchy businesses and high-crime hotspots, which are some of the reasons a PID arguably was in order. In the six years since the LHPID inception, significant relationships among apartment managers and representatives of the PID and government have been forged, crime has dropped and aesthetics have improved. Recently the PID’s executive director, Becky Range, transferred to the nearby Vickery Meadow PID, and neighborhood resident Kathy Stewart — attorney, mother of three adult children and former owner of Highlands Café — was appointed executive director of the LHPID. Six weeks in, her plate is piled high with tasks, but she took time to answer a few of our more pressing questions.

How do you explain a PID and your job to the average person?

The property owners in a specific neighborhood decide whether they want a Public Improvement District. Basically, if 60 percent of property owners vote for the PID [they also must represent at least 60 percent of the value of the property in the district] the City of Dallas approves its formation. Then property owners are assessed a tax [not to exceed 15 cents per $100 of property value]. The money is collected and given to the PID for disbursement, which is determined by a specific budget, with over- sight by the City, and annual audits. Fifty percent of the funds are locked into public safety. The rest goes to things like park and infrastructure improvements, communitybuilding events and publicity. So basically, I work for the property owners and with the PID Board of Directors, which is made up of

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10 volunteer community leaders and property owners. My responsibilities include establishing relationships with local leaders, Dallas Police, community prosecutors and property owners; ensuring certain irrigation systems are working and that trash and graffiti are cleaned up; planning events; problem solving and envisioning capital improvements. It is a multifaceted position with many moving parts and I love it. The PID comes up for renewal in 2015 and the property owners will have an opportunity to vote again.

April 11

Where is the LHPID?

Delivery begins

April 24

Our PID encompasses about 500 acres along the Skillman corridor from LBJ on the north end down to Skillman and Abrams on the south.

What are the major challenges of the LHPID?

The area is home to thousands of apartments — that type of density often results in crime and quality-of-life problems. My predecessor, Becky Range, created a new standard of communication among police, City Councilman Jerry Allen, apartment owners/managers, community prosecutor Patrick Sanders and social nonprofits, to name a few, and the result has been more action, more results when it comes to improving the apartments and making them safer. So one thing is to keep up the momentum there. Success depends on all those people and groups working together, and I expect it to continue.

Some of the specific actions include hiring off-duty police to patrol properties, educating apartment owners about background checks and eviction for bad behaviors, and working with established nonprofit groups like KidsU [an after-school program for children living in apartments]. However, what we have found is that when you kick the bad actors out of the apartments, they often move into condos. Becky, who now directs the Vickery Meadow Public Improvement District, and I are putting together a workshop for condominium owners. Condos present a special challenge because there are many different owners, and thus it is more difficult to affect sweeping change. Crime reports confirm that condos are seeing a great deal of crime even compared to apartment communities, so that is the next phase for us. While we spend a bulk of effort and funds to make the area safer, we also make visible improvements — such as the median at Skillman near Church — and cleaning up, trimming trees and bushes on park land, along sidewalks and green spaces, eradicating graffiti, hosting events and publicizing the work so that taxpayers understand what they are getting.

So it is fair to say the main purpose of a PID is safety and crime reduction?

Well, I would say it is two-fold. It is about that, but it also is about promoting redevelopment and growth, and, though I have just been in this position six weeks. I see that both are very much at work.

Speaking of development and growth, any word on Lake Highlands Town Center retail?

No. No announcements yet, though the Haven Lake Highlands offices are open, they are leasing and they will have a retail tenant probably restaurant — as part of the development. That quite possibly could be the first thing announced.

Can you give us an example of an area in the city where a PID has made a big difference?

Uptown, Downtown, Deep Ellum, Oak Lawn, Vickery Meadow and University Crossing is on its way.

You mentioned community-building events supported by the PID. Isn’t there one this month?

Yes! Memorial Day, May 26, at Lake Highlands Town Center is the PID-sponsored Art & Play Festival, which shares time and space with the Camp Sweeney 5k. Camp Sweeney is a summer camp for kids with Type 1 diabetes. The 5k is at 8 a.m. followed by the festival featuring artists, food trucks, and lots of activities for families. This is our second year – last year was a big success raising money for many scholarships to Camp Sweeney and bringing 800-1,000 people to Town Center. While the race is a fundraiser, the purpose of the Art & Play festival is to bring our Lake Highlands community together, showcase local artists and raise awareness about the needs of our neighborhood and the PID. Maybe someday our festival will have the great reputation of the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson.

Questions and answers are edited for brevity.

—Christina Hughes Babb LEARN MORE lhpid.org/faqs

facebook.com/lakehighlandsartplayfestival

Event details in calendar on p. 14