Five stories that have North Texas talking: Sandbranch isn’t the only community in Dallas County without clean water: a $90 million proposal for Klyde Warren will be presented today; original music from Austin band Survive is just one more reason to watch “Stranger Things”; and more.
You might have heard of Sandbranch. It’s an unincorporated community on a floodplain in Dallas County with less than 100 residents. They live without internet, trash pick-up and clean, running water. Tackling the water problem has been a series of failed attempts due to expense and red tape. And, despite the lack of resources, residents don’t want to relocate. Mark McPherson, an attorney currently representing the town pro bono, is working on the issue.
But Sandbranch, just 18 miles from downtown Dallas, isn’t the only unincorporated area in the county. Officially called “No Town,” dozens, possibly hundreds are dealing with the same problem. Wells serving the rural community haven’t been tested by the county yet, Texas Monthly reported, but the yellow-tinted water and putrid smell both indicate the quality.
Relocation seems like the most viable options for both communities, but some residents would rather maintain the close-knit neighborhood regardless of access to clean water. A decade ago, 36 families living in Sandbranch relocated, and about 50 stayed put. Dallas County hasn’t yet provided details for their relocation plans, Texas Monthly says, but they plan to present them next month. [Texas Monthly, KERA News]
- You know what Klyde Warren Park needs? A parking garage, says Jody Grant, chair of the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park Foundation. Today, Grant will present a $90 million proposal to the Park Board to build “Sky Park,” a parking garage between St. Paul and Akard Streets that would accommodate 70-90 spaces, park’s offices, a restaurant and bar. The proposal includes plans for a “Sky Deck,” hanging off Akard over the Woodall Rodgers freeway and a “Sky Bridge” linking the park to the Perot museum as well. For visual aide, check out these renderings. [The Dallas Morning News]
- Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas received a papal promotion Wednesday. Farrell will lead the new Dicastery for the Laity, Families and Life, which combines several Vatican offices into one. The Associated Press reported: “Farrell, a former Legion of Christ priest whose brother is also a top Vatican official, becomes one of the highest-ranking Americans at the Holy See.” Farrell, who has been in Dallas for 10 years, issued a statement about the appointment. [The Associated Press]
- Even the ‘80s inspired Netflix series, “Stranger Things,’ has a Texas tie. The instrumental, synthy music in the show was orchestrated by Austin band, Survive. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein — one half of the band — talked with The New York Times about working one of the summer’s most popular shows. “A lot of times, at least initially, we weren’t being weird enough. Especially as the season progresses, and things start to get weirder, we would try to do a more straightforward music, in our style, but it just didn’t have the same impact that a really bizarre, atonal, rhythmic thing would have.” Survive will release its second record “RR7349,” on Sept. 30. [The New York Times]
- Dallas is the fourth most diverse dining scene in the U.S., a study found. According to real estate search and advertising site Trulia, Dallas falls behind just three California cities: San Francisco (No. 1), Anaheim (No. 2) and Los Angeles (No. 3). The study cited Plano and Irving as the main boost to Dallas’ food diversity. “Plano's Asian population, ranging from Middle Eastern to Indian, and with a large Chinese community to top it off, is three times the overall Dallas metro average.” More takeaways from the study. [GuideLive, Trulia]
