LH Press Library
Extending Walnut Hill with a Pen
Change worries some stores; official says it'll lure businesses
Dallas Morning News, by Wendy Hundley
March 5, 2005
Someday soon, drivers in Dallas may not be able to cruise down Kingsley Road, but it'll have nothing to do with construction.
Dallas is considering renaming the east-west roadway within city limits to Walnut Hill Lane.
City Council member Bill Blaydes proposed the change as a way to attract economic development to the Lake Highlands area, where Walnut Hill becomes Kingsley between Abrams Road and the Garland border.
Walnut Hill is "a stronger retail name," Mr. Blaydes said.
He has been trying to generate interest in building an urban-style commercial and residential center near the intersection of Skillman Street and Kingsley. This year, Fort Worth-based Trademark Cos. dropped a contract to buy, then raze apartments at the site to pave the way for the center.
Now, Mr. Blaydes said, five other developers have expressed interest in picking up the Town Center project.
While Trademark had originally requested the name change, "all five companies that stepped up to take their place requested that we continue with it," Mr. Blaydes said.
But store owners along Kingsley Road say the name change would be a costly inconvenience that may harm their businesses.
"People know you by your address," said Ron Hendershot, manager of Kellan's Locksmith, which has been at 9850 Kingsley Road for 27 years.
If the business has to change its street address on advertising and written material, "customers will think we've moved," Mr. Hendershot said. "It will hurt business."
Mary Doman, owner of Mary's Mail Center in the Lake Ridge Village Shopping Center, said the change would create an inconvenience for more than 100 businesses and people who rent mailboxes at her store.
Still, as a Lake Highlands resident, she supports efforts to expand economic development and hopes the Town Center project will become a reality.
And she adds: "Walnut Hill does sound fancier than Kingsley."
Former Dallas City Council member Alan Walne, who is president of the Lake Highlands Estates Neighborhood Association, isn't opposed to the name change.
While Mr. Walne said he understands that changing the street name will create some inconveniences, "you don't have that many businesses or homeowners that actually face the street."
He said Walnut Hill Lane is a street name identified with Dallas.
"Walnut Hill is an east-west thoroughfare in Dallas," he said. "Kingsley is more associated with Garland."
Garland officials say they have no plans to change the Kingsley name in that city.
In Dallas, the City Plan Commission has approved changing the street name between Abrams Road and the Garland border.
The proposal is expected to be on the Dallas City Council's agenda April 13.
Mr. Blaydes said he understands the concerns about renaming Kingsley.
"That is the price I am willing to pay to get increased development in the area," he said.
Reprinted with permission of The Dallas Morning News.
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