LH Press Library
City Sees Benefits to New Name
Backers say it'll change area's outlook; nearby reasident disagrees
Dallas Morning News, by Wendy Hundley
April 17, 2005
Kingsley Road in Dallas: Rest in peace.
The Dallas City Council last week unanimously approved a proposal to designate the entire east-west roadway as Walnut Hill Lane.
Currently, Walnut Hill becomes Kingsley between Abrams Road and the Garland border. The street will remain Kingsley within Garland.
"It helps Dallas to have the same name on one of our main east-west thoroughfares," said City Council member Bill Blaydes, who proposed the change as a way to boost economic development in Lake Highlands.
Not everyone agrees with the switch.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous, inexcusable and inconsiderate," said Larry Rogers, who has lived on a side street along Kingsley Road since 1957 and has been circulating a letter outlining his opposition to the change.
While he won't have to alter his address, Mr. Rogers said the road has been called Kingsley for almost seven decades. He said the decision will make maps obsolete and inconvenience 17 houses, more than 20 businesses, and a number of apartments and condominiums that face Kingsley.
"They'll have to change their checks, stationery, all their printing," he said.
But Tona Riess, supervisor at the Highland House Condos, 9707 Kingsley Road, said she is excited about the new street name.
"Kingsley you think of crime. Walnut Hill you think of prime," said Ms. Riess, echoing the words she used last Wednesday when she spoke in support of the name change at the Dallas City Council meeting.
She also said Kingsley Road is associated more with Garland than Dallas.
Ms. Riess hasn't determined how much it will cost to change the complex's address on all written material, but she didn't seem worried about the expense.
"Whatever it costs at the front will be an advantage at the end," she said.
Mr. Blaydes said new street signs probably wouldn't be erected for three or four months. He said it would take 60 to 90 days to make the new signs and would cost the city about $4,000.
"It's not a substantial amount, and it will have a good impact," he said. "The reason we did it was to have the name recognition for retail development."
Mr. Blaydes has been trying to generate interest in development of a retail-residential center near the intersection of Skillman Street and Kingsley Road.
This year, the Fort Worth-based Trademark Cos. dropped a contract to buy, then raze apartments at the site to pave the way for a town center project.
After that deal fell through, Mr. Blaydes said, five other developers expressed interest in the project. Now, he said, that number has been narrowed to one.
Mr. Blaydes has said all the developers favored the name change.
"I truly believe it will have a favorable impact on retail and those who choose to be a part of the center," Mr. Blaydes said.
But Mr. Rogers calls the town center project "a pipe dream" and doesn't think changing the street name will bring the kind of economic development that Mr. Blaydes anticipates.
"If businesses and developers do come rushing in, they have more money than common sense," he said.
Reprinted with permission of The Dallas Morning News.
We're always looking for volunteers!
Find out how you can help out LHAIA!