Dallas used pandemic relief funds to fix houses and upgrade infrastructure in neighborhoods within Oak Cliff and elsewhere. Years later, some residents ask what went wrong.
Author Archives: Matt Goodman
Posted inPublic Services
A New Park Is Coming Near You
The 40-acre Judge Charles R. Rose Park, in the Highland Hills neighborhood just north of Interstate 20, features a restored Blackland prairie, hike and bike trails, playgrounds, and an outdoor classroom. But Molly Morgan, the Texas director of the Trust for Public Land, which developed the park, first mentions the pavilion. The park planners didn’t […]
Posted inHousing
How a Humble Tax Tool Protects Neighborhoods
Inside the grassroots push to educate homeowners about a simple tool—the homestead exemption—that can help them afford to stay in their homes amid rising taxes.
Posted inPublic Services
What’s Really at Stake in November
Good morning and congratulations. You made it through the primary elections. Your phone should stop vibrating through your pocket any day now—except for, maybe, the voters who will return to the polls in the May runoff to determine candidates like attorney general. The Dallas results came late: The county GOP’s decision to hem voters into […]
Posted inNeighborhoods
How 2025 Set the Course for South Dallas’ Future
City Hall worked with residents to design a new plan for development. The hard part is ensuring that the neighborhood benefits from its own growth.
Posted inHousing
The Data Screams: The Housing Crisis Is Here
It’s more costly than ever to live in Dallas, a new report shows. Can faith-based solutions help make housing more affordable?
Posted inCriminal Justice, Health, Housing, Neighborhoods, Public Services
These Stories Will Shape Dallas in 2026
The new year is here, and we are highlighting seven topics we’ll be watching closely.
Posted inHousing, Neighborhoods
Here’s to 2026
The Lab Report is taking a break, but we want to hear from you!
Posted inHousing
The Housing Crisis Simmering in Lake Highlands
The Dallas tax rolls this month received an enormous bump, which may spell trouble for 20 aging apartment complexes around Interstate 635.
Posted inPublic Services
This Thanksgiving, a Break and Reflection
A quick story about a thousand people who came together on a rainy Tuesday night to help untangle some of the region’s knottiest issues.