The love is gone

I just can't pretend that I feel the same way, Dallas. I'm sorry. It's not you, it's me. I just can't cope with the flood of cheap cigar fumes wafting into the train car when we stop at the West End station. The abundance of cranes peeking over the skyline in the Arts District and east side give me vertigo, they're excessive and I just can't deal. And what's up with the cost of living downtown and the grudging fork-over of much-needed cash to the only grocer in downtown so it can live to see another day?

People developing condos and apartments downtown need to realize two major things: Your profit margins are going to be smaller and you need to pick up the pace. The people who really want to live downtown can't afford $2,000 in rent each month for a two-bedroom condo, or the $300,000 mortgage that is proposed. These developers need a reality check. The young professionals of today that want to make a life downtown don't make as much as the young professionals of yesteryear.

And what's with all of the foot-dragging? C'mon! I know that as soon as an affordable residential tower is finished, all of the units are going to be snatched up. Then, when developers see what can and can't sell, like the fact that there are way too many luxury developments on the slate, then we'll actually be able to have sustainable downtown development. We'll have retail and cultural centers again. We'll have usable parks, a 24-hour downtown population.

It was just sad to be on the northbound train headed out of downtown and only see two people walking on the sidewalk. TWO! There needs to be more foot traffic for downtown to survive and thrive like a real city center.

So, enough with all of the luxury towers and downtown. Developers, make some space for those who would be an asset in the downtown community. Think like this: $900, two-bedroom, two-bath condo with balcony; and then we'll talk profit.