Maybe it is because it’s early summer and the kids are out of school, recent high school and college graduates are starting the ‘next chapter,” or because the Mavericks are still playing basketball, but one can feel a winning attitude in the air. It is everywhere you go.
This past Saturday, I was riding the Katy Trail, and the positive excitement was palpable; all ages and stages, jogging, biking, walking and skating. All moving with intensity and a hopeful optimism … something was in the air. About a quarter way into my trek, I came across, for the first time, the Katy Trail Ice House, the place that many of my 20-something friends have raved about as “the coolest place; like in Austin, no place like it here … brilliant.”
In the shade of the trees, with the brisket and ribs smoking, the Ice House was as they had described … brilliant! It was packed with people, music playing, folks buzzing all around, putting yesterday behind them and looking forward to today-or perhaps tomorrow. But what the 20-something’s may not have known is that this is yet another example of the winners in Dallas.
Here is a wonderful Uptown multifamily development site that, due to extraordinary financing conditions, is not quite ready for development. But boy howdy, the business, as well as the community, generated by the Ice House is serious stuff. This is what Dallas does so well-making lemonade out of lemons, taking advantage of situations instead of being victimized by them. Making one’s own breaks and being cognizant enough to see opportunities, rather than encumbrances.
The Ice House may not become a permanent Dallas institution, as I know the owners, and the site should ultimately be used for its original [multifamily] intent. But for now, we have it. Just like for now, we have the summer, the ‘next chapters,’ and the Mavericks.
As we enjoy the Mavericks’ run in the finals, with our hopes running high, stop by and enjoy the attitude at the Ice House, not to mention whatever is grilling and, of course, an ice-cold Shiner. Here’s to the winners!
Frank Bullock is executive vice president and market leader at SRS Real Estate Partners. Contact him at [email protected].