For our last AoT of the season, a panel of designers and planners behind the controversial Victory Park development joined us. The much criticized, yet hopeful district cupped by Woodall and 35E. Our panel acknowledged the criticism right from the start and helped us understand the difficult process behind the planning and design of Victory Park. Before Victory can be dubbed a success or failure, the development has to grow within the phasing set forth in the original master plan. Unless you have passionately followed the life of Victory, you might not know there was an initial 10-year phasing plan. Unfortunately, in last 10 years Victory has seen the September 11 attacks and a severely turbulent economy. The original plan set forth must be revisited by developers and better understood by the public. Craig Williams of David M. Schwartz Architects reiterated that any master plan must be phased well; it must be flexible to change with any economy. The designers shared with us that their client desired a bit of Las Vegas in Dallas. Victory Park was to be a high end, vibrant community that could be flaunted to the entire US. But the past decade has proved to be a difficult one in which to build a development of that magnitude. As the economy started to take its toll, Victory was still trying to implement expensive art galleries and “expense account” restaurants. Andrew Bennett of Boca Powell shares the cohesive attitude for the live, work, play mentality that has fallen short in Victory Park. A friend of Mr. Bennett owns space in the Cirque but can’t find a reasonably priced burger and a beer before a Mavs game. Instead the tenants of Victory Park include fine art galleries, $20 pizzas, and $15 cocktails.
And if the high price points didn’t inhibit a larger population to enjoy the space, public transportation doesn’t truly help serve the district. When the AAC is packed for an event, the TRE and DART bring people from all over the Metroplex. You depart from the train and head straight into the arena. However, if you plan to take the rail to the Hard Rock Cafe, you must wander through the AAC parking lots in order to make it towards the spine of Victory. Eddie Abeyta of HKS discussed the need for light rail in the center of the development allowing people to disperse to their desired location. Both Mr. Abeyta and Mr. Bennett agree that through transportation and price points, Victory sees a lack of critical mass in the area. Victory just hasn’t seen the momentum it needs to bring tenants in.
Victory Park is an optimistic plan that has unfortunately been met by every bit of opposition that it can handle. From the turbulent economy to parking requirements to developer disagreements, Victory will be a project that will see highs in lows within the Dallas community. But as the population of Dallas, we need to help support the district and do our part in utilizing the space before we are the first to criticize it. Spend a day in Victory and see what works and what doesn’t. What would make you visit more often?
Is Victory fixable? Our panel of designers believe it is.
Thank you to our panel of designers and Teknion for hosting our event at their West End showroom. Another big thanks to all of our guests during the AoT series. We hope to see you out for the next round!
