Latest news with #ChadWest
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Push to help fund Dallas Wings training site stirs urgency and debate
Women's sports are gaining momentum nationwide, and Dallas city leaders are investing millions to keep that momentum going. With the WNBA's Dallas Wings set to relocate to downtown Dallas, the city is moving quickly to ensure top-tier facilities are ready -- though the timeline has shifted. The team's move to Memorial Auditorium, part of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center complex, has been delayed until 2027 due to overlapping construction and event planning. On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved $5.5 million for the design of an off-site training facility for the Wings. The facility is expected to cost between $48 million and $54 million. It will be located at 1200 N. Cockrell Hill Road in West Dallas, separate from the arena where the team will eventually play its home games. Council divided over timing and transparency UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 27: Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers (22) defended by Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the WNBA game between Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun on May 27, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images While most council members expressed strong support for the Wings' move, some raised concerns about the speed of the process and the lack of public information about the facility's cost and location. "We are very much in support of the Wings," Council member Chad West said. "Just an issue we have to work through today." Council member Paul Ridley questioned the need for a separate training facility, asking, "Can you tell us why they need a practice facility? To practice as well as to play games?" City staff explained that the new convention center complex, which includes Memorial Arena, does not have enough space to accommodate the promised training facility. The vote on Wednesday was strictly to approve additional design funding. A delay could derail the timeline Despite calls to delay the vote for two weeks to allow more public input, the motion to postpone failed. Several council members warned that even a short delay could jeopardize the project's timeline. "It's very rare to be able to go at this kind of speed," council member Omar Narvaez said. "If any of my colleagues think that two weeks is not a big deal, it is a big deal. Those two weeks could delay everything. The Dallas Wings have to be ready and practicing by April 2026." City Manager Kimberly Tolbert echoed that urgency. "We are already in the month of May, less than a year to get design completed ... and for them to be able to move in," Tolbert said. "We don't want to be back in front of the city council explaining why we could not keep the project on track." A vision for Dallas as a sports city Despite the concerns, the council ultimately voted to move forward with the additional funding. Leaders emphasized the importance of positioning Dallas as a premier destination for professional sports. "If we are going to act and be the sports city," Council member Zarin Gracey said, "... we definitely need to keep this moving." City officials also addressed rumors of a delay in the Wings' move to Dallas, stating that the current plan remains on track to welcome the team in 2026.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dallas passes first significant change to parking code since 1965
The Brief The city of Dallas passed its first significant change to the parking code since 1965. Dallas city councilman Chad West has been working to reform the city's parking code for nearly six years. Advocates in favor of parking reform argue that once parking becomes more challenging, public transportation will improve. DALLAS - Finding a parking spot in Dallas may become more challenging after the city passed its first significant change to the parking code since 1965. Developers say the change will help make room for more housing in the city. The idea behind the city's new parking code is to let the market decide how much parking is needed for a development, instead of the city. But some residents are skeptical that developers will have their best interests in mind. The new code adopted by the city council on Wednesday will: Eliminates parking requirements downtown and by DART stations. Removes mandates for office, retail, and bars and restaurants under 2,500 square feet. Parking requirements will be reduced for large apartments to one space per unit, down from one space per bedroom. What they're saying Dallas city councilman Chad West has been working to reform the city's parking code for nearly six years. He argues the current parking code mandates hinder new housing and business developments. "Our city's parking code is wildly out of date, written in 1965, with minor changes since," said West. At city hall on Wednesday, advocates in favor of parking reform, such as Brenda Gurumoorthy, argued that once parking becomes more challenging, public transportation will improve. "More people would take transit to see friends and go out if activities were close to DART," said Gurumoorthy. The other side Oak Cliff homeowner Laura Palmer says her neighborhood has learned it doesn't always work that way. "People will find a place to park. They will park on sidewalks, empty lots, even if you don't require it. That puts the burden on us, the neighbors. We have to do the policing," said Palmer. Ronnie Mestas lives in the Los Altos area of West Dallas. The former Chicago resident says he's concerned Dallas is using a Chicago-like parking code but without the Chicago-style vibrant public transportation system. "If you have cars on both sides and try to get emergency vehicles through, you're going to be playing bumper cars bouncing off the cars," said Mestas. "As a senior I don't want to carry my groceries more than 5-6 car links to get to my house." Dig deeper Dallas city councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn was the lone vote against the new parking code. She called it overly 'urbanistic' and said it did not fit the needs of far North Dallas. The Source Information in this article was provided by the Dallas Council Meeting on May 14. Additional comments were provided through interviews conducted by FOX 4's Lori Brown.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Two crashes in three months prompt temporary fix at Dallas roundabout
In the last three months, two serious crashes have occurred at the roundabout off North Tyler Street in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood, prompting a temporary safety measure. On Thursday, water barriers were installed at the intersection. The change was initiated by Dallas City Council Member Chad West. CBS News Texas "We're here today because the Transportation and Public Works Department has failed to keep our residents safe in this corridor," West said. Video from a crash last week shows a car going airborne, crashing into a home, and catching fire. "I got here, I remember walking and seeing the fire department, the police, somebody was laying on the floor, and then just seeing my house up in smoke," said Christian Mayer, who owns the damaged unit. She said she was out celebrating her birthday when she got the call. "We're kind of disappointed that it has to come to this for actions to be taken," Mayer said. The neighboring unit was damaged in a separate crash back in February. "We're still waiting on permits from the February crash. We can't fix our buildings. We can't get back to letting these residents in here," said Taylor Smith, president of the homeowners association. "So we're asking for any sort of help or expedited review or even a post-inspection. Let us fix this." West acknowledged that action was needed while the Public Works Department continues to study the intersection. "We have waited three months to get something, and we have nothing from city staff on how we're going to keep these residents safe," he said. West believes speeding is a major issue in the area. "In the three years before the roundabout was installed, we had 17 accidents at this intersection. In the three years after it was installed, we had only eight accidents, so a massive reduction thanks to the roundabout," West said.
