The city held its fifth neighborhood open house for the Complete Streets Initiative last night, focusing on the two North Dallas areas identified for pilot projects where roads could be friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists. But this was the first meeting that yielded some negative feedback on the idea, says Janet Tharp with Kimley Horn and Associates, the consulting group that’s leading the project.

“This is the only one [so far] that hasn’t embraced it,” she says.

The areas in question are Alpha from Preston to the Tollway and Meadowcreek from Arapaho to Campbell. The city aims to redesign these areas to promote economic development and safety, using only the existing right of way without widening the streets.

The decision to include Alpha was a given, says District 11 council member Linda Koop, because of the Valley View/Galleria redevelopment vision under way now. Ideally, there would be room for pedestrians and cyclists to access retail and housing plus large sidewalks for outdoor cafes. Meadowcreek served as a good example of a neighborhood street; it connects the community to destinations like Brentfield Elementary, Campbell Green Recreation Center and All Saints Catholic Church, to name a few.

Barry Rosen is president of the Prestonwood Meadows Homeowner’s Association, and he lives on Meadowcreek. He says he believes the city may be putting the cart before the horse with this grand plan.

“The sidewalks are in horrible condition,” he says. “There’s about 18 inches between the sidewalk and the street below. It’s dangerous. You can’t push a stroller down to Campbell Green Rec Center. People walk in the street.”

Rosen’s ideas are things that the city should already be doing for its residents, he says – simply fix the sidewalks, repair the street lights and calm the traffic.

A few neighbors took a strong opposition to Complete Streets. Bill Ames has lived on Town Bluff for 20 years and says doesn’t want the plan encroaching on his way of life.

“The City of Dallas is trying to change my behavior,” Ames says. “We are not ready – and I don’t think anyone in this room is ready – to give up our suburban lifestyle.” He added, “I don’t think we’re ready to take on an expense like this when the city is broke.”

Mike Jay, a neighbor on Vista Ridge, was quick to reply that Ames does not speak for the entire room. Jay is positive and optimistic about Complete Streets.

“This is all of our neighborhood,” he says. “It belongs to everyone. This is a planning process. The planning is not necessarily the execution.”

Ironically, most of Meadowcreek’s biggest stakeholders were busy next door at the Brentfield PTA meeting.

Stay tuned for more on the Complete Streets Initiative in North Dallas.