Architectural messaging. . .

Recently, thanks to a most generous "program related investment" on the part of the Embrey Family Foundation, Central Dallas Ministries acquired a 3.6 acre tract of property at the southeast corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and Interstate 30. 

We have big plans for the site that include the creation of scores of new livable wage jobs, a new health and wellness center, a gigantic food distribution center, a retail grocery store, teaching kitchens and a product exchange center and production facility leased to PepsiCo, another of our development partners in the project. 

More details will follow here over the next few months. 

In preparing for the design phase of the project, I sent the architects at OmiPlan a list of what I consider to be "design values."  I framed them in terms of "what the new facilities must say to Dallas."  See what you think of the list: 

What the Center of Hope development must say to Dallas. . .


. . .the days of making apologies for being in S. Dallas/Fair Park are over.

. . . the people in this neighborhood are more than worth the highest class investment possible on this key property.

. . . this marks the renewal of an historic, but new, valuable, logical, strategic “gateway” into S. Dallas.

. . . it makes sense to invest significantly in this part of the city—many have said it, we choose to do it!

. . . the quality, style and aesthetic expression of this development make sense and really fit the community and its “soul.”

. . .this community deserves only the best possible effort.

. . . the health, well-being and economic stability and security of this community is of the utmost importance to the developers, tenants and owners of the development.

. . . the design of this development takes community input extremely seriously.

. . . the message conveyed by the facilities design will be more along the lines of economic development and enhancement than those of charity or philanthropy—in this project we are attempting to move far beyond charity to real community development.

. . . that hope resides in this place for any and all who seek it.

. . . the development will be neighborhood/community-centric rather than organization or corporate-centric.

. . . while efficiency will be a high priority, neighbor and customer friendly “welcoming” will trump every other consideration inside our budget.