Angry Neighbors, Aging Policies, Lack Of Political Will Dig A 10-Gallon Hole In Texas Housing A single lot sits undeveloped on the edge of North Central Expressway in the densely packed suburb of Lake Highlands in Dallas. Though surrounded by the trappings of suburban life — a nearby Home Depot, a busy law office — a prominent “No Trespassing” sign is the only indication anyone is looking after the property. The vacant plot of land seems unwanted, but its owner has been fighting for years to turn it into desperately needed housing. It’s an endeavor that makes sense on paper but has been thwarted at nearly every turn. Cypress Creek at Forest Lane, located in an area zoned for commercial development, would offer market-rate apartments but also accept housing vouchers for rent-restricted units set aside for low-income families. That has drawn the fury of nearby residents, who have swarmed local meetings in opposition, claiming the project would lead to crime and lower property values. 
Their campaign has been so effective that no construction has begun to this day despite the project winning federal tax credits and the near-unanimous support of city council. “We have been working diligently to try and make this project a reality, and it has been stunted by obstacles for two years,” developer Zachary Krochtengel of Sycamore Strategies told the Dallas Public Facilities Corp. in late February. The uproar surrounding Cypress Creek at Forest Lane is a microcosm of what is unfolding across Texas communities large and small. Read the full story here. | 
