Meet DDI Board Member Lucy Billingsley

Lucy Paige Billingsley began her career at Lehman Brothers in New York City where she worked in the Private Client Services. From there she went into real estate as an investment manager for Groupe Arnault in 2005. In 2006 Lucy joined The Ratkovich Company in Los Angeles where she managed the renovation of a 500,000 square foot high-rise on Wilshire Boulevard, overseeing complete replacement of the buildings central plant and a $5 million lobby renovation.

Ms. Billingsley also handled lease negotiation, asset positioning, partnership relationships, and property management.

In 2008 Lucy entered the family real estate business, where she manages Billingsley Company’s office property portfolio.

“It is a thrill as a parent to see your child as a talent. But better than that is to have them come join your team as a leader focused on creating a significant company for the next 50 years,” remarked Lucy Billingsley, Partner and Co-founder.

“Now I have to really start delivering results because I have to live up to a higher standard.”

Lucy has her Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a  Bachelor’s Degree in History from Davidson College. She is a member of the ULI and the Associate Council of the McCombs School of Business Real Estate Finance and Investment Council.

Did you know?  

Lucy’s favorite Downtown destination is Tei An at One Arts Plaza.

Lucy is passionate about Downtown because it’s the most historic part of our city.

Lucy’s favorite Downtown memory is trying on wedding dresses at Neiman Marcus.

Lucy chose Downtown Dallas, Inc. as an organization to support because  Downtown Dallas is a network of buildings with strong bones, beautiful facades, and a historic feel. It is truly a wonderful place with the potential to be what it once was – a center of businesses, retailers, event venues, and homes.  Downtown Dallas, Inc.’s inspired vision is going to help get us there.

Lunch al fresco? Pegasus Plaza says Take a Seat!

We’ve been talking about these 360 Quick Wins… well they keep coming. The latest installation includes movable furniture at Pegasus Plaza.

It was added with you in mind. We want you to interact with the park on your own terms.  Tables and chairs can be moved based on sun/shade patterns or grouped together when multiple people are together.

The new seating is conducive for having lunch during the work week and for casual weekends with paper and coffee in hand.   We encourage people to pick up the chairs and move them around the park.  If we find that this is successful and the furniture doesn’t walk off we will try to activate other public spaces in this manner.

.. So get creative, enjoy the furniture but don’t walk away with it! Enjoy!

This Quick Win was identified in the Main Street District Retail Activation Study as a Public Realm Action Item:
PR 7: Purchase movable furniture for Pegasus Plaza (Check!)

It’s a New Day in Downtown Dallas

We’ve been telling you for some time now but it seems that others agree… it’s a new day in Downtown Dallas. Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm said she can remember when people didn’t want to live Downtown because you couldn’t find any retail…  much less a dry cleaners or a place to walk the dog; but that’s all changing.

Suhm was the key-note speaker at today’s Downtown Dallas, Inc. Membership Luncheon. Suhm told some 700 attendees that you can always tell when a neighborhood is changing for the better… when you see kids and dogs.

“There are children growing up in Downtown and that was not the case a few years ago,” said Suhm.

If you don’t believe her just go to Main Street Garden on any given Saturday or Sunday afternoon. You will find kids playing in the play park and dogs socializing in the dog park. She mentioned new census figures show Dallas is growing by leaps and bounds but we must keep our eye on the ball and that’s Downtown. She said we’ve made some great strides but our work is far from over.

“Downtown will need to make connectivity a top priority,” said Suhm. “We must make it easy for people to get to the Arts District from Main Street and all of the other districts.”

We couldn’t agree more. Addressing connectivity has been a top priority of DDI’s for the last two years, emphasized again in the newly released Downtown Dallas 360 plan.  360 calls for building connectivity through an enhanced pedestrian environment; programs like bike sharing and pedicabs; long-range development of a streetscar; reworking our systems of streets (i.e. some one-way to two-way conversions); and infill development.  Initiatives like these, and many more to come – some tomorrow, and some perhaps a bit longer in the making – will ultimately bring our 15 districts together into a wholistic urban experience.

It’s a new day in Downtown Dallas. Come see what we’re talking about!

HomeGrown Rocks Downtown

Downtown’s Main Street Garden was the place to be Saturday. The 2nd Annual HomeGrown Music & Art Festival was an overwhelming success … no it wasn’t Austin, but it shouldn’t be and we don’t want it to be.

HomeGrown was as organic as it’s name, from the music and art to the crowd and the 13 bands featured. I’ve got to say Downtown never looked brighter. The energy was contagious; the weather was picture perfect and the diverse crowd basked in it.

It was so cool to see families hanging out. Mom and Dad enjoying the music while the kids took to the water fountain and play park.

Festival organizer, Josh Florence is making it his life’s mission “to bring the wonderful music and culture of this city to the masses” and boy did he bring it.  Thanks Josh – we all had a blast!

DDI Helps Fund DPD’s Bait Car Program

Downtown Dallas, Inc. donated more than $2,000 for the Dallas Police Department’s Bait Car Program.  Bait cars, equipped with cameras and tracking equipment act as theft deterrents. They’re used by law enforcement around the country. Bait cars have resulted in 245 arrests since the program began in Dallas in 2004.

Other donors include:

• Atmos Energy Corporation
• Electronic Tracking Systems
• Go Oak Cliff
• Phillip Huffines
• National Insurance Claims Bureau
• North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
• Northpark Neighborhood Association
• Safelite Auto Glass
• Stemmons Corridor Business Association
• Target

Donors have raised more than $23 thousand for the program.

Welcome DDI Board Chairman David Lind

David Lind began his career at Corgan in 1977, after graduating from The Ohio State University with a Master of Architecture degree.  Over the past 30 years he has been directly involved with a number of projects, specializing in the airlines and aviation industry in particular.  In fact, his aviation expertise led to his authorship of the FAA Guidelines for large HUB airport terminal design.

In 2000, David assumed the role of Managing Principal, President and CEO of Corgan Associates, Inc.  Lind has led the firm through the design and construction of their corporate headquarters in Dallas and establishment of offices in New York, Phoenix, Miami, Sacramento, and Beijing, China.  The firm has grown into a national and international practice providing architecture and interior design services to a wide range of corporate and institutional clients.  His recent projects include International Terminal D at DFW Airport and the North Terminal Development at Miami International Airport.

David is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Texas Society of Architects, OSU Architectural Alumni Dallas Chapter, American Association of Airport Executives, Airport Council International, Airport Consultants Council, and a long-time volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

Do you know?

David’s favorite Downtown destinations are all downtown parks – especially on a spring day.

David is passionate about Downtown because it represents the vitality, spirit, image and energy of North Texas – all great cities must have a great downtown.

David’s favorite Downtown memory is the groundbreaking for Corgan’s new corporate headquarters in the West End – sticking a shovel in the soil of downtown Dallas.  When organizations like ours make the commitment to downtown, you know it must be a great place with all the potential for the future.

David supports Downtown Dallas, Inc. because it is the most impactful organization I know of that produces tangible benefits for our city and, in turn, for our business.

DDI’s Newest Addition Doesn’t Mind Getting His Hands Dirty

Dustin Bullard was selected as the Cityscape and Urban Design Manager for Downtown Dallas, Inc. in March 2011. The first position of its kind within the organization, it combines both Dustin’s efforts and his passion concerning Downtown’s revitalization, which he has been actively engaged in since 2004.

Prior to his appointment, Bullard served as a Landscape Architect with La Terra Studio, a downtown-based design firm. Within this role, he actively engaged with his clients in order to successfully execute designs from his drawing board to their ribbon cutting. Primarily tasked with the design of municipal parks and public spaces, he quickly learned the importance of balanced budgets, forward thinking and the formation of relationships with clients along with construction and park staff members.

As Cityscape and Urban Design Manager, Dustin is tasked with the active cleanliness, maintenance and improvement of Downtown’s public spaces.

An active member of the Downtown Resident’s Council for the last six years, Bullard has advocated for the requests of his neighbors; recently, he lobbied for the implementation of a litter and waste public campaign to help improve their space. In addition, Dustin served on two input committees, starting in 2010, to establish the Downtown Dallas 360 Plan and Main Street Retail Activation Strategy. The experience gave Dustin an understanding and familiarity that will help him settle into his new position.

Dustin graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor degree of Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University in 2004, where he also served as Student Chapter President of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Two weeks of Quick Wins

Living Plaza

The Downtown Dallas 360 plan is widely becoming known as our directive of Quick Wins and Bold Ideas for Downtown.  Over the last two weeks, DDI has taken part in several Quick Win initiatives, from landscape and clean up projects, to a plaza activation initiative organized by the Dallas City Design Studio.

We celebrated Earth Day with a number of volunteer projects geared toward clean-up/fix-up of some key areas Downtown.  Volunteers came from the EPA, LULAC and the Downtown Residents Council, and focused on Pegasus Plaza, Cesar Chavez and some test installations of new planter materials in line with the 360 Main Street Retail Activation Strategy.

Then just yesterday, per our previous post, the City Design Studio and folks from Better Blocks, organized a temporary activation installation at City Hall Plaza.  With moveable furniture, an oversized chess board and food kiosk on site, Downtown-ers came out to enjoy their lunch hour -  mingling, relaxing and enjoying the space.

Take a look at more images on our facebook page!  Become a friend of Downtown Dallas, Inc.!

THANK YOU volunteers for making our Downtown sparkle!

“Living Plaza” at City Hall Plaza

New planter materials are being tested at Third Rail Lofts

New flowers at Pegasus Plaza, thanks to the DRC!

Council Member Angela Hunt with LULAC Volunteers

Downtown Residents Council Volunteers at Pegasus Plaza

LULAC Volunteers

LULAC volunteers cleaning up along Cesar Chavez Blvd.

More Businesses Shifting Operations Downtown & We say Welcome!

A Dallas-based investment firm is moving its offices to Uptown. Highland Capital Management LP’s move from the Galleria to the Crescent complex is the latest in a series of high-profile office relocations from North Dallas back to the city’s center.

The 21-year-old investment adviser has rented about 45,000 square feet in the Crescent office towers on Pearl Street at Cedar Springs Road. About 150 people will work in Highland Capital’s Crescent office.

Highland Capital has been in the Galleria on Noel Road, just north of LBJ Freeway, for more than a decade. The company manages more than $22 billion in assets for clients including pension plans, foundations, financial institutions, governments and wealthy individuals.

The Crescent is more than 90 percent leased now with Highland Capital’s latest move.

Highland Capital is the latest of several firms that have shifted operations from northern Dallas back to the city’s center.

“Highland Capital is another big company moving back to a close-in location,” said John Crawford, Downtown Dallas Inc. President & CEO. “We are seeing more and more interest in downtown and Uptown from companies located outside the area.”

One other company is LIG Assets, Inc. It relocated its corporate headquarters to the 26^th floor of Chase Tower. The new space at 1700 Pacific was necessary due to the growth of the Company’s portfolio of properties and the expansion of headquarters personnel.

LIG Assets, Inc. focuses on income-producing opportunities in commercial and residential real estate and the overseas oil and gas production sectors. The company acquires, rehabilitates, and sells distressed real estate properties and provides second chance opportunities for property owners. Investment properties are presently located throughout the country. LIGA is active in the energy market and is currently focused on international oil and gas exploration and development.

Finally, a law firm has renewed its lease in Downtown. Thompson Coe is staying put at the Plaza of the Americas complex. Thompson Coe signed a lease renewal for 69,133 square feet in the building at 700 N. Pearl St. The firm, which specializes in insurance industry litigation, has been a tenant since 2003.

Another reason why the City Design Studio is the coolest

A few of us over here at DDI were treated to a little hint of the following project in a meeting with Brent Brown, David Whitley and the Dallas City Design Studio team earlier this week.  Now it’s official…all you City Hall Plaza haters, rejoice!

In a flash-mob-Oak-Cliff-Better-Blocks- William-Whyte-style initiative called “Living Plaza”, City Hall Plaza will be transformed with a temporary installation on April 27.  We’re all invited to take part from 11:30am – 2:00pm.  To all of you who are screaming for more streetlife, activated spaces and vibrancy Downtown, this is OUR chance to prove the urbanity of Dallas.  Surprises in store, I can assure you…

More info:  http://betterblock.org/2011/04/15/living-plaza-project-april-27th-at-dallas-city-hall-plaza/

~Kourtny