State Thomas is clearly a success story in terms of urban revitalization, but I'm not sure it's one known about much beyond Dallas. I took the opportunity to walk around the area today, with a particular interest in looking at some of the historic houses.
If this neighborhood was like my former Pittsburgh neighborhood of Deutschtown, there would be a concerted effort to keep commercial uses out of residential buildings. In Deutschtown there's even an effort to keep commercial uses out of some commercial buildings. This is misguided at best and more accurately detrimental to a vibrant urban neighborhood.
Walking through State Thomas, it is refreshing to see many office and light retail uses in buildings built for residential purposes. It neither detracts nor seems to keep residents from wanting to live there.
Another thing that hasn't been welcomed in neighborhoods like Deutschtown is higher-density development. Yet here in State Thomas most of the newer development is at a far higher-density than the blocks with single-family homes. Restaurants, nail salons and coffee shops are mixed in, helping to make State Thomas a great place to live. Like Deutschtown, State Thomas is within walking distance to downtown.
It is worth remarking that what can be lost on older neighborhoods like Deutschtown with more to work with is obvious in State Thomas.
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