Once Known Only for Nightlife, Dallas' Deep Ellum District Experiencing Development Renaissance

DALLAS, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Struggling for survival only 10 years ago, Dallas' Deep Ellum district is experiencing a dramatic turnaround with a peak in residential housing, new restaurants and retail establishments poised to open, and a significant ongoing facelift for its namesake thoroughfare, according to guests on the most recent segment of the KRLD 1080 AM "Pulse of the City" radio show sponsored by the Dallas law firm Munck Wilson Mandala LLP.

A number of developments have transformed the 170-acre district from a nightlife-focused region that included fewer than 300 residents in 2005 to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with strong economic growth and more than 2,000 residents living there today. The DART Green Line opened in 2009, spurring development around the two Deep Ellum stops. Additionally, developers such as Scott Rohrman, partner with 42 Real Estate LLC, are rehabbing buildings and modernizing spaces while preserving the area's unique architectural characteristics.

"We have a critical mass. Now when you walk down Main Street every building will have life in it – there will be lights on and people in the street," said Mr. Rohrman, who has purchased more than 30 Deep Ellum properties in the past six months. "A lot of the buildings that we've bought have been used for furniture storage. It's really fun to see all the activity."

Today, Deep Ellum is much more than a nighttime destination. A dozen new restaurants and bars are set to open this year in the eclectic district, which is becoming known as a creative hub where residents can also live and work. Reel FX CEO Kyle Clark said that the 300-plus workers at the company's Deep Ellum headquarters appreciate the ability to work in the same neighborhood where they live.

"It does have a creative vibe to it," Mr. Clark said. "It's great for our employees at lunch time or after hours to be able to spill out and enjoy Deep Ellum."

Currently, work is underway on a $10 million facelift for Elm Street, including designs to improve walkability, while the Santa Fe bike trail connects the district to east Dallas neighborhoods and beyond.

"Pulse of the City" is a weekly roundtable radio program devoted to current events with a special focus on issues and opportunities associated with North Texas and Downtown Dallas. Moderated by CBS/KRLD assistant news director Matt Thomas joined by John Crawford, President and CEO, Downtown Dallas, Inc., the weekly KRLD 1080 AM program is broadcast Sundays at 9 a.m. and can be heard on demand at http://www.munckwilson.com/media-center/pulse-of-the-city or http://dfw.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/pulse-of-the-city/.

Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with offices in Dallas and Marshall, Texas, with an emphasis on patent, trade secret and other intellectual property disputes. The firm offers full-service counsel in the areas of intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property portfolio development, corporate transactions and securities, and employment law. Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.

For more information, please contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Munck Wilson Mandala LLP