In a heartwarming win for the little guys, the group fighting the Sam's Club at CityPlace scored a legal victory. An ATM at Angelika Theater was casually spirited off. And there's mosquito spraying coming up. Here's all the Dallas city news you need to know:
No MegaStore win
A neighborhood group got a promising legal victory in its fight against a Sam's Club going up near CityPlace. A Dallas Court of Appeals found in favor of the East Village Association, ruling that the group has the right to sue the city of Dallas, strengthening their case against Trammel Crow and development of the Sam's Club.
At the same time, the judge denied the neighbors' request to stop work on the project. Trammell Crow Co. can keep building the store, but if the zoning proves to be illegal, they could be forced to tear it down.
Either way, this decision means the case can go to a jury, assuming the trial court doesn't grant judgment before then. "People told us that Trammel Crow was too powerful to take on, but yesterday, the Dallas Court of Appeals showed the world that the saying is true: justice is blind, and the powerless can triumph over the powerful," said an organization spokesman.
ATM on the run
According to the Dallas Observer, we're having an epidemic of ATM thefts, with 24 machines stolen since January 1 and 31 more attempts-gone-bad. Most thefts consist of the ATM being hauled off by trucks or vans, but this one at the Angelika theater was more brazen.
The surveillance video shows three thieves skipping along the mezzanine in front of the theater, armed with crowbar and dolly. You don't see them jack open the theater door, but you do see them on their way back, pushing the dolly loaded with an ATM and running back to the Mockingbird DART station lot.
DAS awards
Dallas Animal Services won a prestigious award at an animal conference in Atlanta. The shelter was recognized at the Best Friends Animal Society No More Homeless Pets Conference for achieving the highest number of adoptions by a municipal shelter network partner. The "No Place Like Home" award was presented to DAS transfer coordinator Danielle Fry and Nicole Hernandez, manager at the DAS PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, by none other than celebrity "cat whisperer" Jackson Galaxy.
West Nile sprays
Despite questions about their effectiveness, the city of Dallas is spraying for mosquitoes after pools were confirmed positive for West Nile Virus in the 75214, 75215, 75228 and 75236 ZIP codes.
Spraying will take place on Saturday, July 25, between 9 pm and 5 am, in these areas:
- 8700 block of Eustis Avenue (75228): San Saba Drive on the north, Whittier Avenue on the west, Sweetbriar Drive on the east and Longwood Lane on the south.
- 6200 block of Oram Street (75214): Palo Pinto Avenue on the north, Concho Street on the west, Pearson Drive on the east and Ridgeway Street on the south.
- 6000 block of Jim Miller Road (75228): Fenestra Drive on the north, Telegraph Avenue on the west, Senate Street on the east and RL Thornton Freeway on the south.
- 5000 block of Ranchero Lane (75236): Jordan Ridge Drive on the north, Moneta Lane on the west, Meadow Nest Drive on the east and Red Bird Lane on the south.
Spraying will take place on Sunday, July 26, and Monday, July 27, between 9 pm and 5 am, in these 75215 areas:
- 2900 block of MLK: Robert Cullum Boulevard on the north, Logan Street on the west, Dallas Street on the east and Atlanta Street on the south.
- 3400 block of Pondrom Street: South Malcolm X Boulevard on the north, Park Row Avenue on the west, Oakland Cemetery on the east and Colonial Avenue on the south.
- 2700 block of Lawrence Street: Oakland Cemetery on the north, Leland Avenue on the west, Peary Avenue on the east and Anderson Street on the south.
Residents should avoid contact with the spray by staying indoors. Keep your pets inside. Persons inside a vehicle while trucks are actively spraying should remain in their vehicles with the windows up and the air conditioner on until the trucks pass and the spray is no longer visible.
Residents who come in contact with the spray should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. The spray breaks down in the presence of sunlight and has no residual effect.
Sam's Club near CityPlace lost a battle in the courts.
The Vineyards Campground & Cabins. Photo courtesy of Campspot 