dallashistory

Covered on last evening's Channel 5 News ~

http://tinyurl.com/ykbevg7

http://tinyurl.com/ylbv2zg

Does anyone know the particulars of this potential program (Steve?)? The bike trails sound great, but otherwise, the Square seems fine as it is. Why mess with a good (and unique) thing?

By the way, Peggy Capps is a wonderful local historian and a very nice lady. It was she who did so much to help preserve the First Ladies of Texas Gown Collection at TWU ... when few others seemed to care.

I love Denton's Square has it is now also, but I guess the only constant is change.

Link to Article: http://www.cityofdenton.com/index.aspx? ... index.aspx

Article:

City Begins The Downtown Implementation Plan Process

Posted Date: 10/15/2009

The City of Denton is in the process of developing a Downtown Implementation Plan (DTIP) that will work as a catalyst to achieve the goals defined for Downtown, as adopted in the Denton Downtown Master Plan. In 2002, the City Council adopted the Denton Downtown Master Plan, whose primary focus is to encourage development and exploration of partnership opportunities with private investors, while ensuring that proper design practices are employed. The DTIP will build on this previous work and create a plan to bring to fruition the vision for the Downtown. A few of the goals include: Downtown should be a place to live, work and play; Downtown should contain a variety of things to do; Downtown should be attractive and well designed; and Downtown should have linked parks and open spaces.

The DTIP will consist of the following elements: parking, architectural design, open space and linkages, and land use analysis. The Denton Downtown Master Plan, the Denton Plan, and the Denton Development Code will all be used during the process for developing the DTIP. The Planning and Development Department has contracted with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to assist the City with the development of the DTIP.

“We are pleased to get the Downtown Implementation Plan underway. This plan will address a number of issues that have been expressed by the business community and residents such as parking, thoroughfares, transit center opportunities and long term investment strategies,” said Mayor Mark Burroughs. “However, in order for this plan to truly represent the community’s vision for the Downtown, we need input from everyone by attending meetings, taking the online survey or by giving council members or city staff feedback directly.”

In the first phase of the process, the City will conduct stakeholder interviews and a survey will be posted on the City’s Web site soon to solicit input on various downtown issues. Also, a Steering Committee of stakeholders will be convened to assist the City with developing the DTIP. Meeting notices and minutes for this committee can be found at www.cityofdenton.com/dtip.

For more information, please contact Ron Menguita, Development Review Liaison, at 940-349-8328 or at ron.menguita@cityofdenton.com.

End of Article

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City of Denton Downtown Masterplan

Link: http://www.cityofdenton.com/Modules/Sho ... entid=4785

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As far as the Texas First Ladies Historic Gown Collection, I have seen this collection and it is very well presented.

Link: http://www.twu.edu/gown-collection/

Link: http://www.twu.edu/gown-collection/dress-collection.asp

End of Post

Thanks so much, Steve I'll take some time to read through what you have shared here.

My feeling is that among other things, maybe Denton strives to become something more than a little (relatively speaking) ol' Texas county seat and college town anymore? But hear this: my daughter attended kindergarten at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church - in sight of the Courthouse - and she don't want nothin' changin' Yet, we left Denton with the Rayzor Longhorns, so it's really not our call.

While it may appear that the First Ladies' Gown Collection is doing just fine ... it's really not. About four years ago, I had the sad opportunity to view many of the original gowns - and other items of donated, antique clothing - laid out in one of the old dining halls at TWU ... soaked to the seams with rainwater. These had been crammed into closets for storage (unwise) and a storm had got to them. The laying-out was an attempt to forestall more damage to these pieces.

You see, these Ladies and olden times in general (perhaps) are not held in the same esteem as was the case when the Gown Collection was inaugurated. Never mind that we have it about 1000 times easier in life than when the earlier of the gowns were worn (or when their prototypes were worn ~ some are replicas) Still, the problems with the Collection fall as much in the lap of the DAR chapter, which is supposed to be in charge of it, as they do in the bowels of TWU.

Also, there exist the inevitable differences of opinion about the interpretation and presentation of the gowns and the women whom they represent. For decades, the dresses were worn by 1930s-era department-store mannequins ... complete with pink nail polish and bright, painted lips. While I do consider this state to be a kind of funky dichotomy, clearly something else might be better. Whether the alternative should be as extremely minimalist (ghostly, faceless figures sporting the gowns) as was shared with me that the replacements might be ... I'm uncertain. Maybe this decision already has been made and carried out.

Which reminds me that if one wishes to complain, one first should become a joiner and a player ... rather than a crab sitting on the sidelines

IMO the "old guard", or those 60 or older, of Denton want to maintain the city as "that small college town" while the younger population want to "upgrade" the city with a more "Frisco or Allen" look. I've lived in Denton since the late 60's and I've enjoyed the "mix" that Denton has somehow managed to maintain. I just don't want Denton to become another "bedroom" community of the Metroplex although it seems to be headed that way considering the growth in and around the area . . . and I guess I'll tag along . . . kicking & screaming

The Rayzor Longhorns are gone too, if you didn't already know, to make room for the New Rayzor Ranch Development . . .

Link: http://www.rayzorranch.com/

. . . and they are going to erect gas wells on the development right across the street from McKenna Park and the homes in that area. Homeowners are livid needless to say.

I was unaware of the problems with the Gown Collection. I've been working at TWU since May 2007, but did not know about the previous water damage. As far as to the display and mannequin use . . . IMO the attention should be directed towards the gowns, not the mannequin's looks. When I saw the collection last year, they were displayed on headless female forms (sounds terrible though). I'll take another look at the collection and report back

Steve, you arrived at TWU just about the time I was leaving!

Good to know about the blank figures now modeling the First Ladies' Gowns. The thing is, it is not supposed to be just a fashion show ~ but an exhibit which leads one to contemplate the life of the woman who wore the dress. I do have a copy of the original guidebook which was written to accompany the exhibit (somewhere ) as well as an updated version compiled during the 1980s. Will try to dig these out and see if they offer any gems of wisdom.

Yes, I know a bit about the new Rayzor Ranch ... unfortunately. We lived two streets to the east of Bonnie Brae Drive, and had so enjoyed the peace of McKenna Park and seeing the longhorns during the early morning hours. The new development was going to change the whole character of the neighborhood and ... we left.

It seems like Denton might be aspiring to turn her small D into a Big One. Nothing like a little chill factor to shake the hominess out of a place, and her face may be turning toward the southeast (and north of the Trinity River) for inspiration. The college students always seemed to love the patchwork look and feel of Denton; they didn't want to see old Fry Street go. Who knows, maybe these new movers and shakers have a liking for CVS-Pharmacy architecture.