History of Oak Cliff

Over the past two decades, Oak Cliff has not experienced any economic growth. More large corporations have left, than have come. Wynnewood Village was once a thriving shopping center anchored by large department stores such as Foley’s and Montgomery Wards. It now consists of dollar stores and vacant buildings. Village Fair another Oak Cliff shopping center, which once was home to Target’s and other similar stores , is only a huge flea market corned by five and dime Asian shops. This area was once a growing and vibrant neighbor hood, full of Some Dallas’s most prominent figures. Homeowners sought this neighborhood because of the high education and teaching level of it’s neighborhood schools. Athletically the schools could boast of some of the best talent in Dallas. Two parent homeowners are now increasingly being replaced by single government assistance parents. 

In the past ten years, the majority of business to locate to this area has been five and dime stores primarily owned and operated by Asians. When you look at the entertainment industry, there has been no positive business being opened in this area in a along time. There was a time in Oak Cliff, where we had movie theatres, drive-in movie theatres, skating rings, go karts and bowling alleys. If you were to drive to those buildings now, all you will see now is abandoned buildings. I live across the street from what used to be a vibrant family oriented park called Kiest Park. This park was always kept watered and manicured. Now there is no grass and I have seen homeless people living in the park.

My neighborhood used to be 80 percent owner occupied In the 80’s to 90’s, homeowners coming to this neighborhood felt good because of the high education and teaching level of the neighborhood schools. Now only 9.7 percent of the population 25 years of age and older hold a bachelor degree. Therefore we can conclude that these individuals prefer the suburbs or other parts of town to Oak Cliff. You can really see why this part of Dallas has not had any economic growth. The good people in the neighborhood, once they get better jobs and money the first thing you will find them doing is moving some where else. Who can blame them? Oak Cliff goes from a potential success to a tragic what could have been. I guess the old people were right in this case, nothing is like the old days.