Pioneer Of Urban "Gentlefication" Builds Southern Dallas Co-Working Village
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) — A nearly century old manufacturing plant in southern Dallas is now the catalyst to bringing back a local economy that left the neighborhood decades ago.
Dallas developer Monte Anderson is transforming the cavernous 127,000 square foot space off of the 1300 block of South Polk street into a hub for local manufacturers. He wants to change it into a co-working space village for people he refers to as "Industrial Artists".
"We're going to be attracting industrial artists that will be co-working together," said Anderson.
His��plan is to offer southern Dallas-area manufacturing entrepreneurs the space and guidance they need to develop their business, thereby creating a revenue stream for themselves.
"The strategic location in the middle of the neighborhoods I grew up in makes this personal to me," explained Anderson. "We are in a position to encourage locals to build wealth and express themselves."
The building was originally built in the 1920's. It started off as a school and housed several manufacturing and machining companies throughout the years.
It sat vacant for several years. Anderson saw its vacancy as an opportunity to use for the benefit of the community.
A partner in the venture, Gary Buckner, is a small business owner who will become the first tenant once the building is ready in the up-coming months.
Buckner owns Stash Designs in Lower Greenville and will be re-locating to the co-working village.
"There's a space to network, build a business. You can start small and grow," said Buckner about why he's relocating.
The project is privately funded and is separate of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings' Grow South initiative, but city officials said they support the idea since it is in line with their mission.
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