‘Hostile takeover’: West Dallas homeowners battle new developments, rising taxes

The Big Story: This Dallas neighborhood wants to protect its history and avoid erasure. THE BIG STORY Welcome to The Big Story, featuring news and stories that can't - and shouldn't - be missed. In this edition, we take you inside this West Dallas neighborhood's fight to persevere amid big development and to preserve their history. [A shotgun house still stands next to a newly built home on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022 in Dallas. Gentrification is seen as new homes are built in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood.]( A shotgun house still stands next to a newly built home on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022 in Dallas. Gentrification is seen as new homes are built in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood. (Rebecca Slezak/Staff Photographer) [‘Hostile takeover’: West Dallas homeowners battle new developments, rising taxes]( In the West Dallas neighborhood of Gilbert-Emory, homes valued at $600,000 loom next to shotgun houses that have stood for generations. Longtime residents in this historic Black neighborhood are battling to preserve their neighborhood’s identity as [pricey development and rising taxes threaten their housing](. Gentrification has made Gilbert-Emory one of the hottest real estate plays in the city, but it has come at a cost to longtime residents. Many can't afford the increases taxes on their properties. Homeowners reject offers to buy their homes multiple times a week. Family legacy and Black history aren’t up for grabs, they say. [READ MORE]( Related: - [How a man is working to preserve the West Dallas neighborhood named after his grandparents]( - [Builders of Hope is fighting displacement of longtime residents in West Dallas]( - [WATCH: A Black neighborhood in West Dallas is disappearing as new townhomes rise]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Privacy Policy](dallasnews.com/privacy-policy) | [Account Login]( |[Help Center]( [Terms of Service]( | [Manage Preferences](dallasnews.com/privacy-policy| [Unsubscribe]( The Dallas Morning News 1954 Commerce Street Dallas, TX 75201 © Copyright 2023