4 June 22 - 28, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Kicked to the Curb What’s next, now that Dallas has banned short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods? BY KELLY DEARMORE I t’s not often Dallas City Hall is rockin’ at midnight, but June 14 wasn’t just any night — cer- tainly not for the dozens of peo- ple who had been waiting literally all day and night for a decision to be made. After more than three years of master plans, committees, recommendations, briefings, complaints, delays, debates, campaigns and more than a bit of animos- ity, a question that had long been without an answer finally got one. In a 12-3 vote, the City Council decided that short-term rentals like those marketed on popular services Airbnb and VRBO will not be al- lowed in single-family residential neigh- borhoods in Dallas. Many of those in attendance, who had also been at many other council meetings over the years, wore white T-shirts with large black letters stating “Homes Not Ho- tels.” Cara Mendelsohn, one of the council members who has long opposed short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods, wore such a shirt under her pink blazer. A large number of those who make up the vocal sector of the Dallas Neighborhood Co- alition live near short-term rentals that have been deemed “party homes” because of a lack of a live-in owner and the stream of large, disruptive groups coming and going from the properties. Some party-home neighbors say the owners of the problem houses aren’t accountable for what happens in and around the properties because they’re never there to begin with. On a Saturday night earlier this month a party was underway in Northwest Dallas, and it was absolutely raging. Pot smoke wafted, music blared, scattered revelers danced while others strolled and hollered up and down both sides of the street. Some partiers poured liquor from bottles into fel- low partiers’ mouths. The scene continued to carry its raucous vibe well into the night and into early Sun- day morning. The darker the sky got, the more people showed up. More cars lined the street in both directions. That’s when doz- ens of gunshots rang out. First, the shots came from a vehicle making its way past the party, then the fire was returned by at least one of the partiers. Valley Ridge Road is where the chaotic, and potentially deadly, party unfolded. That’s not a local dance club, bar or concert venue. It’s not the name of a music or arts festival. It’s an otherwise typical, tree-lined residential neighborhood street a few blocks south of Walnut Hill Lane. Bullets entered the sides of houses, ga- rage doors and car windows. Police said no one was injured in the shooting, although one neighborhood mother recounted the terror she and her daughter never expected to feel on their street, just two doors down from the house hosting the party. Sonya He- bert, the mother who witnessed this all first- hand, told this story to the City Council and to local TV news. She’s among those who say that short- term rentals are lodging and should be re- stricted to areas zoned for “lodging use,” which would also mean they cannot operate in residential neighborhoods. Nathan Hunsinger >> p6 | UNFAIR PARK | Lisa Sievers has a short-term rental unit that will be affected by the Dallas residential neighborhood ban.
