WHAT’S UP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES BIZ BUZZ

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An Empty Lot No More

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Despite impassioned pleas from the opposition, the Dallas City Council unanimously approved a compromised version of the Open Realty development on Henderson Avenue near the intersections with McMillan and Glencoe. The City Plan Commission approved a plan that originally included 190,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space. The latest compromise includes a 156,500-square-foot plan, about an 18 percent reduction in size. The parking originally included 822 spaces with 754 in an underground garage; the latest plan features 50 surface spaces and 525 in the underground garage. That is a 30 percent reduction in parking.

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Meadows Makeover

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A redesign of Energy Square from Gensler Architects and Studio Outside LandscapeArchitects will reinvent the 14-acre space at 5005 Greenville Ave. Gensler will operate out of a LEED-Silver certified building that will be both environmentally and pedestrian friendly. The plaza at the center of the development will have street-level restaurants, cafes and a park, encouraging employees to socialize and walk through the area. “The intent was to design a campus that would attract a large creative-type of tenant, never knowing that it would be us.” said Cindy Simpson, co-managing director of Gensler Dallas via media release.

Heads Up

Fort Worth’s up and coming Taco Heads is opening a second location, on Henderson Avenue where Lekka once stood. Chef Christian Lehrmann, who was most recently the executive chef at the Design District gastropub Wheelhouse, will run the kitchen at Taco Heads. The menu includes appetizer staples such as elotes and guacamole and traditional breakfast tacos with bacon, chorizo, potatoes and veggies. Owner Sarah Castillo’s favorite is the garlic cilantro gulf shrimp, which includes purple pickled slaw, onion, cilantro, lime zest and queso blanco. The selection includes a few vegan options, including the bourbon black bean veggie taco, which includes pumpkin, bell peppers, spinach and pico de gallo. They also serve carnitas and shredded chicken and brisket tacos. Prices range from $3.25-$4.25.

Landing A Star

A film crew was at Lakewood Landing last month to shoot an ABC show with Vanessa Williams. The bar was closed for a day for the shoot. Variety reports that Williams will play a role in the upcoming ABC series “False Profits,” a comedic drama similar to “Desperate Housewives.”

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By GEORGE MASON