The days are numbered for 305 weathered rental homes, most of them in West Dallas. The city says they aren鈥檛 up to code鈥攕o the landlord had to choose: fix them, or close up shop. He picked the latter.
With a June 3 deadline looming, many families have already moved. looks at life for those who remain.
鈥�I Came Back To My Roots鈥�
Ronnie Mestas is a neighborhood leader. He sits on the education committee of 鈥樷�攁 six-year-old group representing each of the local neighborhood associations. He also grew up in West Dallas, and after years in the Navy, decided to retire here too.
鈥淚 came back to my roots, I love it here,鈥� says Mestas.
Mestas doesn鈥檛 fear gentrification. He knows it signals change; landlords charging more, property taxes ticking up, more visitors. He says development also cleans up the neighborhood. Before all the new construction, one of his friends was afraid to take her grandkids to play outside.
鈥淪he couldn鈥檛 go there because it was a swamp, there was mosquitos, there were trailers, trash, prostitutes, drug dealers all of that stuff in that area where she鈥檚 at,鈥� he says.
Concern For His Community
He鈥檚 also worried about neighbors who live in rental homes owned by HMK Ltd鈥攖he ones that will be cleared out next month.
They鈥檝e had seven months鈥� notice to vacate. Mestas says most of them pay $300-$500 a month. Being given notice isn鈥檛 the issue.
鈥淭hese are the last homes that you鈥檙e going to find anywhere at that price,鈥� he says.
Just ask Joe Garcia. The 53-year-old HMK tenant lives in a small two bedroom house with his 84-year-old mom Lily.
The house isn鈥檛 falling down鈥攊t鈥檚 got a new teal paint job and recently replaced siding. Still, the floors creak, and the air conditioner sticks out a side window. It鈥檚 wedged in with an old piece of wood and duct tape.
Joe and Lily don鈥檛 know where to go,
鈥淣ot a plan yet but the day will have to come when we鈥檒l have to move out. No 鈥渋f whats鈥� about it.鈥�
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