Keep It Down! Deep Ellum Will Address Noise In the Arts District

---

DALLAS, TX —Council Member Jesse Moreno is teaming up with Deep Ellum residents to make some noise about all the noise that's being made there.

Moreno is spearheading a task force comprised of the Deep Ellum Foundation, Deep Ellum Community Association, district entertainment and live music venue owners. And those neighborhood residents will work directly with the Department of Code Compliance Services (CCS) to devise district-specific amendments to citywide regulations to address noise.

The racket caused by live events and the audiences who attend them has been a thorny issue for years, all agree. And now that in-person events are ramping up post-pandemic, finding a workable solution has become a pressing problem again.

---

Want to be the first to know about Patch membership when it launches? Click here to find out how you can support Patch and local journalism.

---

“Deep Ellum businesses have produced virtual shows, programming and artworks to provide respite and inspiration for a weary public during the pandemic,” said Moreno. “Now, they need our help to continue to serve our community and so many surrounding communities.”

In April, the City of Dallas took steps to improve noise abatement strategies through CCS to address city-wide concerns regarding noise and disruption of quality of life. Now that the City’s premier entertainment district is coming back to full throttle as the pandemic recedes, it is time to tailor a new strategy to enable the cultural district to continue to thrive and serve the entire region.

The lifeblood of Deep Ellum is the business community and especially its independent businesses and cultural institutions. Business owners who have been operating for over 20 years and more recent entrepreneurs alike agree 2020 was the most challenging time they have ever faced doing business in the district. COVID-19 shuttered local restaurants, bars, galleries, theaters, live music venues and other small and independent businesses who rely upon them. Many have only begun to reopen their doors in 2021.

“Now is a critically important time to support local businesses as they continue to recover,” Moreno says. “At the same time, we must find solutions that both allow businesses to thrive and maintain quality of life for their neighbors and nearby residents who have been drawn to the Deep Ellum district to enjoy these rich amenities. As such, I am drawing upon the resources of the City of Dallas and forming a new task force in partnership with the Deep Ellum community to find joint solutions to noise.”

Deep Ellum is one of the most historically significant neighborhoods in North Texas and serves as both the inspiration and launching pad for artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and many independent businesses. A mere 0.5 square miles, the district remains home to over 400 businesses today.

A cornerstone of the City’s tourism industry, this cultural magnet consistently attracts both Texans and tourists from around the world. In 2019 alone, the district hosted approximately 1.2 million unique visitors. Thanks in large part to its rich arts, entertainment, and food and beverage offerings, Deep Ellum often leads the Central Business District in new office and residential development as well.

“Deep Ellum has a history of being a collaborative community and an entrepreneurial stronghold,” Moreno says. “The district hosts the most robust expanded neighborhood patrol program in Dallas in large part to support its nighttime economy. That public safety program was founded by local community leaders to meet a neighborhood-specific need as Deep Ellum continued to grow as the biggest entertainment hub in North Texas. Once again, community leaders are stepping up to partner with the City of Dallas and do their part to meet a neighborhood-specific need.”

---

Looking for more Dallas news? Subscribe.