Douglas Newby Insights
Neighborhoods, Architects, Architecture, Design, Dallas, and Organic Urbanism
City Hall for the City
Dallas City Hall is not an office building for bureaucrats; it is an architecturally significant building designed to promote the city and encourage the people of Dallas to propel it forward.
Unlike many municipal buildings cloistered from their constituents, City Hall’s open floor plan, abundance of windows, and council chamber invert the traditional civic posture. In contrast to the Dallas County Commissioners Court, where the county judge presides with commissioners seated on an elevated dais above the audience, at Dallas City Hall the mayor and city council look up at the public.
The call to tear down City Hall is fueled by its need of repairs. Of course it needs repairs. It is a 50-year-old building, just as Swiss Avenue was 50 years old when it became a historic district over the objections of developers who wanted it torn down. Those homes did not simply need maintenance; each required a major renovation to enter a new era.
Like Swiss Avenue then, the surfaces of City Hall are dingy today, and makeshift partitions make some floors feel closer to the favelas of Brazil than the transparent civic architecture City Hall was meant to embody. Maintenance has become the focus. The opportunity should be modernization — bringing new technology into City Hall that makes the city of Dallas as transparent as the building’s design.
Color media walls integrated into the building could show where crime is occurring, where potholes and infrastructure issues have been reported, and how the city is actually configured — distinguishing single-family neighborhoods, apartment complexes, residential high-rises, and low-income tax credit housing, alongside retail, office towers, and parks — allowing Dallas to see itself clearly as it evolves.
Keep Dallas City Hall a city hall for the city.
#DallasCityHall#Architecture#Dallas
Defining Neighborhoods
For Texas Independence Day Sesquicentennial, HPL (Preservation Dallas) unveiled the book I wrote, Guide to the Older Neighborhoods of Dallas. It was the first book devoted to Dallas neighborhoods — before street sign toppers existed and when neighborhoods were known as general areas rather than specifically defined places.
We marked the Sesquicentennial with a “Toast to Texas” event inviting prominent Dallas residents to offer a toast to Texas. The day was chosen to launch the book because we believed the strength of Texas begins with its neighborhoods.
I recall the late Bill Murchison of the Dallas Morning News editorial board offering a toast to Texas, preservation, and Dallas neighborhoods. Though the editorial board at the time was very conservative — as was Bill — he was a genuine advocate for preservation and Dallas neighborhoods.
The book explored both small and large neighborhoods in Old East Dallas, Oak Lawn, Highland Park, and Oak Cliff. Great care was taken not to overuse the phrase “tree-tunneled streets” when I was describing neighborhoods. By the final edit, I realized “tree-tunneled streets” was not used one time in the book. Also, home prices in neighborhoods were not used so that the book could remain relevant for 20 years. We were successful, in many ways it still feels current.
I recently bought a copy of this book at an estate sale for $12 — only a few dollars less than its original $15 price when it first rose to number two on the Dallas nonfiction bestseller list.
So here in 2026, another Toast to Texas — and to the neighborhoods that continue to shape Dallas.
@preservationdallas
#Dallas #DallasNeighborhoods #TexasIndependenceDay #Preservation #PreservationDallas
Provost Power
Provost Rachel Mersey dazzled Town and Gown members with her pragmatic inspirations and impressions of SMU and Dallas. She discussed the brand of SMU, the interdisciplinary thrust of the university, and SMU’s growth — with a focus on high-quality niche programs that can be among the best in the country and that link existing SMU programs, majors and degrees. She spoke about freedom of academic expression, athletics, the prospect of a baseball team, honors housing, graduate student housing, and the importance of a formal Dallas office at SMU.
SMU has had many fine provosts, but Rachel Mersey brings exceptional energy and creative vision to what SMU can become. She is building on the attributes of SMU rather than trying to make SMU into something it is not.
When asked about the brand of SMU, she said, “principled leadership.” I found this answer especially telling.
My impression of SMU students, from the moment I first stepped onto the SMU campus until now, has been that they are well-rounded, accomplished, and inclined to contribute and participate. Even recently, when I was interviewed for an SMU 1911 Group video, I said that SMU graduates were all quite different, yet the common denominator was that SMU graduates were high-capacity contributors to the community.
Rachel Mersey is focused on nurturing and developing that principled leadership.
@rdmersey
#TownAndGown #Provost #Dallas #SMU
First Flower of Winter
From bare, thorny branches encased in ice emerges the first flower of winter — the flowering quince.
Its brief mid-winter and early spring color feels earned after months of straggly summer foliage and a winter of bare, tangled branches.
A single flower is always a bright spot.
#floweringquince #mungerplace #singleflower #historicneighborhood
Winter Wisdom
Through the year, there is a regular cycle of about two dozen different species of birds that visit for food and water. Intermittently, they’re chased away by a hawk that perches in the center of this outdoor aviary.
Occasionally, an egret finds its way through the heavy urban canopy of trees to try to feast on the koi in the ponds. But only once in a while does a barred owl come by. It seems fitting for an owl to observe quietly for over an hour.
Winter does make one feel wiser. Ice may keep one from venturing out. A fire might lure one to read. The surrounding silence is perfect for anyone inclined to write. Winter has a different pace — one an owl seems to represent, absorbing and exuding wisdom.
#barredowl #winter #dallas #mungerplace #historicneighborhood
This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with Douglas Newby
This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with Douglas Newby (BS ’74, MPA ’80), past president of the SMU Town and Gown Club and founder of Architecturally Significant Homes.
Doug’s career reflects a rare combination of scholarship, civic leadership, and real estate vision. From his SMU master’s thesis that helped lay the economic groundwork for revitalizing Munger Place to his role in establishing Dallas’s first single family historic district, his work has shaped how the city understands preservation, value, and place.
In this episode, Doug shares his path from early urban revitalization efforts in East Dallas to representing some of the most significant residential properties in the country, including the Crespi Estate. He explains his philosophy of “homes that make us happy,” his focus on architectural integrity and site context, and how his background in social science led him to become the first realtor in the United States to specialize exclusively in architect designed residences.
For the SMU community and real estate professionals alike, Douglas’s story offers a compelling example of how passion, education, and respect for history can create lasting value. Tune in to hear how Douglas has dedicated his career to preserving the architectural soul of Dallas while reshaping how we define the value of our neighborhoods.
🎧 Tune in to hear Douglas’s insights on why modern organic architecture is so important to our happiness. Link in bio.
#SMU #SMUAlumni #1911Group #architecturallysignificanthomes #douglasnewby
Autumn Architecture
Good architecture almost always draws from nature and relates to nature. This Beaux Arts residence in the Upper East Side, decorated for autumn, also seems to be architecturally inspired by autumn. The cartouche, an ornamental sculpted panel above the door visually holding up the stone hood canopy, has gourd-shaped designs with foliage and organic forms. Even the stone-carved egg and dart molding is comprised of what we associate with autumn shapes. This formal ceremonial Beaux Arts architecture becomes the perfect backdrop for a medley of pumpkins, gourds and autumn flowers marching up the stone steps. This seasonal vignette demonstrates how architecture and nature are so closely intertwined. Happy Thanksgiving!
#UpperEastSide #BeauxArtsStyle #ArchitecturallySignificant #Autumn #Pumpkins #Neighborhood
1911 Group Spotlight
The 1911 Group Spotlight reminds me of the impact SMU has made on me since I first walked on campus Homecoming weekend as a high school senior with Ken Malcolmson on a trip hosted by his older brother, Larry Malcolmson – a big man on campus – and still good friends with SMU’s iconic leader, David B. Miller, and former SMU quarterback, Chuck Hixson, who was setting all the collegiate passing records. Seeing the blue skies, cheery smiles and optimism at SMU made me fall in love with SMU and Dallas. Going to my first SMU pep rally foreshadowed my future. Here they tapped the Knights of Cycen Fjodr, a men’s honorary society in which I was later inducted, as well as being elected cheerleader, leading SMU pep rallies. SMU played Texas at the Cotton Bowl, which was my personal introduction to Texas football, Fair Park, and Hall of State, home of the Dallas Historical Society. Ken went from a high school guest at an SMU Homecoming to becoming president of SMU Alumni Association, overseeing Homecoming festivities.
My education at SMU still informs my business. My friendships with SMU professors, colleagues and friends have been the foundation of my career and life in Dallas. For many decades, hardly a day went by when I did not step on campus for meetings, lectures, events, openings or writing at the Bridwell Library. Of course, SMU swimming coach Steve Collins can attest that the outdoor Red Barr pool was my summer office. Also, the Methodist Bishop, a few faculty, an architect and I held one of the dozen keys to the clay tennis courts that we maintained for our personal use and an occasional guest like Chris Evert.
SMU provides much for the Dallas community and is poised for even more interaction with Dallas. The 1911 Group has provided another fresh lens to view SMU and connect with those with a passion for contributing to the business, civic and collegiate community. Thank you 1911 Group for spotlighting me and bringing greater attention to the attributes of SMU.
#1911Group #SMU @smu @smucox @smudedman @smuperkins @smumeadows #SMUAlumni #Dallas #Architecture #UrbanStudies #ArchitecturallySignificant #Leadership @the1911.group
First Fall Leaf
Dallas blue skies and October color – actually it was the Dallas blue skies and wide smiles that made me fall in love with Dallas when I visited SMU in October as a senior in high school. The clear skies, fresh air and perfect temperatures seemed to embody the optimism of Dallas and project it as a fresh city. SMU was the perfect school for me as it represented a bright future. I knew I had found my home.
This October, as an extra bonus, a single colorful maple leaf floated into my garden reminding me that in 90° weather autumn is here. We may seldom have glorious painted autumn tree color, but we do have vivid splashes of color here and there, and other signals of fall – the Texas State Fair, SMU Boulevard, Homecoming, and the genuine smiles across Dallas that lured me to the city in the first place.
#Autumn #Fall #AutumnLeaf #Dallas #SMU #October #MapleLeaf #AutumnColor #FirstFallLeaf
Fair Morning
When one is the first through the gates at the State Fair, one enjoys the pageantry without the people. What a joy to see the Hall of State, the Esplanade, the Art Deco buildings, the Ferris wheel, and even the banners and advertisements. It almost feels like a moral obligation to go to the State Fair of Texas, but the obligation always turns into sentiment and exhilaration.
Everyone has their own traditions. Mine always starts with a bratwurst at Hans Mueller and a caramel apple. For years, the Midway was my athletic playground—I’d win stuffed bears with ease at the ball-toss games, insisting the carnie yell out, “We have a winner! Everyone’s a winner.”
My other fair talent is guessing birthdays. At the gates, I asked a woman if her birthday was March 19th. She said March 16th—only three days off. Later, I met a police officer from Cameroon. I guessed May 9th; his birthday was May 12th. State Fair magic: everyone’s a winner.
One of my own great State Fair triumphs was previously winning Best of Show in the photography exhibit at the Creative Arts Building. I felt like such an artist as people walked by my photograph saying, “That’s not the best; it shouldn’t have won.”
And this year, the first person I saw was Bobby Abtahi, former Park Board president and now vice-chair of the State Fair board, with his son, trying to go every day. To me, that makes Bobby a true Dallas patriot.
#StateFair #Texas #Dallas #FairPark #HallOfState #BobbyAbtahi #ArtDeco #EastDallas #DeepEllum