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Author Topic: Dallas: anti-freeway activist Wick Allison dies  (Read 1820 times)

MaxConcrete

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Dallas: anti-freeway activist Wick Allison dies
« on: September 02, 2020, 08:14:21 PM »

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/obituaries/2020/09/02/wick-allison-publishing-entrepreneur-and-founder-of-d-magazine-dies-at-72/

Wick Allison was the leader of anti-freeway efforts in Dallas, and he used his magazine to publish numerous anti-freeway articles, especially relating to Interstate 345. The obituary mentions he was the primary backer of the Coalition for a New Dallas, an anti-freeway advocacy.

May he rest in peace. But for freeways and the preservation of Interstate 345, his departure is probably a good thing, and maybe a very good thing. Of course, it remains to be seen if anyone will step into his role as anti-freeway leader.

Quote
Wick Allison, the pioneering publishing entrepreneur who founded D Magazine, conservative intellectual who served for several years as publisher of the National Review but who later endorsed (and then recanted) Barack Obama for president, and deep-rooted Texan who loved nothing more than fly fishing in upstate New York, died late Tuesday night from complications of bladder cancer. He was 72.
...
As a primary backer of the nonprofit, Coalition for a New Dallas, Allison advocated for tearing down highways that cut through the city’s core and reconnecting neighborhoods.

The Ghostbuster

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Re: Dallas: anti-freeway activist Wick Allison dies
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2020, 02:27:21 PM »

The Coalition for a New Dallas will probably continue on without him. Did the coalition support tearing down any other Dallas freeways besides Interstate 345?
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MaxConcrete

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Re: Dallas: anti-freeway activist Wick Allison dies
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2020, 05:00:07 PM »

The Coalition for a New Dallas will probably continue on without him. Did the coalition support tearing down any other Dallas freeways besides Interstate 345?

The Coalition was against the Trinity Toll Road. Of course they succeeded in getting that project killed, largely by getting anti-tollway council representatives elected to Dallas City County. That was not a simple task to accomplish, and showed that they had political savvy, influence and clout. But killing the Trinity Toll Road was relatively easy, since it had marginal support and was so expensive that no one (including NTTA) wanted to build it.

IIRC, the Coalition published a proposal to redo downtown Dallas freeways, which of course included removal of IH 345 and also relocated Interstate 30 well south of downtown, placing it along the two railroad corridors (on a much longer route). That plan was somewhat ridiculous, which was good in my opinion because they lost a lot of credibility. TxDOT is now preparing to move forward with rebuilding IH 30 in its current location.

So I think the only item still in play is IH 345. As you mention, the Coalition for a New Dallas will probably continue on without him. But will D magazine still be its mouthpiece? And will it still be as active as it was in the Wick Allison era? That remains to be seen. But I think there's a good chance it will be less influential without a leader as committed as Allison.

 


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