East McKinney – Denton’s Next Cultural District?
It doesn’t take much creativity or vision to see the possibilities in the area immediately surrounding the downtown courthouse. As if the sense of place and center of gravity provided by the historic courthouse wasn’t enough, the the arrival of the A-Train East of downtown has helped build momentum for the Hickory Street corridor between Bell and the square. That same train station, itself a new center of gravity, holds out potential for new possibilities “on the other side of the tracks.” Although there have been no plans, investments, or initiatives from the city or business community, promising signs of new life are beginning to emerge in an area you might least expect…
East McKinney Street between Bell and Woodrow is not the most obvious place to imagine a new local hotspot. It lacks walkable or bikable connectivity, there are no examples of significant architecture, and a hodge-podge of zoning has made for a most unappealing streetscape. Set in between two historically minority neighborhoods to the North and South, the city jail to the West, and the county jail and juvenile detention facility to the East, McKinney street has tended to develop accordingly: check cashing stations, fast food, bail bonds, lawyers, and convenience stores with cheap beer.
For those who have been paying attention over the last couple of years, this area has also become one of the best places to find authentic Mexican cuisine in the entire city. Over a year ago, I made the case that the area’s taquerias and the emerging weekend evening outside taco stands connected to them could be seen as anchors of a new cultural district. People, families, even young children were beginning to wander out late into the evening to enjoy the community and sense of place created by these establishments. Yet a recent crackdown by city food inspectors has all but done away with that spark of life. As it turns out, the city code has no provision for regular outdoor cooking by commercial establishments. The life sparked on this dreary street by these small businesses was quickly extinguished by local government regulations.
But that hasn’t stopped Gricelda Samano, owner of La Estrella (the bright yellow mini market just on the other side of the tracks on the corner of McKinney and Railroad) from continuing her fight to bring a sense of pride into this part of town for the sake of the surrounding neighborhoods and the Hispanic community at large. I drove past her place on Saturday night around 10pm – this is the gem I came across…
The Superestrellas just happened to be performing a live outdoor concert that night – a band of youngsters (that kid owning the timbale is a mere seven years old). This place, previously a hangout for the chronically homeless, drug dealers and seekers prior to Gricelda’s time, is now attracting families late into the night. She is creating a sense of place on an otherwise blighted street, encouraging a vision for reinvestment, and creating a place for community in walking distance from neighborhoods. She is doing what the city should be doing.
Oh, and I walked away with three carne asada tacos and three tacos al pastor…
One Comment
That is just pure love, right there. I know what we’ll be doing on an upcoming summer evening. Thanks for sharing this.