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From Lawyer to Developer: Chad West on Building Dallas’ Future

In this episode of Building Dallas, we sit down with Chad West — Army veteran, real estate developer, and Oak Cliff’s District 1 City Council member — to talk about the future of real estate and development in Dallas.

Chad shares how he transitioned from a legal career to real estate investing, why commercial real estate is more stable than the stock market, and what major developments are shaping West Dallas and Oak Cliff.

🎯 Topics Covered

  • Why Chad trusts real estate over stocks in DFW

  • How adaptive reuse transformed Oak Cliff properties

  • What Triple Net leases mean for landlords

  • The next hotspots for Dallas growth

  • How residents can influence development decisions

  • The debate over highways vs neighborhoods in Dallas

📍 Whether you’re a homeowner, builder, or developer in North Texas, you’ll love this deep dive into the city's future.

—
 Presented by Arrington Roofing, proudly serving North Texas property owners for 40+ years.

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Keep up with Chad West
Website: https://chadwestdallas.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chadwestdallas

Episode Summary
00:00 - Why DFW Real Estate Will Boom for the Next 10 Years

00:45 - Meet Chad West: Army Vet, Lawyer, Developer, Councilman

02:00 - How a Bad Landlord Experience Led to Real Estate Success

04:00 - Inside Chad’s First Adaptive Reuse Project in Oak Cliff

06:00 - Why Commercial Real Estate Beats Stocks in Dallas

07:15 - Triple Net Leases Explained: How Commercial Real Estate Works

09:00 - Are Commercial Property Owners Really Happier?

10:00 - Is West Dallas Already the Next Hotspot?

11:30 - Hidden Gems: The Future of West Oak Cliff Development

13:50 - New Sprouts in West Dallas? Here’s How It Happened

15:00 - Why Oak Cliff Still Lacks Enough Grocery Stores

17:00 - What’s Blocking Trader Joe’s and HEB from Moving to Oak Cliff?

19:00 - How Road Infrastructure Impacts Home Value in Dallas

21:00 - Why Chad West Chose Public Service Over Private Wealth

22:30 - The Origin of Dash for the Beads Race in Oak Cliff

24:30 - How Community Events Shape Stronger Dallas Neighborhoods

26:00 - Will Dallas Expand Its Streetcar System? Here’s the Plan

28:00 - Can Dallas Ever Compete with European Public Transit?

29:45 - Why Parking Reform Matters for Small Businesses in Dallas

31:00 - How Parking Rules Hurt Entrepreneurs and Investors

34:30 - The Big Debate: Should Dallas Remove Highways Over Downtown?

36:00 - 5 Million People Are Moving to DFW — What Happens Next?

38:00 - What Kind of City Do Dallas Residents Really Want?

40:00 - How Residents Can Influence City Planning (and Why It’s Hard)

43:00 - The Truth About How Decisions Are Made in Dallas Government

45:00 - Why Chad Believes in Preserving Oak Cliff’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

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