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