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.

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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

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

• (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