UNT Dallas is a keystone for developing southeast Oak Cliff

[Harry]

Its been 13 years since the city of Dallas bought 200 acres to seed what would become the University of North Texas at Dallas.

UNT Dallas has slowly found its footing in southeast Oak Cliff and is beginning to do what we all hoped it might become a catalyst for economic improvement in this almost rural part of the city.

The schools presence hasnt created waves of change. Its easy to forget its there, tucked away in just a few buildings on what is now a 246-acre campus just northeast of the intersection of Interstate 20 and Interstate 35E.

The temptation might be to suggest that UNT Dallas isnt delivering. Thats the wrong impression.

The school is growing at a good clip, with 2,600 full-time students. Pending legislative funding, a student center and a library will sprout. A new residence hall should be complete in 2016.

Meanwhile, significant development interest is growing nearby.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20150423-editorial-unt-dallas-is-a-keystone-for-developing-southeast-oak-cliff..ece