Nathaniel Barrett
@ncoxbarrett.bsky.social
Dallas developer, urban orchardist, cargo bike rider, parking reformer. Building a better Dallas, one lot at a time.
Well, today I learned there's a "DFW Trebuchet Society" and a little part of me smiled inside.
Trebuchet engineers and catapult enthusiasts gathered at Lake Park in Lewisville on Saturday for its annual Punkin Chunkin event, where pumpkins flew from handcrafted machines.
Photos: Catapult enthusiasts let pumpkins fly into Lewisville Lake
Trebuchet engineers and catapult enthusiasts gathered at Lake Park in Lewisville on Saturday for its annual Punkin Chunkin event, where pumpkins flew from handcrafted machines.
bit.ly
November 1, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Well, today I learned there's a "DFW Trebuchet Society" and a little part of me smiled inside.
Some of us aren't as talented as Uncle Bill.
October 29, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Some of us aren't as talented as Uncle Bill.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
Has anybody recently upgraded an electrical panel to a higher amperage in order to electrify something in their home? Or avoided electrification because of it? If so, a reporter would love to talk to you! Email me, [email protected], and I can answer questions/put you in touch.
October 28, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Has anybody recently upgraded an electrical panel to a higher amperage in order to electrify something in their home? Or avoided electrification because of it? If so, a reporter would love to talk to you! Email me, [email protected], and I can answer questions/put you in touch.
Dallas reformed its incredibly restrictive ADU rules a few years ago but sadly left several poison pills in place:
-Owner-occupancy required
-Requires trip to the Board of Adjustment with discretionary approval
-Possibility of BoA requiring an extra off-street parking space
Very few ADUs so far.
-Owner-occupancy required
-Requires trip to the Board of Adjustment with discretionary approval
-Possibility of BoA requiring an extra off-street parking space
Very few ADUs so far.
Our friends at @pewresearch.org have new research on what makes ADU policies work! 🔍
Cities with stronger ADU policies issued permits at more than 11 times the rate of cities with restrictive rules in 2025.
Cities with stronger ADU policies issued permits at more than 11 times the rate of cities with restrictive rules in 2025.
Accessory Dwelling Units Can Meaningfully Boost Housing Supply
Cities across the United States are grappling with a persistent housing shortage that has pushed up rents and home prices. In response, state and local policymakers have increasingly turned to…
www.pew.org
October 28, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Dallas reformed its incredibly restrictive ADU rules a few years ago but sadly left several poison pills in place:
-Owner-occupancy required
-Requires trip to the Board of Adjustment with discretionary approval
-Possibility of BoA requiring an extra off-street parking space
Very few ADUs so far.
-Owner-occupancy required
-Requires trip to the Board of Adjustment with discretionary approval
-Possibility of BoA requiring an extra off-street parking space
Very few ADUs so far.
Continued good governance moves from the Comptroller's office.
New: On state-required disclosure forms, Texas Comptroller Don Huffines omitted his leadership role in Huffines Enterprises Science & Technology, a firm that invests in Elon Musk’s company that has received tax breaks from the state.
Don Huffines failed to disclose role with firm that invests in SpaceX
On state-required disclosure forms, Huffines omitted his leadership role in Huffines Enterprises Science & Technology, a firm that invests in Elon Musk’s company that has received tax breaks from the ...
www.texastribune.org
October 28, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Continued good governance moves from the Comptroller's office.
One of my favorite weird little apartments in old East Dallas. Second floor accessible by tiny little spiral staircase
October 28, 2026 at 5:26 PM
One of my favorite weird little apartments in old East Dallas. Second floor accessible by tiny little spiral staircase
Wow and this is AFTER they fixed the "merge with death" from 183 to 35.
October 28, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Wow and this is AFTER they fixed the "merge with death" from 183 to 35.
At least in Las Colinas you can (but won't) take the train.
October 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
At least in Las Colinas you can (but won't) take the train.
It must just be the NYT that specializes in finding the wacky "median voter" types, because these people all sound very reasonable, even those I disagree with.
As the midterm elections near, divisions in this diverse suburban precinct in Garland appear to linger. Interviews with nearly two dozen voters and residents at home, work and while shopping provide a snapshot of a deeply divided America.
bit.ly/4sr3UDS
bit.ly/4sr3UDS
October 28, 2026 at 4:27 PM
It must just be the NYT that specializes in finding the wacky "median voter" types, because these people all sound very reasonable, even those I disagree with.
Get 'em
A Grand Prairie teenager is suing Grand Prairie ISD after district leaders barred her from playing the leading male role in Little Shop of Horrors.
bit.ly/4yI3Q47
bit.ly/4yI3Q47
October 28, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Get 'em
I unironically want to see what this looks like when it's all done. Wrapped parking decks plus "Italian Village"...there are entire planning and architecture essays to be written here.
October 28, 2026 at 3:26 PM
I unironically want to see what this looks like when it's all done. Wrapped parking decks plus "Italian Village"...there are entire planning and architecture essays to be written here.
The new Morgan Stanley tower in Dallas uptown is $1.3B for 709,000sqft vs $6B for 2.5M square feet. Big banks big budgets!
constructionreviewonline.com/morgan-stanl...
constructionreviewonline.com/morgan-stanl...
October 28, 2026 at 2:37 PM
The new Morgan Stanley tower in Dallas uptown is $1.3B for 709,000sqft vs $6B for 2.5M square feet. Big banks big budgets!
constructionreviewonline.com/morgan-stanl...
constructionreviewonline.com/morgan-stanl...
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
Uncle getting creative with the pumpkin carving.
October 28, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Uncle getting creative with the pumpkin carving.
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
“Ok you’re at 10 thousand miles. I’d highly recommend a new air filter”
October 27, 2026 at 6:16 AM
“Ok you’re at 10 thousand miles. I’d highly recommend a new air filter”
October 27, 2026 at 2:15 AM
Seems really weird we'd allow elevators to open into units but not into exit stairs?
...building up to four stories that isn't otherwise required to have a corridor. Presentation (docs.google.com/presentation...), formal proposal (docs.google.com/presentation...). If you are able to attend and speak in favor of it, it would help – the code insiders are pretty opposed to the concept.
October 26, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Seems really weird we'd allow elevators to open into units but not into exit stairs?
Speak in favor of allowing the elevator to open into the exit stairway.
This is supporting less door, otherwise you're in favor of Mordor...and then you could not simply walk into the exit stair. Very inconvenient.
This is supporting less door, otherwise you're in favor of Mordor...and then you could not simply walk into the exit stair. Very inconvenient.
October 26, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Speak in favor of allowing the elevator to open into the exit stairway.
This is supporting less door, otherwise you're in favor of Mordor...and then you could not simply walk into the exit stair. Very inconvenient.
This is supporting less door, otherwise you're in favor of Mordor...and then you could not simply walk into the exit stair. Very inconvenient.
Residential Zoning reform is the final boss because it is pure politics, vibes, and social stratification:
Zoning policy:
Zero basis in reality
Die hard adherents
Fundamental principle of modern planning
Benefits/Costs are irrelevant
Zoning policy:
Zero basis in reality
Die hard adherents
Fundamental principle of modern planning
Benefits/Costs are irrelevant
Building Code reform is like parking reform, but on hard mode. Only for reform sickos.
Parking policy:
Tenuous basis in reality
No natural constituents
Limited scope and impacts
Benefit/cost=∞
Building code:
Some basis in life safety
Many fiefdoms
Heavily interlocked
Benefit / Cost=Poorly studied
Parking policy:
Tenuous basis in reality
No natural constituents
Limited scope and impacts
Benefit/cost=∞
Building code:
Some basis in life safety
Many fiefdoms
Heavily interlocked
Benefit / Cost=Poorly studied
"We believe the future of code analysis as we look at more substantial code changes is data-based decision-making... every building has risk but using data will help us do it... and we need more and better data in the future." [omg thank you]
October 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Residential Zoning reform is the final boss because it is pure politics, vibes, and social stratification:
Zoning policy:
Zero basis in reality
Die hard adherents
Fundamental principle of modern planning
Benefits/Costs are irrelevant
Zoning policy:
Zero basis in reality
Die hard adherents
Fundamental principle of modern planning
Benefits/Costs are irrelevant
Because...all the heat will be generated by GPUs in the data center underneath!
Per Bathhouse Co-founder Travis Talmadge: “Bathhouse is winding down its Bitcoin program and will no longer incorporate it into new projects. It was a fun experiment that worked well, but it’s not a core part of the company.” The Dallas location will not feature any Bitcoin mining.
Will Lower Greenville get a Bitcoin mining operation?
Bathhouse once used Bitcoin-mining computers to heat its pools. As the company prepares to open at Dallas' Granada Theater, will it bring that technology along?
www.dmagazine.com
October 26, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Because...all the heat will be generated by GPUs in the data center underneath!
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
Huffines doesn’t want to do his job as comptroller. Don’t vote for him. | Editorial www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/edit...
Texas comptroller should be a watchdog. Huffines wants us blind. | Editorial
Huffines' office seems almost excited about letting vouchers become an unaccountable, out-of-control welfare program.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 26, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Huffines doesn’t want to do his job as comptroller. Don’t vote for him. | Editorial www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett
Nathaniel Ford officially takes over as the new CEO of DART today, but his former transit agency in Florida is currently the focus of a criminal investigation involving excessive spending and a $40 million budget deficit.
New DART CEO starts today amid investigation into former agency
Nathaniel Ford officially takes over as the new CEO of DART today, but his former transit agency in Florida is currently the focus of a criminal investigation involving excessive spending and a $40 million budget deficit.
bit.ly
October 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Nathaniel Ford officially takes over as the new CEO of DART today, but his former transit agency in Florida is currently the focus of a criminal investigation involving excessive spending and a $40 million budget deficit.
Candy bag warded against marauding dads.
October 25, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Candy bag warded against marauding dads.
Every year we do a trivia booth at our kid's school for Halloween. Watching kids try to answer questions like "who is the tallest teacher?" Or "What's the state bird of Texas" never gets old.
Some kids are very into it and come back 10-12 times.
Some kids are very into it and come back 10-12 times.
October 24, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Every year we do a trivia booth at our kid's school for Halloween. Watching kids try to answer questions like "who is the tallest teacher?" Or "What's the state bird of Texas" never gets old.
Some kids are very into it and come back 10-12 times.
Some kids are very into it and come back 10-12 times.
October 24, 2026 at 12:54 AM