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Murals planned for new DART stop in Deep Ellum

03:17 PM CDT on Thursday, July 2, 2009

By MONIKA DIAZ / WFAA-TV

Video

Monika Diaz reports.

>More WFAA Latest News video

More than 15 years ago, one of Dallas' oldest neighborhoods was the hottest spot in town, but crime, violence and economic troubles killed the progress in Deep Ellum.

But now the neighborhood's comeback might be around the corner.

"I think Deep Ellum has come full circle and it's on the rebound at this time," said Frank Campagna, director of the Deep Ellum Mural Project. "I think it's important that Deep Ellum goes ahead and shows its true roots."

Campagna rounded up 12 artists with roots in the district to create two blocks of murals along Good Latimer, next to the new Green Line DART rail station. It's a reminder of the old artwork inside the Good Latimer tunnel which was demolished to make room for the rail project.

"The mural is exciting for me," said Tyson Summers, an artist painting one of the murals.

For him, the project is more than just throwing paint on a wall. It's about getting Deep Ellum back on track.

"The main thing that's frustrating, is the bad reputation that we can't shake away," said Summers. "We just have to get people interested again and get excited about coming back."

For many artists, business owners and residents, the new DART station is part of the comeback.

They hope it will bring back to life vacant storefronts and empty parking lots.

"We are working together now to make sure that whatever happens in Deep Ellum and it's resurrection is great," said developer and property owner, Gig Reeves. "It will be great."

The mural project is expected to be finished in early August. The rail station is set to open in September.