Main Street District, Dallas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Main Street District
A long exposure of Main Street, from east of Akard
Location in Dallas
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Dallas
City	Dallas
Area	Downtown
Elevation	430 ft (130 m)
ZIP code	75201, 75202
Area code(s)	214, 469, 972

The Main Street District is a lively area in downtown Dallas, Texas. It runs along Main Street, with Elm Street to the north and Commerce Street to the south. To the west is N. Lamar Street, and to the east are highways US 75 and I-45. This district is like the backbone of downtown Dallas. It connects many business and fun areas. It's important to know that Dealey Plaza and the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial are not in this district. They are a few blocks west in the West End Historic District.

Discovering Main Street District

Main Street in Dallas, Texas, around 1911.

Main Street has always been a very important part of Dallas. Many big stores, hotels, and banks used to be here. The city's first tall buildings, called skyscrapers, were also built in this district. Over time, new buildings were built further north and east in downtown Dallas. This meant some of the older, historic buildings on Main Street were not used as much.

But the Main Street District was the first part of downtown Dallas to get a big makeover! Many beautiful old buildings that were empty have been fixed up. They now have new uses, like apartments or new businesses. Pegasus Plaza is a cool public space right in the middle of the district. It's a great spot for people to meet up. The street itself is narrow and lined with trees. It's perfect for walking around. You can find many restaurants with outdoor seating, fun clubs in basements, and shops. One famous store here is Neiman Marcus. While many buildings are now busy again, some are still waiting to be restored. Main Street Garden Park is a new park at the east end of the district. It's a great place to relax.

Commerce and Elm Streets are also important. They form the edges of the district. These streets also have many famous buildings.

Exciting Projects Completed

Many old buildings in the Main Street District have been given new life. Here are some examples of projects that have been finished:

• The Titche-Goettinger Building: This used to be a big department store. Now it has 129 apartments and the Universities Center at Dallas. (Finished in 1997)
• The Wilson Building: This building now has 135 apartments. (Finished in 1999)
• Main Street lofts: These are 8 apartments right on Main Street. (Finished in 1999)
• The Kirby Building: This building now has 156 apartments. (Finished in 1999)
• Magnolia Hotel: This is a hotel with 300 rooms. (Finished in 1999)
• The Davis Building: This building now has 183 apartments. (Finished in 2003)
• Dallas Power and Light Complex: This complex now has 158 apartments. (Finished in 2004)
• Mercantile Bank Building: This building was renovated into 225 rental units. A new section with 150 more rental units was also added.
• Dallas National Bank Building: This building was turned into the Joule Hotel.
• The Metropolitan: This building now has 283 condo units.
• Third Rail Lofts: This project includes several buildings:
  • Gulf States Building: 68 apartments.
  • 1407 Main: 84 apartments.
  • 1414 Elm: 14 apartments.
• Pegasus Plaza: A popular gathering spot.
• Main Street Garden Park: A new park for everyone to enjoy.
• 100 North Central Expressway
• UNT Dallas College of Law
• Belo Garden Park

What's New and Coming Soon

The Main Street District continues to grow and change. Here's a look at some current and future projects:

• The Statler Hotel & Residences: This project will have 159 hotel rooms and 219 apartments.

Famous Buildings in Main Street District

The main Neiman Marcus store at Main and Ervay.

Here are some of the well-known buildings you can find in the Main Street District:

Learning and Schools

The schools in this area are part of the Dallas Independent School District.

If you live west of Central, you would go to City Park Elementary School. Then you would attend Billy Earl Dade Middle School. Finally, you would go to Madison High School. If you live east of Central, your schools would be Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary School, Alex W. Spence Middle School, and North Dallas High School.

In 2014, the UNT College of Law opened in the Titche-Goettinger Building. A law school is where people go to study to become lawyers. In 2019, after a big renovation, the law school moved to the old Dallas city hall building. This beautiful building opened in 1914. As of 2020, the UNT College of Law is the only public law school in Dallas.

Getting Around: Transportation

It's easy to get around the Main Street District and downtown Dallas!

Fun Streetcars

• MATA: M-Line Trolley

The M-Line Trolley is a special old-fashioned streetcar. It takes you between the Uptown area and downtown Dallas. The best part is, it's free to ride! The M-Line has many stops at popular places. These include the West Village, McKinney Avenue, Klyde Warren Park, and the Dallas Arts District.

Fast Trains

• DART Blue Line, Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line

DART trains are a quick way to travel. Here are some DART stations close to the Main Street District:

• • Akard Station
  • St. Paul Station
  • Pearl/Arts District Station

Images for kids

• 

  The Statler and the Mercantile at night.