Christmas has arrived in Preston Hollow, and so have the crowds. The mansion at 6215 Deloache Ave. that went viral on social media last year for its extravagant holiday lights display is back, this time with a Grinch theme. But what feels grinchy isn’t the decorations; it’s the lack of effort from the homeowner to help manage the crowds the display brings with it.
Holiday lights can be wonderful, but there’s a difference between a few festive strands and the spectacle at the mansion, causing headaches in the neighborhood.
Some neighbors have voiced their displeasure about traffic as a result of the crowds of people who have descended to view the lights.
It’s one thing when an entire street participates in a coordinated light display; it’s another when one home attracts throngs of people and leaves everyone else dealing with the disruption. That’s not holiday spirit.
Opinion
Council member Gay Donnell Willis, who represents the Preston Hollow area, told us that the city doesn’t necessarily have the power to intervene, except through ordinances regarding lights or noise that are already in place. But these ordinances can be hard to enforce because it’s difficult and time-consuming to prove a violation has occurred.
The city shouldn’t have to step in to resolve this issue. Homeowners have a right to do with their property as they please, but these rights come with responsibilities and a basic decency to others who live nearby.
Last year, the city spent about $25,000 in policing resources to manage traffic and crowds around the house as people flocked to get a glimpse of the elaborate display. This year, temporary no-parking signs have been posted along Deloache Avenue.
Willis said the Dallas Police Department can respond to disruptions, so if people are trespassing on property or the street is blocked, residents can call, but beyond that the city doesn’t have much in its toolbox to act proactively.
So many onerous laws and regulations arise because of people who put their own interests above the common good. That’s what is at play here. One person wants a show, while those around don’t want their small street to be the Christmas parade night after night. How is a city supposed to come up with an ordinance for this?
Sadly, it might have to. Willis said the city could consider an ordinance requiring decorations of this caliber to get a special event permit so the street could be blocked off in advance.
But any updated ordinances won’t arrive this year.
“I wish I had a magic wand and could just alleviate the neighbors’ pain on this, but that’s going to take some time,” Willis said.
Dallas shouldn’t have to spend time rewriting ordinances or allocating resources for traffic and crowd control. Instead, one person could be more considerate of neighbors. That would be the real Christmas spirit.