Photo Credit: Breonny Lee

BY Taylor Adams Cogan

A lot goes into keeping Deep Ellum special: Musicians who fill the venues with original sounds that move a crowd, artists whose murals draw people to see the vibrant streets, business owners who pour their time into making a space entertaining, safe, and thriving. There are less obvious roles that are just as vital – employees who keep the sidewalks clean, people who submit 311 requests to ensure streetlights are lit, even landlords who keep the properties habitable.

And, then, there are people who may feel more removed: Those who consider a Specific Use Permit for alcohol sales, agree to a change in zoning use, or help design a beautification effort. But some of these people aren’t as distant as you might think: For one person who represented Deep Ellum on the horseshoe of the Dallas City Council, he was helping to give a voice to his own neighbors.

After serving eight years on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees, Adam Medrano stepped into the Council role in 2013 to represent District 2, the Dallas district he was born and raised in. While he has had a family legacy of serving the city, Medrano forged his own path, one that made many residents feel like they had their own issues brought to Marilla Street.

“I wanted to include everything – from residents to business owners, people running businesses, employers – I wanted to be that type who included everyone, not just the Foundation board,” he says. “I wanted to let everyone know they all had a voice, no matter what.”

Before he took office, Medrano was known in the city, from Oak Lawn, where his family has been for generations, to Deep Ellum, where he lived – eventually with a puppy who would grow into a great Mastiff, Bishop. He was able to represent all of District 2 because he was raised throughout it and lived on Elm Street. A big reason he was able to get things done in his eight years as City Councilmember was that he was always accessible.

“Everybody could reach out to me – Facebook, call me – I would get a lot of Facebook messages or they’d tag me on posts on what’s going on, they felt comfortable enough to do that, which I enjoyed, and we’d get things done,” he said. “They were my eyes and ears in the neighborhood, even though I lived there.”

And, living there was a big part of his life, both in that it was where he had fun, where he made his community, and where he had the privilege of representing.

“I love downtown living: I loved all of that, hearing sirens, hearing people leave from the clubs and bars – they were having a good time, that’s what I heard, people walking up and down the street laughing, excited to go wherever they were headed,” he says. “I was able to see the neighborhood from the perspective of a resident, not just a councilmember. I witnessed firsthand the growth there.”

In 2013, when he started on the Council, the beautification efforts that would soften Elm Street with some rain gardens and flowers was already underway (approved in the 2006 bond program).

“Some people might’ve not liked the changes that were occurring, but it was inevitable: Things were happening to bring more retail, not just mom-and-pop shops,” he says. “In order for a neighborhood to survive and grow, you need a mix of types of businesses.”

Medrano set to achieving plenty himself as Councilmember, including:

• Regularly securing funding in the annual budget to serve District 2 residents.
• Getting the city to dedicate more police officers to Deep Ellum.
• Starting the process to have a dedicated police unit for Deep Ellum (which current Concilmember Jesse Moreno completed).
• Facilitating efforts to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Leading the charge for the City of Dallas to have the first official City pride flag to be displayed at all city-operated facilities.
• Helping the city to prevent a toll road over the Trinity River and its floodplain.
• Securing more than $80 million for street improvements, parks, public safety, libraries, and economic development in District 2 in the 2017 bond.
• Leading two successful street name change campaigns to honor Dallas residents: Mr. Dirk Nowitzki and Mr. Botham Jean.

Medrano and his team had a long list of what they actually did for neighborhoods, though, because as issues came up, both big and small, Medrano would find a way to address them. It may have been a business that desperately needed its street entrance improved, or a resident who was having a daily issue that was affecting their quality of life. The list is endless for what he was able to do, which is why he garnered the nickname of the G.O.A.T. on Council as he stepped down in 2021.

Medrano, who now lives in his family home in Oak Lawn, loved living in Deep Ellum, where you’ll still find him working today.

“It’s the place where everyone wants to be, and anytime an incident happens with police, I wanted to say it’s safe – it’s a big city and crime happens. I helped show people it was safe by showing people the Councilmember lives there,” he says.

Today, he’s an advocate for the neighborhood by going out, having meetings, or posting on social media about the neighborhood. He’s still in touch with residents and stakeholders, even working for some of them in his post-Council, consultant role.

“I like to bring clients to Deep Ellum, some of them are not from here, so I make sure we visit Deep Ellum businesses, to support them, and they like the energy and vibe,” he says.

You’ll find him eating at the local restaurants or attending a show in the neighborhood when he’s not playing with his massive pup, celebrating a new pair of Nikes, or cheering on the Dallas Mavericks. He’s such a fan of the latter that he landed an official capacity in 2024, serving on the Dallas Mavericks Advisory Council.

It’s clear Medrano will always find a way to celebrate and serve Dallas, and part of that will always include Deep Ellum.