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As one of the top ranked mechanics in Dallas, Hinga Mbogo has served a wide range of clients, including a Dallas Symphony Orchestra musician, and the Dallas Police Department, by repairing their undercover cars. “When I opened this shop, I thought I had it made. I thought I had the American dream,” he said.
But thanks to a little-known zoning tactic known as “amortization,” the Dallas City Council is trying to remove Hinga from his own property. Back in 2005, the council re-zoned Hinga’s neighborhood for a “planned development district.” Any properties that were “nonconforming” with the new zoning designation had a limited amount of time to comply. For Hinga, that would mean closing down his business. “When I found out I had to lose my livelihood, I couldn’t believe that I was in America,” he added.
But thanks to a little-known zoning tactic known as “amortization,” the Dallas City Council is trying to remove Hinga from his own property. Back in 2005, the council re-zoned Hinga’s neighborhood for a “planned development district.” Any properties that were “nonconforming” with the new zoning designation had a limited amount of time to comply. For Hinga, that would mean closing down his business. “When I found out I had to lose my livelihood, I couldn’t believe that I was in America,” he added.
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