Dallas, Texas

Major Progress within Key Focus Areas

From October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007

Economic Vibrancy

  • City’s Infrastructure Improvement
    • $1.35 billion bond program approved by voters on November 7th
    • First bond sale of 2006 Bond Program held June 2007
    • Previous Bond Programs Update
      • 95 Bond Program – 99% complete or on schedule
      • 98 Bond Program – 99% complete or on schedule
      • 03 Bond Program – 92% complete or on schedule
  • Citizen Feedback
    • 2007 Citizen Survey – 72% of respondents rate Dallas as a good or excellent place to do business up from 56% in the benchmark year of 2005 – a 33.3% improvement.
    • 2007 Citizen Survey – 56% of respondents rate job opportunities in Dallas as good or excellent, up from 41% in the benchmark year of 2005 – a  36.6% improvement.
    • 2007 Citizen Survey - Achieved a rating of 51 out of 100 points from Citizen Survey respondents who were “Pleased with the overall direction the city is taking,” up from 47 points in the benchmark year of 2005, an 8.5% improvement.
  • Focus on Current and Future Growth
    • Sales Tax has grown 3.3% to date in FY 06/07
    • City-wide taxable value grew 10.1% for tax year 2007
    • Commercial grew 11.4%
    • Residential grew 8.5%
    • The total construction permit valuation in FY 06/07 was $3.42 Billion, which is an increase of 21.4% from FY 05/06.
    • ForwardDallas! Development Code Amendments: Staff is working with a team of consultants and advisory committee to refine the regulatory approach for proposed new zoning categories targeted at promoting mixed use, walkable neighborhoods
    • Stemmons Business Corridor/Southwestern Medical District Area Plan: Completed preliminary analysis and held stakeholder meetings and workshops to develop a community vision for the area to be presented to the community in November before moving forward with an action plan for implementation.
    • Asian Trade District Visioning Charette: A Visioning Charette was held in collaboration with the Greater Dallas Asian Chamber of Commerce.  The results were summarized by staff and provided to the Chamber to be incorporated into their planning efforts.
    • Arts District Strategic Plan: The Arts District Strategic Plan was substantially completed and is pending presentation to the City Plan Commission and City Council for adoption.
  • Southern Sector Development
    • Creation of two new North Oak Cliff TIF Districts with expected new investment of $1.6 billion over 25 years.
    • UNT Campus Area Plan: Completed preliminary analysis and held stakeholder meetings and workshops to develop a community vision to be presented to the community in October before moving forward with developing an action plan for implementation.
    • International Inland Port of Dallas (IIPOD)
      • City Council approved the development agreements with Panattoni and Prologis development companies to construct 1.9 million square feet of industrial/distribution space in southern Dallas with an estimated investment of $80 million and creation of 1,000 jobs.
      • City Council approved a development agreement with Allen Development of Texas LLC providing $22 million in 2006 Bond infrastructure improvements to support the IIPOD Initiative
    • City Council approved a development agreement with Cherokee New Transit to initiate development of four mixed-use Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) adjacent to DART light rail stations.  Two   of these stations will be located in southern Dallas.
  • Business and Development
    • Value of real property in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts increased 25% from 2006 to $5,125,541,759.
    • City Council approved a development agreement with Next Block Dallas, L.P. (Valencia) to pursue the Transit-Oriented Redevelopment of 80+ acres near Presbyterian Hospital between Walnut Hill and Royal Ln. Project will include 90,000 sq ft of retail, 930,000 sq ft. of new office space and 3,8000 new residential units.
    • Worked with Greater Dallas Chamber and State to secure commitment of Comerica's relocation of corporate offices from Detroit to Dallas.
    • Executed a Development Agreement to provide public support for the construction of the $350 million Lake Highlands Town Center Transit Oriented Development.
    • Belo Gardens and Main Street Gardens are funded and demolition is complete on the Main St. Gardens block
    • 7 new foreign companies recruited to Dallas in FY '07 resulting in 146 new jobs
    • Finalized contract with CBS for the implementation of Kiosks.  The revenue to be generated by the program is an initial payment of $5M, plus an additional $20M over the life of the contract.  Of the initial $5M, the City has already received $1.25M.
  • Love Field Development
    • Facility Improvements include:
      • Completed Phase Two of the New Baggage Claim Area which opened in March 2007 with a new mechanical room, expanded baggage claim area, two new baggage claim devices, and new exterior canopies.
      • Completed design for Phase 1 of the Runway Safety Area Enhancements at Dallas Love Field for the adjustment of the effective runway ends for 13R and 31L to provide a buffer zone to minimize the potential of an aircraft overrunning the end of the runway after landing.
      • Completed design and commenced construction of Security Access Control System at Dallas Love Field to provide new state of the art computer based security system which meets new Transportation Security Administration requirements for the control and monitoring access of the most secured areas of the airport.
      • Completed construction of a new Field Maintenance Facility at Dallas Executive Airport which now provides work space for administrative functions, storage of field maintenance equipment, and general maintenance activities.
    • The Department secured approximately $15 million in tenant constructed lease hold capital improvements over the period at no cost to the City.  These improvements were constructed on the Learjet TX LP leased premises at Love Field. 
    • Initiated the concessionaire’s expansion of the West Concourse “Chili’s Too” which added an additional 40 seats and increased the sales volume at this location by 64%.
    • Implemented the Ground Transportation Vehicle Fee Program to collect trip fees from all ground transportation operators who pick up passengers at the airport.  New fee added estimated $170K to airport revenues.
  • Convention Center Development
    • Initiated the Dallas Farmers Market Shed renovations project with projected completion January 2008.
    • Successful renegotiated with Woodbine Development Corporation (WDC) two agreements:
      • Development agreement which provided for WDC to advance fund $3.90 capital improvements planned by the City through its 2006 Bond Program thereby allowing WDC to commence and estimated $20.0m in private investment into this city owned venue.
      • Successfully renegotiated an amended and restated Union Terminal lease with WDC, which addressed a number of confusing aspects of the agreement, improved the City's financial position and provided for clarity in assessing the amount of lease space utilized in the facility.
    • Supported the regional effort to secure the 2011 Super Bowl through gaining City Council approval of support resolutions for this event, yet ensure in the City's financial exposure to support this major event is minimized.
  • Street Lighting Outages
    • Decreased the percentage of street light outages on major thoroughfares from 14 percent to 9 percent (91% working) through temporary proactive patrolling and quarterly survey reporting.
  • Newsracks
    • Newsrack ordinance was adopted to regulate the distribution of publications in the public right-of-way to maintain public safety and improve the overall quality of life.  Currently, there are over 5,000 newsracks throughout the City that clutter intersections and sidewalks obstructing pedestrian traffic as well as public safety efforts in the event of an emergency.  The City Council voted unanimously in June 2007 to enact an ordinance that will monitor the placement of the newsracks with more stringent regulations and also impose design regulations to promote uniformity. 
  • Downtown Housing Improvements Continued
    • New residential units
      • Completed 1,103
      • Under construction 366
      • Approved 1,087
    • $2.9 million allocated to Downtown Homeownership Program for MAP assistance of $40,000 per homebuyer
  • Neighborhood Investment Program
    • $2.0M expended for public infrastructure and park improvements in NIP target areas
    • 104 Basic Service, Minor Home, and People Helping People repairs to target area homeowners
    • Ideal Neighborhood: Groundbreaking held to celebrate the redevelopment of the Bexar Street Corridor
      • Construction of street and streetscape improvements commenced March 2007 w/ completion by Summer 2008
      • Construction of residential and mixed used building to commence Winter 2007/2008
      • Approximately $6.0M committed for Infrastructure improvements, acquisition, A/E and development assistance
    • Frazier Courts neighborhood:  $5.7M in CDBG, HOME, 2006 Bond funds committed for infrastructure & park improvements, acquisition, and development assistance
    • West Dallas neighborhood:  $1.89M committed for infrastructure and park improvements
    • Neighborhood Survey:  1,561 surveys mailed to NIP residents,  66% of respondents surveyed indicated that improvements under the NIP have made a positive impact to their neighborhood
  • Urban Land Bank Demonstration Program
    • 254 land bank tax lawsuits filed
    • 90 properties purchased by Land Bank
    • 39 properties sold to developers as of September 30, 2007 with 62 properties pending sale,
    • 17 affordable homes completed and sold
  • Southern Sector Housing
    • $1.2 million awarded to Sphinx Development Corporation for acquisition of 4.8 acre tract and demolition of existing buildings for a 240 unit senior development
  • Single Family Development
    • Frazier single-family subdivision with 51 units and a $265,000 Bond award approved
    • 66 home constructed and sold
  • Residential Development Acquisition Loan Program
    • Acquisition of 511 N. Akard, a 15 story building for development of 194 unit multi-family, with 50 units set-aside for persons transitioning out of homelessness is in progress.  $750,000 CDBG awarded for project in March 2006
  • Land Acquisition
    • Acquisition of approximately 300 parcels of land in Dallas, Kaufman, Hunt and Van Zandt Counties to expand an existing water transmission easement to accommodate the construction of a new 144 inch raw water line from Lake Tawakoni.  This new pipeline is needed to provide the capacity to supply water to meet current city needs and future water demands.
    • Pacific Plaza acquisition with the Trust for Public Land – Pacific Plaza is one of the three new downtown parks that were the focus of the Mayor’s Inside the Loop Recommendations.  Pacific Plaza Park will be an approximately 3 acre site located between St. Paul and Harwood, east of Pacific.  The Trust for Public Land is an NGO that assists local governments in the acquisition of land for park or conservation purposes with an agreement to be repaid as bond funds (or other funding sources) become available.
  • New and Enhanced Public Facilities
    • West Love Field Branch Library
      • This is a new 12,000 square-foot branch library facility, completed on April 14, 2007. 
      • The West Love Field Branch Library is designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification.
      • The total project cost for design and construction is $3.6M
    • Timberglen Branch Library
      • This is a new 18,000 square-foot branch library facility, estimated to be completed by the end of 2007
      • The Timberglen Branch Library is designed to achieve a LEED silver certification. 
      • The total project cost for design and construction  is estimated at $5.8M
    • Walnut Hill Branch Library & Black Box Theater
      • This is a replacement branch library of 20,000 square feet
      • The construction was awarded on August 22, 2007 with an estimated completion date of August 2008
      • The Walnut Hill Branch Library facility is designed to achieve a LEED silver certification.
      • The total project cost for site acquisition, design and construction is estimated at $6.4M
    • Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center
      • The new Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center celebrated its grand opening on October 20, 2007.  This new 52,000 square-foot facility has the capacity to house up to 800 dogs and cats with a separate livestock holding area.  The adoption center has the capacity to hold 125 dogs and 75 cats and the separate Lost-and-Found area has the capacity to hold 250 dogs and 90 cats.
      • This facility is designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification.  Its most notable feature is the 30% potable water reduction achieved by the use of an on site organic waste water treatment system allowing for re-use of building waste water for kennel wash down. 
      • The total project cost for site acquisition, design and construction is $15.255M
    • Homeless Assistance Center
      • This is a campus of 6 buildings (5 new and I major renovation) totaling approx. 70,000 square fee for a new Homeless Assistance Center
      • The construction was awarded on January 24, 2007 with an estimated opening date in April 2008
      • The Homeless Assistance Center is designed to achieve a LEED silver certification. Its most notable feature is the roof system which is partly a “green roof”
      • The total project cost is estimated at $24.3M including $3M for site acquisition.  Another $2.5M is budgeted for  SRO development

Public Safety
Economic Vibrancy
Clean, Healthy Environment
Culture, Arts & Recreation
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