Location:

The MLK Station area is in south Dallas, three miles east of Downtown Dallas, just a block south of Robert Cullum Blvd along MLK Blvd near Fair Park.  The area includes a mix of housing, businesses, and institutional and community facilities. Much of the area is composed of large footprint retail uses, single and multi-family housing, and vacant property formerly occupied by residential or commercial uses. The station area is located at the terminus of South St.

Vision:

The MLK area is envisioned as a safe, walkable mixed-use neighborhood that provides a range of employment opportunities, neighborhood-serving retail, entertainment destinations and housing options. A critical priority is to progressively grow economic vibrancy in the area. Initial steps should include expanded vocational training, business incubators, and new employment-generating commercial and institutional uses. Business opportunities could be further bolstered through a range of commercial endeavors. This includes development of flex space that can respond to shifting market needs over time, a shared commercial kitchen to support local food service businesses, and retail uses that cater to the medical community at the southern end of the neighborhood.

Summary:

 The station area plan was developed through the HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant program and is intended to spur transformation of Dallas DART station areas through catalytic projects, public-private partnerships, and reuse and rehabilitation of existing buildings. Each plan developed through this grant outlines an approach to stimulating and guiding redevelopment activities. Primary aspects of these approaches involve identification of strategic opportunities, catalyst development sites, character and design guidelines, and implementation actions. Other plans include: Buckner station. Area Plan, Lancaster Corridor Station Area Plan, Hatcher Station Area Plan and Vickery Meadow Station Area Plan.

The MLK Station Area Plan details specific initiatives to create a better future for the MLK area, with attention to reinvigorating affordable housing, improving safety and multi-modal connectivity, and establishing strategies and guidelines to create a thriving transit-oriented neighborhood over the long term.

The plan outlines a development action plan, adaptive re-use action plan and adaptive re-use guidelines. This Plan's implementation initiatives are intended to spur transformation of the MLK Station area and create a thriving transit-oriented neighborhood over the long term. Key strategies related to financing, outreach, zoning, and transportation will help advance the strategic opportunities outlined in this Plan.

Additional Information:               

The Grand Park South TIF District was created in 2005 to enhance the real estate market and encourage new investment by providing a source of funding for public amenities and infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood.

South Dallas/Fair Park Public Improvement District (PID) was established in 2016. The PID provides  enhanced security, capital improvements, and marketing among other​ strategies.