Dallas Council Briefed On Ambitious Downtown Plan

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Dallas City Council was briefed on the ambitious Dallas Downtown 360 Plan at Wednesday's council briefing.

"As goes downtown, so goes Dallas," offered John Crawford, President and CEO of DowntownDallas Inc., an agency representing commercial and retail interests in the center core. The council heard from city staffers that downtown will define the future. And with the area beginning to emerge from an economic slowdown, they say now is the ideal time to put the blueprint into action.

"I'd argue that Downtown Dallas is not only important to all of Dallas, but also this entire region," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.

The plan focuses on the core seven of 16 downtown areas, with a sweeping vision of what the future might be. It has ideas to expand transit, seek new solutions to parking issues, create vibrant streets and public places, create an overall urban design plan, and offer more and better types of housing.

One area getting a close look: 13-acres near the Arts District, now owned by a single developer who hopes to put in a mix of office, retail, and – importantly –residential. Crawford explains it will add a new dimension to the district.

"It'll be a much broader scope of what the Arts District really means, other than just culture," he said.

A similar setting is envisioned for land that used to be Reunion Arena, coupled with Union Station. And there's thought for stimulating entertainment options near the West End.

"I was one of the skeptics," said councilwoman Angela Hunt, an early critic, who quickly added, "but as we move forward in the process one thing became clear, this wasn't a plan and this won't be a plan that will sit on the shelf."

The city already has parks and a convention center hotel in the works. Crawford promises the private sector will do its part, too.

"The depth of the detail in what it's going to take to revitalize certain areas to make them truly livable and walkable and exciting," Hunt said.

Council members will get a final briefing and tweaking of the plan next month. Barring any complications, they'll take a vote to formally approve the plan in April.