Harold Simmons Park Community Engagement

Community Planning History April 2019

Volume 2 02 Executive Summary 05 Methodology 12 Focus Plans

Reimagine Our River

The Trinity Park Conservancy is a nonprofit dedicated to the stewardship of ’ largest public green space, the 10,000 acres of the . Believing that the Trinity River is the natural gathering place for all Dallas residents, the Conservancy is committed to bringing people together to share their ideas, learn more about the ecology, history, and potential of the Trinity River, and to create a public space with equitable access for all Dallas residents to this natural treasure.

Since 2004, the Conservancy has raised more than $115 million in private philanthropy for projects that support the recreational use, community and economic development, and environmental stewardship of the River. In 2018, the Conservancy was selected by the Trinity River Corridor Local Government Corporation to design, construct and maintain the 200-acre Harold Simmons Park in a public-private partnership with the City of Dallas.

page 2 Executive Summary

The Harold Simmons Community Engagement The report analyzes eight key plans.1 Each of This analysis reveals four baseline insights to access to downtown. Desired development Report is comprised of a set of topics that engage these key plans influence current policy, include inform ongoing engagement and planning for the is dense, mixed-income, and includes a a broad range of interest from the public including significant community engagement, and serve Park: broad mix of housing types. equity and inclusion, ecology, public health, jobs neighborhoods that will be impacted by Harold • The Bottom: Desires to preserve and etc. This report describes research and analysis Simmons Park. For each plan, we describe 1. Some communities abutting Harold Simmons enhance existing single family homes with conducted by the Trinity Park Conservancy the priorities identified through community Park have participated in a planning and aging homes rehabilitated. Seeks mixed (Conservancy) reviewing two decades of engagement, alignment between community visioning process for their future, while others income, mixed-use redevelopment that community and neighborhood planning for the priorities and the plan’s final recommendations, and have not. builds on existing community assets. area surrounding Harold Simmons Park (“the progress since the plan’s adoption. 2. The quality and depth of community • Greater Downtown: Including Park”) which is located in and alongside the Trinity engagement has improved over the past twenty neighborhoods such as Uptown, Cedars, River Floodway between the Ron Kirk Pedestrian years. Earlier plans engaged fewer individuals, and the Design District, is enhancing the Bridge and the Margaret McDermott Bridge. with limited documentation and/or analysis of urban core with investments in parks, community insights. Plans conducted within the transit and a broad range of housing The Park will connect the Trinity River with last five to ten years are more likely to include options. They seek to improve connections , , and broad outreach, substantive dialogue, clear between the central business district and as a new public gathering place at the heart of synthesis of findings, and alignment between other neighborhoods in the urban core. the city. The success of the Park is closely tied plan recommendations and community 4. Implementation of community priorities in West to the vibrancy of its adjacent neighborhoods priorities. Uptown Dallas and the Bottom lags behind Greater and continued use and stewardship from existing Design 3. Two decades of planning demonstrate Downtown and Oak Cliff. In West Dallas, the residents. The Conservancy is committed to District consistent priorities for some communities City and private developers have invested in authentic and meaningful community engagement neighboring Harold Simmons Park, but not in new high-quality housing and infrastructure throughout Park development and operations with Oak Cliff. improvements. Limited funding has been made the goal that Park benefits are enjoyed equitably by Downtown West Dallas • West Dallas: Desires to preserve available for rehabilitating existing single-family surrounding neighborhoods and all Dallas residents. and enhance existing single family homes, expanding transit access, and providing neighborhoods with aging homes The Conservancy identified over 100 plans, living wage jobs. In The Bottom, no major rehabilitated. Describes new housing that is studies, and policy documents (“plans”) Cedars investments have been made in infrastructure mixed-income, with new high-quality, high conducted in the neighborhoods near Harold or in new or rehabilitated housing. density development that contributes to the Simmons Park since 1999. Along the way, creation of new living-wage jobs and access The Conservancy will continue its partnership thousands of community members volunteered Oak Cliff The to new services and amenities. with its neighboring communities to support their time in workshops, town halls, and listening Bottom • Oak Cliff: None of the plans identify clear their aspirations for Park and community sessions. The Conservancy seeks to build on these community priorities for Oak Cliff. However development. years of insight to help communities advance their news coverage of public meetings related goals. This report summarizes the priorities that Location of Harold Simmons Park 1 A Balanced Vision Plan for the Trinity River, CityMAP, City of to the Oak Cliff Gateway rezoning case communities identified for themselves through Dallas Comprehensive Housing Policy, Dallas Cultural Plan, Dallas in 2015, indicates that residents want a these plans, as well as implementation progress to Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, Downtown Dallas 360 walkable, transit-rich community with easy Plan, The Bottom Urban Structure and Guidelines, West Dallas date. Urban Structure and Guidelines

page 02 page 03 Methodology

This report defines its study area as the area within We evaluated the eight key plans on the depth of a two-mile radius surrounding Harold Simmons their community engagement and progress that has Park. This area includes 16 different census tracts been made towards the community priorities they and 25 different resident-identified neighborhoods. identify. We found over 100 plans and studies conducted in these neighborhoods2 over the past twenty We assessed depth of community engagement with years. The next few pages provide background the following three questions and rated each plan information on the study area and plans reviewed as low, medium, or high: for this report. • Was community engagement process as inclusive and representative? We then selected eight key plans for in- • Was community input analyzed and depth analysis in this report. Two plans target synthesized? neighborhoods on the east and west sides of the • Do the plan’s recommendations reflect the river respectively, while four are about the city as a community’s priorities? whole. These plans both influence current policy and include significant community engagement in We assessed plans based on the progress made neighborhoods near Harold Simmons Park towards the community priorities they identified. We rated each plan as having low, some, or high progress, marking some plans as too recently adopted to assess.

2 Including citywide plans

page 04 page 05 Neighborhoods in Study Area

METHODOLOGY: NEIGHBORHOODS

The 2-mile radius of the Park includes 25 neighborhoods spanning both sides of the Trinity 16 River. Neighborhood boundaries are based on research by bcWORKSHOP on how Dallas residents identify their neighborhoods.3

17 West Dallas Greater Downtown

14 1 Los Altos 14 Design District 15 18 2 La Bajada 15 Victory Park 20 3 La Loma 16 Uptown 1 4 Muncie 17 State Thomas 2 19 21 5 Western Heights 18 Arts District 24 4 23 6 El Aceite 19 West End Historic District 22 6 20 Commercial Center 3 5 Oak Cliff 21 Main Street District 25 7 Stevens Park Estates 22 Reunion District 8 Kessler Park 23 Civic Center District 9 9 East Kessler Park 24 Farmers Market District 7 8 10 King’s Highway 25 Cedars 12 11 Kidd Springs 11 13 10 12 Lake Cliff

The Bottom

13 The Bottom

Neighborhood

Harold Simmons Park

Trinity River Greenbelt

3 bcWOKRSHOP, “Know Your Neighborhood Map” http://peopleorganizingplace.com/know/

page 06 page 07 Census Tracts in Study Area

17.03 METHODOLOGY: CENSUS TRACTS Our analysis is informed by 2017 census data for neighborhoods near the Park.4 Neighborhoods east 18 17.04 of the river tend to have higher median household incomes and a higher white, non-Hispanic 100 population than neighborhoods west of the river. 17.01

Median Household Black / African Latino / Hispanic Tract # White Other 19 31.01 Income American Of Any Race

17.01 $102,857 65.5% 23.3% 11.2% 19.2% 21 101.01 17.03 $95,426 84.3% 3.8% 11.8% 8.2% 101.02 17.04 $110,411 88.6% 2% 9.4% 8.3%

18 $83,405 85.9% 7.4% 6.6% 9.6%

43 19 $113,016 82.7% 11.9% 5.4% 11.3% 20 $37,668 72.1% 18.9% 9.1% 58.2% 204 21 $74,271 56.9% 30.3% 12.7% 11.9%

31.01 $72,039 71.5% 16% 12.5% 14.4% 44 42.01 20 41 $27,955 59.8% 30.7% 9.4% 65.7% 42.01 $53,507 83.7% 6% 10.3% 62.2%

41 43 $47,051 75.5% 13.4% 11.2% 62.1%

44 $124,875 79% 9.9% 11.1% 25.7%

1005 $63,362 44.6% 44.5% 10.9% 20.2%

101.01 $31,079 51.5% 39% 9.5% 48.3% Census Tract 101.02 $45,648 85.5% 7.2% 7.2% 80.9% Harold Simmons Park

Trinity River Greenbelt 204 $66,858 64.8% 28.4% 6.9% 25.9%

4 2017 American Community Survey 5 Data includes portions of census tract 100 not shown on map.

page 08 page 09 METHODOLOGY: REVIEWED PLANS

We reviewed over 100 plans, reports, and policy documents for this report. Each was written in the past 20 years about a neighborhood in the study area or about Dallas as whole.

A Proposal for the Greater Trinity Forest Trail System and its Design District TIF Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Workforce Housing The Soul of The City: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Implementation Financing Plan Dallas City Development and the Trinity River From Dallas’ Neighborhood Plus Plan Founding to the Present A Renaissance Plan for Dallas Parks and Recreation in the 21st Downtown Connection TIF Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Neighborhood Revitalization Plan for Dallas Century Financing Plan Third Five-Year Review Report for the RSR Corporation Oak Cliff Gateway (ULI Study) Superfund Site September 2015 An Equitable, Healthy, and Safe Dallas County: Community Downtown Dallas 360 Plan Health Needs Assessment Oak Cliff Gateway TIF Amended Project Plan and Reinvestment TOD TIF Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan Downtown Dallas 360 Plan (2017 Update) Zone Financing Plan Cedars Area Plan Tourism Public Improvement District 2016 Budget Plan Downtown Dallas Historic Preservation Task Force Report of Oak Lawn-Hi Line PID 2016 Assessment Plan Cedars TIF Project Plan and Reinvestement Zone Financing Plan Findings and Recommendations Trail Network Master Plan Map Oak Lawn-Hi Line PID Proposed 5 Year Budget City Center TIF Amended and Restated Project Plan and Downtown Dallas PID Aesessment Plan 2017 - 2021 Trinity Forest Spine Trail Master Plan Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan Opportunities Along a River Downtown Dallas Turnaround Plan Trinity Lakes Amenities: Design Concepts Presentation City Center TIF: North South Linkages Project Pavaho Wetlands Consent Decree Downtown Parks Master Plan Final Report Trinity Lakes Project Phase 1 Design Guidelines Progress Report City Legibility Analysis PolicyLink Dallas Renters Fact Sheet Farmers Market TIF Amended Project Plan and Reinvestment Trinity Parkway Design Charette Report City of Dallas Thoroughfare Plan Zone Financing Plan Second Five-Year Review Report for the RSR Corporation Trinity River Basin Master Plan Superfund Site September 2010 CityMAP Final Report Dallas Lead Project Trinity River Corridor 1999 Year in Review South Side PID Service Plan 2017 - 2021 COMMIT Education Community Achievement Scorecard First Five-Year Review Report for the RSR Corporation Superfund Trinity River Corridor Balanced Vision Plan Site September 2005 Sports Arena TIF Amended and Restated Project Plan and Dallas Arts District Development Plan (Combined) Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan Trinity River Corridor Comprehensive Land Use Plan Fort Worth Avenue Corridor Land Use Plan and Urban Design Dallas Bike Plan Study Sports Arena TIF Amended and Restated Project Plan and Trinity River Corridor Master Implementation Plan Dallas Complete Streets Manual Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan Fort Worth Avenue TIF Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Trinity River Environmental Impact Statement Dallas Comprehensive Housing Policy Financing Plan State of the Dallas Urban Forest Trintiy River Corridor Improvements - Pedestrian Access Options Dallas Cultural Plan Fort Worth Avenue Visioning and Conceptual Land-use Planning State-Thomas Tax Increment Financing District Project and - Urban Design Plan Study Financing Plan Dallas Economic Opportunity Assessment ULI Case Study: Trinity Groves, Dallas, ForwardDallas! Comprehensive Plan Vision Stemmons Corridor-Southwestern Medical District Area Plan Dallas Floodway Project Environmental Impact Statement Urban Corridors: A Guide to permitted Uses and Design ForwardDallas! Policy Plan Stemmons/Design District Land Use Plan Standards Dallas Floodway Project Final Feasibility Report ForwardDallas! Streetcar Action Plan Target 2000 Progress Report Year End 2001 West Dallas Community Indicators Report 2016 Dallas Housing Authority 2015-2019 Five Year PHA Plan and 2010-2014 Five Year Plan Status Report ForwardDallas! Trinity River Corridor Action Plan The Bottom Neighbrohood Plus Target Area West Dallas Community Resource Guide Spring 2018 Dallas Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Grow South Community Indicators 5 Year Progress Report The Bottom Urban Structures and Guidelines West Dallas Comprehensive Land Use Study Dallas Streetcar Central Link Locally Preferred Alternative Grow South Community Indicators 6 Year Progress Report The Connected City Design Challenge: Dallas Trinity and West Dallas Land Use Study Downtown Dallas Trail Network Plan GrowSouth: Three Year Progress Report West Dallas Signature Point Project The Connected City Design Challenge: Jury Brief Dallas Tree Preservation Ordinance Housing Briefing: The Bottom Revitalization Project 2006 Bond West Dallas Urban Structures and Guidelines The Dallas Arts District Master Plan Dallas Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices The School Zone: Impact Report Academic Year 2015-16 The Emerald Bracelet Davis Gardens TIF Final Project Plan and Reinvestement Zone Inside the Loop Report Financing Plan The Future of Education: Community, Nonprofit, and School Kylde Warren Park / Dallas Arts District PID Serivce Plan 2017 - Data for the School Zone 2021

page 10 page 11 From the 100+ documents reviewed for this report, we chose eight for deeper analysis in this report. These plans represent the most recent Focus Plans efforts to document the community priorities of neighborhoods near the Park. Each plan currently influences City of Dallas policy.

Level of Community Plan Name Key Community Priorities Plan Recommendations Progress Toward Community Goals Neighborhoods Engagement

Create destination parks in the floodway. Restore the ecology Make the Trinity Dallas’ most important A Balanced Vision Plan for Low of the river. Don’t build a toll road. Make the project pedestrian- recreational and ecological asset. Create Some Progress Trinity River Corridor the Trinity River Corridor centered. vibrant neighborhoods along the levees.

Modify or remove existing freeways to make way for parks and walkable development. Connect downtown to nearby Reimagine Dallas’ freeways to build CityMAP MediumHigh Some Progress Greater Downtown neighborhoods. Stop prioritizing cars at the expense of other dense, walkable neighborhoods. means of transportation.

City of Dallas Create and maintain affordable housing throughout Dallas. Use policy tools to address Dallas’ Comprehensive Medium Promote greater fair housing choices. Overcome concentrated housing shortage and lack of affordable Recently Adopted All Housing Policy poverty. housing.

Focus on artists rather than buildings. Distribute resources Send arts funding more equitably across across the city evenly. Broaden definitions of art and culture. Dallas Cultural Plan High the city. Do more to support artists and Recently Adopted All Help artists, audiences, and neighborhoods overcome historic neighborhood cultural organizations. racial boundaries.

Dallas Parks Make the park system more fiscally Improve maintenance of existing parks. Renovate existing and Recreation Medium sustainable. Improve park maintenance. SomeHigh Progress All recreation centers. Make parks easier to walk and bike to. Comprehensive Plan Build more parks and trails.

Promote diverse housing options. Create a network of Downtown Dallas 360 downtown parks. Make streets and neighborhoods more Use urban design, development and Greater Downtown Plan High vibrant. Improve connections between neighborhoods and transit to make downtown more vibrant. High Progress across the Trinity River.

Preserve and enhance existing single- Connect the Bottom to surrounding neighborhoods and the The Bottom Urban family homes. Transform the Bottom Trinity River. Promote new high-quality mixed-use development. Low Progress The Bottom Structure and Guidelines High into a mixed-income, mixed use urban Preserve and enhance existing single-family housing. community.

Preserve and develop affordable housing. Leverage economic Preserve and enhance La Bajada. West Dallas Urban growth in West Dallas to provide high-paying jobs to existing Transform other parts of West Dallas West Dallas Structure and Guidelines High residents. Create a safe and beautiful neighborhood with a high into a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use Some Progress quality of life for its residents. urban community.

page 12 page 13 A Balanced

Vision Plan for PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS the Trinity River Community and Economic Development Community and Economic Development Use the new greenspace and transportation The Trinity Park Conservancy is now developing Corridor infrastructure along the floodway to attract new the first unified planning strategy for community high-quality, high-density, urban development. and economic development along the Trinity River. LEAD ORGANIZATIONS THE DALLAS PLAN, Create new special development districts in There is only limited high-quality, high-density AIA DALLAS, development near the river compared to what is THE DALLAS INSTITUTE OF neighborhoods along the Trinity River. HUMANITIES AND CULTURE envisioned in the project plan. YEAR COMPLETED 2003 Environmental Restoration and Management YEAR ADOPTED 2003 Promote biodiversity by meandering the river and Environmental Restoration and Management NEIGHBORHOODS TRINITY RIVER adding diverse vegetation. Improve water quality The City built portions of the Pavaho Wetlands in CORRIDOR by adding wetlands and reconnecting the river to the floodway just north of Harold Simmons Park. LINK TRINITYRIVERCORRIDOR.COM adjacent ecosystems. Preserve the Great Trinity The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the Forest. Upper and Lower Chain of Wetlands downstream in the Trinity Forest. No organization has altered the Flood Protection river channel or the majority of the floodway. PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY Increase levee height throughout floodway. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES Keep residential development out of floodplain Flood Protection areas. Include flood control features in new The City and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have Destination Parks Community Priorities Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge and Felix Lozada development. Reduce downstream flooding. invested heavily in new pump stations and flood 1. Create destination parks in the floodway. Gateway were completed in 2014. Harold Simmons protection infrastructure along the floodway. They 2. Restore the ecology of the river. Parks and Recreation Park will be the first destination park in the are planning future levee extensions and wetland 3. Remove the toll road from consideration. Transform the Trinity Floodway into the largest floodway. restorations pending federal funding. 4. Make the project pedestrian-centered. urban park in the country. Fill the floodway Restored Ecology with lakes and park spaces for recreational use. Parks and Recreation Engagement Methodology Portions of the Pavaho Wetlands have been Create new amenities including a horse park, New recreation facilities have opened outside of This plan built upon ten years of public engagement constructed in the floodway. The Upper and Lower interpretative center, and sports fields. the floodway along the Elm Fork and in the Trinity and discussion conducted for previous Trinity Chain of Wetlands were created in the Trinity Forest. These include soccer fields at MoneyGram Transportation River plans in the 1990’s. The Chan Krieger-led Forest. River channel and most of floodway remain Park, the Trinity River Audubon Center, Texas Build the Trinity toll road. Build signature bridges consultant team reviewed past public input, then unchanged. Horse Park, and Trinity Forest Golf Club. The to connect North and .6 conducted supplementary interviews with key Trinity Skyline Trail remains the only recreation No Toll Road Connect the river to existing transportation community leaders, and three public workshops. improvement within the floodway. City Council amended the Balanced Vision Plan in networks with new roads in the floodway and on 310 individuals participated in these meetings. 2017 to remove the possibility of creating a toll road top of the levees. Improve pedestrian and cycling Transportation No analysis or synthesis of community priorities in the floodway. access to the river. The City of Dallas and TxDOT built two was included in the final report, and the plan’s signature bridges across the Trinity. The City recommendations are not clearly grounded in Pedestrian-Centered Project widened Riverfront Blvd and Continental Ave to community priorities. Existing pedestrian access points to the Trinity vary greatly in quality and accessibility, and none of accommodate more vehicular traffic and gave Community Engagement Level them connect to walkable neighborhoods. them limited landscaping and bike/pedestrian improvements. Low Some Progress 6 Elsewhere, we use East and West when referring to the two sides of the Trinity River Some Progress

page 14 page 15 PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

CityMAP Mobility / Congestion Relief Mobility / Congestion Relief Reduce the footprint of existing freeways to Current TxDOT proposals for Lowest Stemmons, LEAD ORGANIZATION TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF I-30, and the Southern Gateway create barriers to TRANSPORTATION promote alternate modes of transit, like walking YEAR COMPLETED 2016 and mass transit. Reconnect the street grid. Add dense urban development and include limited bike YEAR ADOPTED 2016 bike and pedestrian facilities. Remove access ramps and pedestrian facilities. The addition of lanes will NEIGHBORHOODS GREATER DOWNTOWN have a limited effect on congestion due to induced where possible. Consider replacing some freeways LINK DALLASCITYMAP.COM demand.7 with at-grade boulevards. Livability / Quality of Life Livability / Quality of Life TxDOT’s proposals for Lowest Stemmons, I-30, Lessen the visual impact of freeways. Improve and the I-35 Southern Gateway ignore many of the Dallas’ bike and pedestrian networks. Remove recommendations made in CityMAP to improve barriers between local businesses and amenities. livability and quality of life. Each project will create Reconnect the urban core, fostering new cultural barriers to dense urban development and only the connections. Build new deck parks. Create Southern Gateway includes the infrastructure for PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY opportunities for high-quality development that a future deck park. However, CityMAP is being COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES enhances livability in the urban core. used by the City of Dallas to challenge TxDOT’s I-30 proposal. The City’s alternative design follows Economic Development / Growth Smaller Freeway Footprints CityMAP’s recommendations and narrows its Community Priorities Stimulate high-quality redevelopment by TxDOT’s proposals for Lowest Stemmons, I-30, and footprint, creates new deck parks, and invests 1. Modify or remove existing freeways to make way connecting neighborhoods and freeing up land the I-35 Southern Gateway will widen the footprints heavily in pedestrian and bike facilities. The City’s for parks and walkable development. now used by freeways for development. Leverage of each freeway. However, CityMAP is being used by proposal also ties the removal of I-345 to the 2. Connect downtown to nearby neighborhoods. redevelopment opportunities around the planned the City of Dallas to challenge TxDOT’s proposal for redesign of I-30. 3. Stop prioritizing cars over other modes of high speed rail station and proposed new deck I-30. The City would instead narrow I-30 and remove transportation. parks over I-30 and I-35. Create a new urban Economic Development / Growth I-345 at the same time. Current TxDOT proposals for Lowest Stemmons, district by removing I-345. I-30, and the I-35 Southern Gateway create burdens Engagement Methodology Connected Downtown for economic development. Widening freeway TxDOT hosted a series of 80 listening sessions with TxDOT’s plans for Lowest Stemmons and I-30 would over 200 stakeholders and three public meetings footprints will use up land that could otherwise be create new physical barriers between downtown and used for dense urban development. The proposals with a combined attendance of 250 people. From adjacent neighborhoods. Land that could be used for for Lowest Stemmons and I-30 do not include these meetings, the plan authors identified broad dense urban development would instead be used to opportunities for deck parks and other amenities community priorities and used them to inform widen the freeway and its frontage roads. that could drive development. Although the I-35 different scenarios for modifying or removing Southern Gateway project includes an opportunity existing freeways. While the plan’s recommendations Multi-Modal Transportation for a deck park, its success as a driver for economic represent stated community priorities, the community Several investments in multi-modal transportation are development will depend on whether the freeway’s engagement process only reached a limited planned or being proposed within CityMAP’s study design is sensitive to park users and promotes population and there were few ways for community area. These include a high-speed rail station, mutli- connectivity between the park and the surrounding members to provide input. modal transit hub, and DART’s D2 alignment which neighborhood. will include a subway under Commerce Street. Community Engagement Level Some Progress Some Progress Medium 7 Duranton, Gilles, and Matthew A. Turner. 2011. “The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US Cities.” American Economic Review, 101 (6): 2616-52. page 16 page 17 City of Dallas PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN Comprehensive PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS New Development New Development Housing Policy Address Dallas’ current housing shortage of roughly Although many units of housing are being 20,000 units. Incentivize the development of developed across the city, the rate of new LEAD ORGANIZATION CITY OF DALLAS affordable homeowner and rental development. affordable housing production is lower than the DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING Offer loans to rehabilitate or construct affordable target rate identified in the plan. The affordable AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION housing. Create a housing trust fund to support housing supply is still not increasing at the rate YEAR COMPLETED 2018 the production of affordable housing. Use TIFs necessary to address the growing shortage. City YEAR ADOPTED 2018 and comprehensive planning to encourage new Council passed a resolution allowing accessory NEIGHBORHOODS ALL affordable housing development. dwelling units in certain circumstances in June LINK DALLASCITYHALL.COM 2018. Preservation of Existing Housing Stock Offer loans to homeowners improving or Preservation of Existing Housing Stock rehabilitating their homes; charge interest The policies outlined for preserving existing relative to ability to pay. Offer low-interest loans affordable housing are partially funded, but the PROGRESS TOWARD COMMUNITY to landlords to bring residential properties into City is encountering difficulties deploying the COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES code compliance in exchange for maintaining funds. affordability. Create Neighborhood Empowerment Direct Assistance Zones that waive city fees for developers building Community Priorities Recently Adopted The policies for direct assistance outlined in the or preserving affordable housing. Use voluntary Not Identified. plan are not yet funded. inclusive zoning. Allow accessory dwelling units.

Plan Priorities Direct Assistance Recently Adopted 1. Create and maintain affordable housing Create a Dallas homebuyer assistance program. throughout Dallas. Run a voucher sub-lease program. 2. Improve Fair Housing Choices. 3. Overcome concentrated poverty.

Engagement Methodology As part of the planning process, a series of virtual and in-person town halls were held that attracted a total of 38,690 participants. The primary purpose of these meetings was to educate the public on the complexities of housing policy rather than solicit community input.

Community Engagement Level

Medium

page 18 page 19 PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN Dallas Cultural PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS Equity All Recommendations Plan Improve equity citywide through expanded and In November 2018, Dallas City Council adopted a adapted programmatic offerings. Establish targets cultural policy that reflects the recommendations LEAD ORGANIZATION CITY OF DALLAS OFFICE OF of the Dallas Cultural Plan. This policy focuses on CULTURAL AFFAIRS to improve equity in new cultural policy moving YEAR COMPLETED 2018 forward. the equitable distribution of cultural funding and on YEAR ADOPTED 2018 supporting artists and arts organizations. NEIGHBORHOODS ALL Diversity LINK DALLASCULTURALPLAN.COM Create and support existing cultural programming Recently Adopted that highlights Dallas’ diversity. Provide resources to support diversity at staff and audience levels. Expand the diversity of art and artists considered for grants.

Space Expand access to affordable spaces for creative PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY and cultural activity. Use City resources to provide COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES affordable spaces for historically marginalized groups. Support private groups that foster art in Community Priorities Recently Adopted public spaces. 1. Focus on artists rather than buildings. 2. Distribute resources across the city evenly. Support for Artists 3. Broaden definitions of art and culture. Acknowledge the value of the arts in creating a 4. Help artists, audiences, and neighborhoods thriving Dallas. Make it easier to apply for arts overcome historic racial boundaries. funding from the city. Improve affordability and quality of life for artists through policy initiatives. Engagement Methodology Partner with artists to address gentrification. The Office of Cultural Affairs and its consultants Maintain the cultural integrity of neighborhoods. conducted a six-month citywide community Sustainable Arts Ecosystem engagement campaign. This included large Use partnerships to increase the funding available town hall-style meetings, smaller neighborhood to arts and culture. Create a plan to sustainably conversations, and sophisticated digital surveys. finance maintenance on city-owned facilities. The engagement methods were designed to be as accessible as possible and included events across Communication the city, as well as ways to participate from home. Better communicate the value of arts to the public. Nearly 9,000 community members participated in Present Dallas as a global cultural destination. the planning process. Share the stories of the arts and culture in Dallas.

Community Engagement Level

High

page 20 page 21 Dallas Parks PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN and Recreation PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

New Parks and Trails New Parks and Trails Comprehensive Ensure adequate parkland to accommodate future The 2017 Bond packages includes $261 million for growth. Continue to implement the “Trail Circuit” investment in the parks system, including building Plan to create a more connected and active community. or extending trails. In 2018, Dallas City Council Collaborate on the realization of the vision for the passed a park dedication ordinance requiring new LEAD ORGANIZATION CITY OF DALLAS DEPARTMENT Trinity River Corridor as Dallas’ premier open space. developments to set aside land or fee money for OF PARKS AND RECREATION public parks. The Circuit Trail Conservancy has YEAR COMPLETED 2016 Improved Programming YEAR ADOPTED 2016 secured partial funding to build a 50-mile trail loop Use recreation center resources to meet specific NEIGHBORHOODS ALL around Dallas connecting several existing trails and neighborhood needs. Promote interpretation and LINK DALLASPARKS.ORG adding miles of new trails. education of the historic, cultural, and natural resources in parks. Emphasize design excellence Improved Programming and sustainability in parks and facilities. 2017 bond money will create facilities offering new kinds of programming across the parks and Fiscal Sustainability recreation system, including new aquatic centers, PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY Create a more financially sustainable park system. sports facilities, and design/cultural improvements. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES Build and strengthen partnerships to create a more sustainable park system. Promote the synergy Improve Maintenance of Existing Parks Fiscal Sustainability Community Priorities between parks and economic development to The 2017 bond program includes over $261 million The Dallas Parks Department has successfully 1. Improve maintenance of existing parks. enhance the recreational experience. in funding for parks, much of which will be used to promoted the idea that parks are a worthwhile 2. Renovate existing recreation centers. repair existing facilities. investment for public and private funding. The 3. Make parks easier to walk and bike to. Parks Department has built partnerships with Renovate Existing Recreation Centers private philanthropy and some new projects will Engagement Methodology The 2017 bond program includes over $261 million have matching private funding. Community engagement included two series in funding for parks, much of which will be used to of public meetings, online forums, stakeholder repair existing facilities. High Progress engagements, and a public survey. 1,163 people responded to the survey and 45 people participated Make Parks Easier to Walk and Bike To in the online forums, but numbers for in-person New trails funded by the 2017 Bond, including workshops and stakeholder meetings are not the Loop and the Northhaven Trail, will make it publicly available. Community engagement easier to walk and bike to parks. Other projects was used mainly to gauge satisfaction with the will improve sidewalks and ADA access to parks, existing parks and recreation system. Synthesis of making them more accessible. community input into clear community priorities High Progress was limited.

Community Engagement Level Medium

page 22 page 23 PROGRESS TOWARDS PLAN Downtown Dallas PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS Advance Urban Mobility Advance Urban Mobility 360 Plan Comprehensively revise mobility policy for DART’s D2 alignment would create three new downtown. Pursue expansion of transit. Leverage stations in the downtown area, including a subway LEAD ORGANIZATION DOWNTOWN DALLAS INC. freeway reconstruction. Advance pedestrian and underneath Commerce Street. The anticipated High YEAR COMPLETED 2017 bicycle improvements. Reform the approach to Speed Rail Station would connect downtown to YEAR ADOPTED 2017 NEIGHBORHOOD GREATER DOWNTOWN parking. the Cedars. City of Dallas is currently considering LINK DOWNTOWNDALLAS360.COM building a multi-modal transit hub near the high Build Complete Neighborhoods speed rail station. TxDOT has recently proposed Purposefully provide affordable and family-friendly widening IH30 in downtown. The City of Dallas is housing. Create vibrant parks and neighborhood challenging this proposal with the support of DDI spaces. Foster a diverse mix of commercial, retail, and the Downtown 360 plan. Instead, they propose and entertainment services. Increase educational narrowing I-30 to remove barriers to walkable, opportunities across all age levels. Make services transit-oriented development. However, no similar and amenities easily accessible. challenge exists to TxDOT’s Lowest Stemmons PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY Promote Great Placemaking Plan, which will further separate downtown from COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES Ensure excellent urban design to enhance quality the Design District and neighborhoods west of the of life and economic value. Activate the public Trinity River. Affordable Housing Community Priorities While several new affordable housing developments realm. Advance smart city technologies and green Build Complete Neighborhoods 1. Promote diverse housing options. are being built downtown, there are still not enough infrastructure. New parks and large-scale developments 2. Create a network of parks. to meet community demand. continue to bring new experiences and services to 3. Make streets and neighborhoods more vibrant. downtown. Although many new units of housing 4. Improve connections between neighborhoods Parks are being built, few of them are affordable. New and across the Trinity River. Four new parks are slated to be built in downtown over the next five years. Klyde Warren Park is schools are opening within downtown, including Engagement Methodology expected to expand. Harold Simmons Park will add CityLab High School and the soon-to-open UNT This plan is an update to the original DD360 200 acres of park space walking distance from Law School. plan adopted in 2011. DDI partnered with 40 downtown. Promote Great Placemaking organizations to inform the update and hosted Neighborhood Vibrancy Four new parks and funded or under construction over 150 stakeholder meetings. A series of public District-level investments in the West End, East in downtown: Pacific Plaza, West End Square, workshops and surveys led to a total of 1,500 Quarter, Farmers Market, Arts District, and AT&T Carpenter Park, and Harwood Park. Large private touchpoints with stakeholders and members of Discovery District aim to activate streets and bring investments in the East Quarter, AT&T Discovery the public. Community engagement was done at new activity to downtown District, and West End are intended to revitalize individual neighborhood scale and for downtown Connectivity entire districts of downtown. Harold Simmons Park more broadly. Community priorities were clearly DART’s D2 alignment will create three new stations in will add 200 acres of park space walking distance identified and guided the plan’s recommendations. the downtown area, including a subway underneath from downtown. Commerce Street. Plans are underway for a high Community Engagement Level speed rail station in the Cedars and a multi-modal High Progress transit station in downtown. High High Progress

page 24 page 25 The Bottom PROGRESS TOWARDS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS VISION Urban Structure Neighborhood Vision Neighborhood Vision Instead of broad policy guidelines, this plan used The Bottom has not seen the level of development and Guidelines community engagement to establish a shared and vibrancy imagined in the neighborhood vision. neighborhood vision. It then goes into specific Nevertheless, the neighborhood maintains strong LEAD ORGANIZATION DALLAS CITYDESIGN STUDIO detail on the urban design interventions needed to organizational capacity and is prepared for new YEAR COMPLETED 2015 realize the vision. development. In the next year, the U.S. Department YEAR ADOPTED 2015 • Create vehicular and pedestrian connections of Housing and Urban Development will likely fund NEIGHBORHOOD THE BOTTOM linking existing streets. LINK DALLASCITYHALL.COM new streets and sewer lines in the neighborhood. • Preserve and enhance existing single-family Next year, the City will hold a hearing on rezoning neighborhood. that will make it easier to build new development in • Develop quality market and affordable infill the neighborhood. single-family housing. • Introduce diverse housing choices west of Low Progress Denley Drive, including townhome, live-work, PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY and multi-family increasing density toward COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES IH35. • Mixed-use development along 8th Street from Community Priorities Low Progress I-35 to Brackins Village and along I-35 from 8th Same as plan recommendations. to the Trinity River. • Enhance existing and add new pedestrian Engagement Methodology infrastructure and amenities. CityDesign Studio organized a series of work • Make 8th Street a great street. sessions with neighborhood residents, business • Convert existing open area along 8th Street at owners, and technical experts to define a shared Townview into a community plaza. neighborhood vision. The Plan then detailed • Develop access paths into the river and invest how this vision can be implemented. Community in public space, such as an amphitheater and engagement guided every recommendation in the major entry features. plan.

Community Engagement Level

High

page 26 page 27 West Dallas PROGRESS TOWARDS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS VISION

Urban Structure Neighborhood Vision Neighborhood Vision Instead of broad policy guidelines, this plan used West Dallas is moving towards the intensity of and Guidelines community engagement to establish a shared development imagined in the neighborhood vision. neighborhood vision. It then goes into specific detail As a result of this plan’s recommendations, La LEAD ORGANIZATION DALLAS CITYDESIGN STUDIO on the urban design interventions needed to realize Bajada residents organized and advocated for YEAR COMPLETED 2011 the vision. the successful establishment of a neighborhood YEAR ADOPTED 2011 stabilization overlay limiting height for new NEIGHBORHOODS WEST DALLAS • Preserve, enhance, conserve the La Bajada LINK DALLASCITYHALL.COM community in its entirety. construction. However, existing residents are • Re-create Singleton Boulevard and Commerce challenged by rising property taxes and the Street as handsome “parkway” streets entering difficulty of finding higher-paying work from new the inner city. development. The Three-Hole Punch, currently • Create a new neighborhood spine street of under construction, will add 3 new north-south retail and services with high-density mixed-use streets connecting Singleton to Commerce and clustered along it connecting Singleton and Fort Worth Ave and will allow for new development PROGRESS TOWARDS COMMUNITY West Commerce streets. to be built further away from La Bajada. Zoning COMMUNITY PRIORITIES PRIORITIES • Step-down in density from the new between Singleton and the rail easement has been neighborhood spine east, west and toward La changed to allow higher density building. Community Priorities Some Progress Bajada. Same as plan recommendations. • Development of three to four active mixed-use Some Progress nodes at major intersections. Engagement Methodology • Allow for incremental rehabilitation and infill CityDesign Studio organized a series of work redevelopment of properties east, west, and sessions with neighborhood residents, business south of new neighborhood spine as demand owners, and technical experts to define a shared emerges. neighborhood vision. The rest of the plan details • Create a high-density, residentially focused how this vision can be implemented. Community neighborhood along the levee with connections engagement guides every recommendation in the into the Trinity Park. plan.

Community Engagement Level

High

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