Reunion/Union Station Background and Context Located at the Confl Uence of the Stemmons, Tom Landry and R.L

CHAPTER V | FOCUS AREAS

Reunion/Union Station Background and Context Located at the confl uence of the Stemmons, Tom Landry and R.L. Thornton

S CO AUSTIN ST S GRIFFIN ST freeways at the southwest corner of the CBD, the Reunion/Union Station Focus Dealey

Plaza S LAMAR ST Area is located south of Union Station and encompasses the former Reunion S HOUSTON ST JACKSON ST Arena site. The district is widely known for its three primary landmarks: Union

WOOD ST Station, Reunion Tower and the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel. The district contains S MARKET ST Founders S RECORD ST Square the largest contiguous amount of vacant land within the CBD and boasts unparal- Park leled visibility and access to all points in the region. In addition to freeway access, Lubben Plaza the site is well-situated adjacent to Union Station. Serving as an important transit Union Station Ferris Park YOUNG ST hub, the facility accommodates the Trinity River Express (TRE) commuter rail Union Station and DART light rail Red and Blue lines. In addition to the activity at Union Station C Reunion Tower and Hyatt and the Reunion Tower/ Hyatt hotel complex, the Reunion district is regarded as an extension of the convention center district. With the demolition of Reunion Arena, the area can be repositioned for new, complementary uses that will enhance the western entrance to the city.

Dallas Convention Center The Opportunity to allow the CBD to compete for future relocations from suburbs or other cities. MEMORIAL DR Establish a Landmark Mixed-Use Offi ce and Residential The large development sites, high visibility, and access to transportation make the Convention District that Connects the Trinity River Corridor to the Center site particularly attractive to high-rise corporate and residential towers (which SPORTS ST Downtown Core could have dramatic, iconic architecture at this key entry to Downtown). As the Although it has many acres of developable land, the Reunion/Union Station region’s only true multi-modal transit hub, Union Station would retain its DART, Focus Area is challenged with topographic changes, two viaducts, and a freeway TRE and Amtrak service while accommodating a station for the future DART “D2” interchange that prohibit the site from functioning as a contiguous district. The line. It is also the logical location for Dallas’s primary stop on the state’s proposed MEMORIAL DR DART tracks, in particular, disconnect the area from the rest of Downtown. Due high-speed rail line, solidifying the site’s prominence and transit accessibility in to the district’s lack of signifi cant historical development, infrastructure is likely the future. TOM LANDRY FREEWAY inadequate to support a major increase in intensity and will need to be improved The existing vacant land and parking lots provide a blank slate from which to to make the site competitive for development. Particular challenges will include construct a new development pattern that would tie into the Downtown core and installing new water loop lines, connections to the wastewater system, new electri- ensure that the area is not an “island”. While several potential build out scenarios D N cal and gas supplies, and constructing a new stormwater detention structure. Reunion/ Freeway/Ramp Focus Area Union Station Heavy Rail Park, Plaza or Open Space could take shape, the 360 plan envisions a signifi cant development opportunity JEFFERSO Focus Area DART Rail and Station Despite these challenges, the Reunion/Union Station Focus Area holds tremen- StrategyHOUSTON STDiagram VIA Potential DART Rail Alignment and Station Streetcar Boulevard that would come to fruition over many years and would strengthen the prospects M-Line and Station Key Connection dous potential to create a signature regional destination. The area is envisioned to M-Line Extension and Station Primary Retail Area/Activity Node for a future high-speed rail station on the site by capitalizing on its position as the

Concept Desire Line for Streetcars N be redeveloped into a dynamic regional center for offi ce, residential and visitor- 0 62.5 125 250 500 feet primary regional transit hub. Revised 12-20-10

Reproduced with permission granted by NCTCOG and the City of Dallas, Department of Public Works and Transportation serving uses. The area should be seen as a new location for corporate headquarters

100 DOWNTOWN DALLAS 360 – A PATHWAY TO THE FUTURE teef 008 teef N Revised 11-29-10 004 Development Site Future Light-Rail and Station Existing DART Light-Rail Potential DART and Station Potential Streetcar Park or Open Space Plaza Transit Key Connection Major Street Minor Street on page 98 See cross-section Development Site Future Light-Rail and Station Existing DART Light-Rail Potential DART and Station Potential Streetcar Park or Open Space Plaza Transit Key Connection Major Street Minor Street on page 98 See cross-section A A Reunion/Union Station TOD Potential Focus Area

Reunion/Union Station TOD Potential Focus Area

Reproduced with permission granted by NCTCOG and the Reproduced and Transportation City of Dallas, Department Public Works 0 200 CANTON ST CANTON

S AKARD ST Create opportunity for Create new decked development over I-30 to strengthen connection to Lamar and South Side District

S LAMAR ST

S GRIFFIN ST

S AUSTIN ST

Provide transit plaza for Provide stop on potential streetcar Lamar to anchor connection to new development area CADIZ ST CADIZ Provide connection through new deck connection through Provide park over rail tracks to connect Hyatt existing parking Hotel/Reunion Tower, garage and new development to Convention Center and Omni Hotel

S GRIFFIN ST Explore future development future Explore that is compatible with the Convention Center Enhance sidewalks along viaducts to strengthen pedestrian connections between Omni Hotel and new development Dallas Convention Center Dallas Convention Center

S LAMAR ST Omni Convention Center Hotel Omni Convention Center Hotel

S MARKET ST A Ensure design of new Jefferson design of new Jefferson Ensure viaduct connections to Memorial Drive support long-term development and urban design goals of the site

S RECORD ST

WOOD ST WOOD JACKSON ST JACKSON Dallas Morning News Dallas Morning News

S HOUSTON ST YOUNG ST YOUNG Union Station Union Station Create new terraced Create park and freeway open cap to provide space connection to River Corridor Trinity

Capitalize on proximity of Union Capitalize on proximity Station and connections to DART light rail, TRE, Amtrak, and and streetcar potential future high-speed rail

NEW JEFFERSON MEMORIAL CONNECTOR MEMORIAL JEFFERSON NEW HOUSTON VIADUCT HOUSTON Ensure stop along Ensure Houston viaduct line to serve streetcar new development

Integrate new promenade and Integrate new promenade central park as prominent for new features organizing development REUNION BLVD REUNION Create strong pedestrian strong Create River connection to Trinity Corridor along Reunion Establish strong connections Establish strong within development to encourage pedestrian and support circulation walkable blocks Retain existing frontage Retain existing frontage access to provide roads to grade-level streets and parking structures for new development

RIVERFRONT BLVD Planned Trinity River Planned Trinity Corridor Improvements Planned Trinity River Planned Trinity Corridor Improvements Redevelop former Reunion site and parking lots with mid- and high-rise mixed-use development rising to viaduct level Houston/Jefferson CHAPTER V | FOCUS AREAS

In this scenario parking garages, access streets and service/loading areas would be While the new deck-level street would have on-street parking, entrances to parking built on the vacant land and form the foundations for new buildings at the level of garages should be minimized to encourage daily users to utilize surface-level the existing Houston and Jefferson viaducts. Atop the parking garages and service/ access streets which connect to the freeway frontage roads. Buildings that front access facilities, new buildings, parks, and pedestrian connections would be inte- onto the viaducts or new streets, parks or pedestrian passages should have primary grated with the viaducts and the primary development level of Downtown, where public entrances and active ground fl oors with retail and restaurants. Passages the Belo properties, Union Station, and Convention Center are built. New develop- should be landscaped and animated with transparent windows, art, pocket retail or ment parcels would ideally be “carved out” as small urban blocks to discourage kiosks, and additional building entrances. large, superblock development patterns that could turn their backs to the rest of A core feature of the concept is its ability to bridge the divide between Downtown Downtown. Building footprints should similarly refl ect the smaller block sizes and and the Trinity River Corridor. Between the Jefferson and Houston viaducts, a should respond to the views available, with high-rises located farther west, taking new deck park would traverse the Tom Landry Freeway, stepping down to meet advantage of Trinity River and Downtown views. Lower-rise buildings should Riverfront Boulevard, where enhanced connections into the levees would provide provide a transition and protect views to the north. access to the Trinity River. Key sources of funding for these costly improvements A pedestrian promenade would follow alongside a new street that would connect will include the valuable development rights and tax increment associated with Lamar on the east to Reunion Boulevard on the north, rising over the DART the commercial and residential development program, which may need to focus tracks and serving as the primary circulation feature on top of the parking decks. on higher-end, luxury housing to maximize the land’s value and funding capac- A new central park would be an organizing feature, around which the new street ity. While an ambitious plan, opportunities exist to shape the redevelopment of New development, level with the Houston and Jefferson viaducts, should be built atop service roadways and parking structures like in Denver’s new Union Station redevelopment. would provide comfortable pedestrian and limited vehicular access for new this area due to current land ownership. However, to achieve implementation, the developments. sale or other transfer of the former Reunion Arena site to the private development community is critical.

Deck-level A streets provide visitor access Deck park over Frontage road and parking DART tracks provides access to parking and other New developments Park steps grade-level streets step back at passages down to meet Riverfront Boulevard

Houston Street Viaduct

Trinity River Levee Riverfront Tom Landry Frontage Surface Surface DART South Corridor Boulevard Freeway Road Access Access Tracks Market (I-30/35E) Street Street Street

A cross-section shows how a deck park would rise from Riverfront Boulevard over I-30 to meet the Houston viaduct level, where new buildings built over parking structures would create a new destination.

102 DOWNTOWN DALLAS 360 – A PATHWAY TO THE FUTURE