Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has a plan to make South Dallas safer.
Dallas City Council unanimously approved last week Johnson’s proposal to add $500,000 in lighting improvements to the area. The funds will be used to install 76 new lights along key corridors in the community.
“We are putting public safety first and getting back to basics in Dallas — and to do so, we are leaving no stone unturned,” Johnson said in a news release. “These lighting upgrades can help make our wonderful South Dallas community safer while also creating the conditions necessary for our residents and businesses to thrive in the years ahead.”
Johnson’s proposal received support from the Grand Park South Tax Increment Financing District’s advisory board. While TIF Districts traditionally are used to support developers pursuing specific economic development projects, Johnson asked board chairs to consider using available funds to instead pay for blight remediation and lighting improvements.
The TIF district is composed of neighborhoods south of Fair Park. Council member Adam Bazaldua, whose council district includes the area, voiced his support for the plan.
“Exciting things are happening in South Dallas, and these lighting improvements will add to that momentum,” he said in a news release. “This is a major investment in public safety, economic development, and basic infrastructure in an area that City Hall has historically neglected.
“I am grateful to Mayor Johnson for proposing this innovative strategy and to my City Council colleagues for supporting our efforts to make Dallas safer and more vibrant.”
Tentative schedule
- November: Contractor starts civil work and materials ordered.
- Spring 2022: Materials expected to arrive (a minimum of 16 weeks is expected, but it could be substantially longer).
- June 2022: Estimated completion, which could be delayed depending on when the materials arrive.
