Mayor's 'coffee, deals and development'

Dallas Morning News
Sharon Grigsby // December 10, 2009

In case you missed this, check out Rudy Bush's report on the Dallas City Hall blog concerning the mayor's impressive outline for southern Dallas development, which he and others spoke about this morning.

Leppert's key points:

-- We all know there are challenges in southern Dallas, but what many people don't know are the many good things going on. We want to talk about that today.

-- Cited example of economic progress, including:

-- Tax base in southern Dallas has increased 75 percent, compared to citywide average of 50 percent.
-- A 586 percent increase in construction permits in southern Dallas since 2000.
-- Eleven TIF projects investing $135 million in southern Dallas.
-- Violent crime is down more than 20 percent; 80 new police officers in southern Dallas.
-- Code compliance complaints are down 20-30 percent.
-- DART to Pleasant Grove: "the largest investment in the nation in light rail."

-- Praised Methodist for investing $100 million in its facility, Allison at Baylor for partnering on diabetes with the city, Dallas Zoo for new management structure pointing it toward First Tier status, La Reunion tower expansion and improvements, etc.

-- Cited Allen's work on Dallas Logistical Hub.

-- UNT-Dallas, Paul Quinn - progress on both counts.

-- Pinnacle Park, Mountain Creek, Capella Park, renovation of Cliff Club at top of BofA, Lake June Plaza, El Rio Grande grocery, etc.

-- Seven million feet of new industrial space. "You'll see soon another big real estate development go public."

-- We're working on getting new, small banks to locate in southern Dallas; meanwhile Comerica and Wachovia have really stepped up....

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