December 4, 2009
On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council will consider the University of North Texas Dallas Area Plan, a 3,500-acre economic revitalization project for the city's southern portion. Passage is critical to supporting the nascent "town-gown" relationship developing between Dallas and its first public university.
The importance of this type of symbiotic relationship has been amply displayed in other urban centers around the country, such as Boston, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle.
Universities are among these cities' largest employers, and they are long-term, place-bound investors in economic growth. When development around universities is planned appropriately, local economies benefit from steady streams of students and university workers who patronize area businesses. Universities also are typically partners in addressing problems such as crime and traffic.
If the UNT Dallas Area Plan is approved, these are the kind of benefits the city will experience. The plan calls for sustainable economic development around the campus. Mixed-use residential areas, retail zones and entertainment venues will infuse much-needed capital into the city. As the university grows, businesses around it will grow. This will produce tax revenue and, most importantly, long-term job growth.
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