Dallas presents economic and community development update, highlights mill site, 791 Main and farmers market

Charlie Mitchell, Dallas economic and community development director, told the City Council on Feb. 18, 2025, that his department’s Part 2 annual update would focus on building inspections, economic development and urban renewal and would recap accomplishments and near-term priorities.

The update matters because the Mill site redevelopment, the Lockrail/La Creole node and the 791 Main Street project together shape the city’s plans to increase commercially zoned land and boost tax increment for future services. Mitchell said the work now under way could affect future development, local jobs and the city’s general fund.

Mitchell said the department closed out calendar year 2024 with several items finished or in motion. “We received and achieved the National Historic District designation downtown,” he said, and the city launched a Dallas business inventory (DBI) and a proactive business retention-and-expansion program. The DBI is now populated with contact information for roughly 30% of Dallas firms, Mitchell said, and the retention program—launched in July—had met with 15 businesses and sent more than 600 direct-mail letters to local enterprises to build the inventory and contact list.

Mitchell described the first-year farmers market as intentionally small; it had 33 unique vendors and accepted SNAP benefits through a USDA-supported market program. He identified Michaela, the city’s RARE participant, as the staff member who led the market during her two-year term and noted a succession plan is under way before her term ends in July.

On building operations, Mitchell reported that the city promoted a long‑time building inspector, Chris Reiger, to building official after the prior official retired at year’s end and that the department is interviewing to backfill the inspector position. The department is also preparing to replace a code‑services specialist who is retiring in late winter. Mitchell said the building division’s core responsibilities remain plan review, inspections and code interpretation and described staff strain from limited office space that constrains personnel growth.

Mitchell presented year‑to‑year metrics showing an unusual valuation spike in 2023 driven by the hospital’s and several residential projects’ activity; he said permits and inspections volume dipped in 2024 but that one year of variation was not yet a trend. “If we have multiple years where we’re trending a certain direction, I think that’s cause for some reflection and decision making,” he said.

On planning and land‑use work, Mitchell said the city is nearing completion of the Mill site redevelopment plan with a 2025 finish and will then seek funding for implementation phases. The Transportation System Plan update and the Lockrail/La Creole node master plan are also expected to finish in 2025. He said the La Creole node changes to the comprehensive plan and development code will go to the planning commission next month for a public hearing and will return to council afterward; rezoning of actual parcels will be a later step.

Mitchell summarized urban renewal activity: Dallas now has two urban renewal districts, a downtown legacy district and a newer South Dallas district. The downtown grant programs awarded a combined roughly $80,000 in grant funds that leveraged more than $480,000 in private investment, a return Mitchell described as “right around 6 to 1, roughly.” South Dallas has received increment but has limited funding available for projects this year.

He also said the city is tracking at least two industrial projects near Godsey Road and one on Holman that, when built, would increase tax increment in the South Dallas district. Mitchell noted continued support for partner organizations—the Downtown Development Association (DDA), the Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas Area Visitor Center—particularly around the visitor center’s search for a physical location and a tourism strategy tied in part to 791 Main Street’s envisioned role.

No formal council action was taken during the presentation. Mitchell closed by inviting questions; the council will consider La Creole node code changes at the planning commission public hearing next month before the council reviews rezoning steps later this year.