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City to seek TIF support and development agreement for new downtown Fire Station 18; additional PIDs proposed
Summary
Economic Development staff previewed a plan to use a TIF development agreement to finance construction of a replacement Fire Station 18 in downtown Dallas and noted two proposed public improvement districts; staff requested authorization for public hearings in mid-May.
Economic Development staff told the committee on April 7 that the city will use a TIF (tax increment financing) plan amendment and a development agreement to deliver a replacement for downtown Fire Station 18, and staff also briefed the committee on two proposed public improvement districts (PIDs) for Far East Dallas.
Fire Station 18 replacement and financing Kevin Spath, interim director of the Office of Economic Development, and Tamara Leek, interim assistant director, explained that the existing Fire Station 18 on Griffin Street is functionally obsolete and that the city has worked more than three years with Dallas Fire-Rescue and a property owner/developer to identify a solution.
The proposed approach mirrors prior transactions: the developer/property owner will act as the fee developer, design and construct the new fire station on their site at their cost, and the city will convey the existing station site (or equivalent) and reimburse eligible project costs through a TIF development agreement. Staff said the proposed TIF reimbursement cap for the project is up to $29,399,000 and that the transaction includes an exchange of properties and consideration of fair-market value in the conveyance.
Staff requested authorization to hold a public hearing on May 14 before City Council on minor amendments to the downtown TIF district project plan and to consider the development agreement that would authorize the TIF reimbursement and property conveyance.
Public improvement districts Staff also briefed the committee on proposed public improvement districts (PIDs), including a Far East Dallas PID (Ferguson Road area) and other neighborhood-related PIDs being pursued by district councilmembers. Committee members expressed support for PIDs as a tool for local investment and public-safety enhancements. Staff noted a supermajority vote at council is required to create a PID.
Next steps If authorized, staff will publish notices and hold the public hearing on May 14; any TIF plan amendments and the development agreement would return to council for approval following the public hearing. Staff said the model being used is similar to a prior station project (Fire Station 58) and that the developer's eligible costs would be reimbursed following completion and conveyance.
