Dallas to buy Montford shopping center parcel to assemble Valley View park; council approves amid debate

The Dallas City Council voted to authorize acquisition of approximately 79,916 square feet of commercially improved land near the intersection of Montford and James Temple Drives for the 13305 Montford Drive acquisition project, not to exceed $11,310,000. City staff and park planners said the purchase is the city’s first step toward assembling a central park for the Valley View Gallery area, a 20‑acre park envisioned in the 2013 area plan.

Supporters said the parcel is immediately contiguous to two city‑owned parcels and could be combined with other privately held tracts to create a meaningful park that will catalyze private investment aligned with the previously adopted plan. “This acquisition is catalytic to our implementation of the city’s own adopted area plan for the Valley View Gallery,” Kevin Spath, interim director of the Office of Economic Development, told council. Ryan O’Connor of Dallas Parks and Recreation said acquisition now avoids higher prices later and makes planning and fundraising feasible.

Opponents urged caution. Council member Trevor Ridley said the 110‑acre former Valley View Mall site across the street is actively being marketed, and the council should wait to learn the new owner’s plans before removing additional property from the tax rolls. Ridley said taking the smaller parcel off the tax base now could reduce city, county and school revenues and leave the city managing a retail strip for years. He called the proposed purchase “premature.”

City staff responded that the property generates limited tax revenue currently and that voters approved $20 million in the 2024 bond program specifically for land acquisition in this area. Staff said the property’s revenue could be used to benefit the future park during fundraising and planning. Council members who supported the acquisition said delaying risks losing the willing seller and would undermine the area plan the council already adopted.

After about an hour of debate, the motion to acquire the property, as presented by staff with direction about timing of park‑planning steps, carried on a voice vote.

The council also discussed next steps: the Parks Department said it would assume existing leases and continue property management while the city pursues adjacent parcels and begins early planning and fundraising. Park staff told council they expect to assemble adjacent parcels in increments rather than acquire the full 20 acres at once.

The council action is a purchase authorization only; design and development of the park still require subsequent planning, fundraising, and project approvals.

Votes at a glance: Council authorized the acquisition (motion to approve carried; no roll‑call tally recorded in the transcript).