Downtown Public Safety Update

Downtown Dallas Inc. has completed negotiations with four Downtown liquor and convenience stores to prohibit the sale of “high alcohol content beer and wine” to the homeless. Alcohol related crime was reduced 27% in the City Center in the first quarter 2010. We anticipate a reduction in alcohol related crimes in the DART West End Station area in the second quarter. The Safety Patrol conducts weekly inspections at four Liquor Stores to ensure they are in compliance with the agreement*.

The Homeward Bound program reunited 66 homeless persons with family in the first quarter of 2010. 484 homeless persons have been reunited with family since Downtown Dallas Inc. started the program in 2008.

-Martin

*Agrement with liquor stores to stop selling high alcohol content beer and wine and a 32oz size limit on beers.

CityWalk at Akard

The red carpet was certainly laid out for the opening of Downtown’s newest residential project, City Walk at Akard, both for Dallas-ites in a celebration held on March 26, and for a visit from music mogul Jon Bon Jovi earlier this month.

CityWalk, a project unlike any in the country, is a mixed-use development of retail (7-Eleven opening soon), office and affordable as well as market-rate housing.  It sits in a formerly vacant 15-story office building with 200 units that range from $350 to $912/month.

Jon Bon Jovi’s visit was motivated by his own nonprofit, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which has built 250 affordable housing units in Philadelphia.  During Jovi’s time in Dallas, he visited with John Greenan, executive director of the Central Dallas Community Development Corp., and Larry James, president and CEO of Central Dallas Ministries, the two organizations responsible for the CityWalk project.

Parking And Retail To Be Specifically Addressed In New Studies

On April 14, Dallas City Council approved a reallocation of funds to implement two critical studies for Downtown, one to focus on parking, the other to further retail development in the Main Street District.

Both projects will be managed by Downtown Dallas, Inc., in partnership with the City, and will be conducted in concert with the Downtown Dallas 360 (www.downtowndallas360.com )planning effort.

Elements to be addressed in the parking realm include a supply and demand analysis (both for commercial office and public transient parking); valet parking in key entertainment and visitor zones; signage and wayfinding; resident-serving needs; and innovative technologies such as smart phone usage and real-time availability information.  The effort will commence in May, to be complete in line with Downtown Dallas 360 later this fall.

The Main Street Retail Activation Strategy, co-funded by Downtown Dallas, Inc., will build upon past efforts that have created a target tenant mix and incentive programs to entice a mix of luxury, service and entertainment uses to locate in Downtown’s core.  The strategy will put forth guidelines and programs related to urban design including lighting, sidewalk enhancements, street furniture and environmental graphics.  It will also analyze highest-and-best-use locations for sidewalk cafes, street vending and public art.   The stakeholder input process began in February, with the goal of completion early this summer.  Look for emerging strategies to be posted on Downtown Dallas Inc.’s blog later next month.