DALLAS — Residents in three Dallas communities are learning their neighborhoods are among the initial transformation areas under the city's new Neighborhood Plus initiative.
The areas targeted under the revitalization program include Lancaster corridor, Education Corridor, and Parkdale-Urbandale.
Neighbors like Casie Pierce say Parkdale-Urbandale is rather unique.
"We have a diversity of neighbors here," she said. "There are so many great old trees, and the housing here [stands out]."
Residents in the southern Dallas neighborhood also say it has its fair share of challenges. Those issues helped put Parkdale-Urbandale on the radar at City Hall.
"We are a food desert," Pierce said. "So, there's not a whole lot of places to go... to even go shopping, to just get groceries. Because there's not any of that, there's not the jobs that come along with that, either."
The challenges neighbors pointed out are among the reasons the Parkdale-Urbandale area has been chosen for Neighborhood Plus. The initiative is a plan to strengthen, develop, and revitalize some vulnerable communities across Dallas.
"If we don't change the process, change the culture, change the accountability — which is what we are seeking to do now — we're going to always be where we are at now," said Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Erik Wilson.
The Dallas City Council Housing Committee had a briefing Monday to discuss how Neighborhood Plus would be implemented across communities. City staff revealed they would boost targeted areas by working with local government, as well as public and private agencies. The action plans would incorporate pilot programs and strategies to address needs including fighting blight, enhancing options, and retaining middle class.
"We want people to invest in this neighborhood the same way that we homeowners have invested into this neighborhood," Cassie Pierce said.
The initiative would also work to make job resources available in targeted areas.
As city staff rolls out the new Neighborhood Plus plan, some Council members are critical, asking for more details.
"I continue to wonder what we are going to do for certain neighborhoods," said Philip Kingston, representing Oak Lawn and parts of East Dallas in District 14.
Neighbors like Pierce say, for now, they will remain optimistic as the city works to give communities a boost.
"I think it's a wait-and-see," she said. "We want to be as supportive as possible to our city."
