City Hall News

Southern Dallas wins new development project from Cowboys Emmitt Smith

Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith

Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Dallas City Council approved two new major development projects in southern Dallas through the city's Office of Economic Development: The first, a new Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) center for Georgia-based company Chime Solutions. The second, a substantial rehabilitation of the former Urban League of Greater Dallas building on South Lancaster Road for office and retail use.

Chime Solutions
Chime Solutions is a human resources and staffing firm headquartered in Morrow, Georgia. This new 51,000-square-foot BPO center — its first outside Georgia — will be located at Red Bird Mall.

By 2021, Chime anticipates creating over 1,000 full-time jobs at the new center. The range of jobs will include customer service agents, human resource specialists, desktop support specialists, trainers, operations managers, and a site director. Annual wages are expected to range from $29,000 to $80,000+ and all jobs will include a full benefits package.

This business development project is the first office incentive project located in southern Dallas in at least 20 years. Chime Solutions is a privately-owned and certified minority- and woman-owned business. The Dallas City Council approved an economic development grant of $2 million to facilitate this project.

Red Bird Mall, located in southern Dallas at US Highway 67 and Interstate Highway 20, is currently undergoing a $220 million redevelopment which will transform the mall into a mixed-use development, with new options for shopping, dining, entertainment, residential multifamily, office space, medical offices, and a hotel and conference center.

It also features the recently opened Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) at Red Bird, which provides a variety of services for entrepreneurs and startups, as well as a new Starbucks.

Urban League of Greater Dallas building
The former Urban League of Greater Dallas building, located at 4315 South Lancaster Road, will undergo a substantial rehabilitation by E Smith Communities, a real estate company owned by former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith. Upon completion, the building will include workforce readiness, community wellness, and retail tenants.

The 29,686-square-foot building will build upon the success of the adjacent Lancaster Urban Village, a mixed-use redevelopment project completed in 2014, and is located across the street from the VA Medical Center and DART rail station.

The $4.4-million project will provide opportunity for local employment and services to the surrounding challenged residential market area with an anticipated 100 jobs to be created. The Dallas City Council approved an incentive to provide gap financing for the project in the form of a $750,000 grant.

In addition to these two projects, the City Council also approved a $500,000 grant to The Golden S.E.E.D.S. Foundation for neighborhood enhancements in The Bottom, a residential neighborhood south of the central business district, as well as the creation of the Southern Dallas Investment Fund, a $2,500,000 fund to support small businesses in southern Dallas.

"These projects attest to the City's larger focus on southern Dallas," says Mayor Mike Rawlings in a statement. "Through today’s actions, we will positively impact local residents by providing employment, retail, and wellness options in the heart of their communities."

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Nick and Nora news

Dallas takes steps to protect White Rock Lake eaglets as they learn to fly

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Visitors to White Rock Lake may notice new restrictions and barricades near a bald eagle nesting area, as three eaglets begin learning to fly.

According to a release from the City of Dallas, Dallas Park and Recreation is monitoring the eagle couple, affectionately nicknamed "Nick and Nora" by local residents, closely because they now have three young eaglets ready to take flight. (While their exact location is widely known, down to the very tree, this CultureMap story is not going to disclose it out of an abundance of caution for the fragile family.)

The city is asking area visitors to keep noise levels low and dogs on leashes near the nest.

The release says water-filled barricades are in place along East Lawther Drive between the playground and the Dreyfuss split, temporarily affecting vehicle access in the area. Drivers should expect short delays, and cyclists are being asked to slow down nearby. The playground near the nesting zone is also temporarily closed.

Officials say the Dreyfuss area, White Rock Trail, and Lake Highlands Drive will remain open for walking and biking.

The three eaglets are in a developmental phase known as “branching,” when young bald eagles begin leaving the nest and learning to fly. During this period, the eaglets may be seen on the ground or perched in lower tree branches.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials say this is a particularly sensitive stage because the young birds can appear injured or distressed as they develop their flying skills. Adult eagles may also become more protective during this time.

"Keeping a safe distance helps prevent problems for both the eagle family and park visitors," park officials say.

Dallas Park and Recreation is coordinating with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the eagle family, the release says.

Bald eagles have been spotted near the lake since at least 2019, and have returned in subsequent years to make a nest in the area.

After nearly disappearing decades ago from most of the United States, the bald eagle population is now flourishing across the nation.

Bald eagles are protected under federal law. Disruption of their natural activities is prohibited and a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A violation can result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both.

parks conservation white rock lake animals