State Fair News

Dallas' Fair Park puts out call for new tenants to activate space year-round

You could be part of this magical place.

Photo courtesy of Dallas CVB

Calling restaurants, retailers, and recreational concepts: Fair Park wants you.

According to a release, Fair Park First, the nonprofit acting as the private professional manager of Fair Park, is working on revitalizing the 277-acre campus. To that end, it is seeking tenants for three vacant spaces and inviting local organizations to submit proposals.

"It's our hope to re-activate the crown jewel of the City of Dallas Park Systems," says executive director Brian Luallen in a statement. "As we continue to listen and learn from friends and neighbors of the park, there's been an overwhelming amount of feedback related to new food and beverage, recreational, cultural, educational, and entertainment related experiences on campus."

The following spaces are up for grabs:

Women's Building - 68,175 square feet
Science Place 1 (Building, Imax Theater, Exhibition Hall) - 155, 980 square feet
Museum of Natural History - 31,950 square feet

Proposals will be considered for uses such as recreational, civic, cultural, educational, entertainment, arts, retail, food and beverage, and other uses that will attract visitors to the park.

They're seeking business owners and institutions who share a common vision and innovative ideas for activating Fair Park. That means viewing it as a year-round space, with the ability to attract new and repeat visitors.

Interested business owners can submit proposals through a formalized request for information (RFI).

A complete list of information needed for consideration can be found at www.fairparkfirst.org on August 19. Site tours for qualified respondents will take place in September, and the deadline for all proposal submissions is October 15, 2019.

Fair Park First will review submissions considering factors such as the ability to integrate into the master plan, commercial viability, the ability to increase visitors and revenue, enhancement of cultural offerings and unique entertainment options, and long-term sustainability.

In February 2020, Fair Park First will make its recommendations to the FPF Board for approval. Applicants will be notified via email on March 1, 2020.

Fair Park First is part of a team, with Spectra, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV), and In The City For Good that was selected in 2018 by the city of Dallas to run Fair Park.

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Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill to legalize marijuana

Redheaded Blackbelt

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Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

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