Live Like a Local

How you fit into downtown Dallas' plan for success

Pacific Plaza recently opened.

Photo courtesy of Downtown Dallas, Inc.

Behind every great downtown is an even greater advocate, champion, and steward, and in Dallas' case that means Downtown Dallas, Inc.

The dedicated nonprofit touches anything and everything that has to do with downtown, from public safety to maintenance to economic development. But the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Dallas help make a difference too.

As Downtown Dallas, Inc. president and CEO Kourtny Garrett outlines in the video, here are four ways you can get involved.

1. Get involved with committees and volunteer groups
When you join DDI, your membership dues are invested in the area's growth and success. From Main Street District and Victory Park to Dallas Arts District, Dallas Farmers Market, and Deep Ellum, downtown is evolving faster than ever, and you can have a say in how it grows.

2. Support local businesses
This is the fun part (that you're probably already doing). Eat at downtown restaurants and shop at local boutiques, knowing that each choice you make to support downtown businesses helps strengthen the area. Need tips on how to live like a local? Don't worry, we got you.

3. Enjoy parks and festivals
Green space in the urban core is a priority for DDI, and it maintains most of them: Main Street Garden, Belo Garden, Pegasus Plaza, Browder Plaza, and many more. In addition, three new signature parks are being built in the city center in the next few years, with the newest, Pacific Plaza, having just opened. And there's no shortage of events to attend, from family movie nights to pop-up markets to holiday parades and parties. You'll find a complete list of upcoming events here.

4. Be an advocate for urban issues
The Dallas Downtown Improvement District (DID) was created by Downtown Dallas, Inc. in 1992 to fund services and improvements to the area. It's what helps keep downtown Dallas clean, safe, and fun for the entire community. The DID is currently petitioning to be renewed for the 2021-2027 term, and you can read more about that here.

holidays shopping families festivals promoted urban-renewal downtown parks

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Downtown Dallas

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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