Following the completed demolition of the blighted Valley View Mall, the city of Dallas has set their sights on creating their ambitious Dallas International District. The project, first presented to the City Council in January 2022, calls for the construction of a pedestrian friendly mixed use district on the former site.

The project, which includes public transit, is summarized on the site linked above. Here is an excerpt:

The Dallas International District is poised to become a vibrant, multicultural, innovative and eco-friendly live-work-play-visit community, anchored by Dallas International Commons, an iconic 20-acre park. The area is already home to numerous international restaurants and a diverse and dynamic residential community. The redevelopment, already underway, will transform the 450-acre area into a regional downtown that infuses the perspectives, voices and investments of the growing global community of North Texas.

The site of the bygone mall will be put to good useSource: Wikimedia Commons

The demolition of the mall, which we covered earlier this year, was a long time coming. The mall held on with a single tenant, AMC Theaters, for years before shutting its doors and becoming a hotbed of criminal activity. Dallas Councilmember Jaynie Schultz spoke to the accomplishment:

The final demolition and clearing of the Valley View site is an important step in the fulfillment of the vision set forth over ten years ago by our city leaders, chambers of commerce, the development community and neighbors. The vision of the Dallas International District is to be a new regional downtown that thousands of people call home, thousands more are employed, and thousands more come from across North Texas to visit as a global meeting place whether in the park, our international restaurants, and shop at Galleria Dallas.

  Other pieces to the district plan include:

 

  • The City of Dallas purchased the Prism Center at 5580 Peterson Lane in early 2021 to anchor the new International District, housing the French Trade Office and the European American Chamber of Commerce Texas.  
  • Dallas ISD purchased a building for the school district’s first ever PreK-12 International STEAM Academy, expected to open in 2025.  
  • Workforce Solutions will [be] opening an office in fall 2023. Friends of The Commons has [begun] fundraising to support The City of Dallas’ plans for a 20-acre park – Dallas International Commons.   
  • Montfort Road is under construction to provide safe and pedestrian-friendly Complete Streets with wide sidewalks, bike lanes, and streetscape improvements 
  • North Central Texas Council of Governments granted $10 Million to plan a regional transportation Innovation Zone piloting automated systems.  
  • City-sponsored Dallas International quarterly Night Markets at the Prism Center unite neighbors through multicultural food, music and art; The next one is scheduled Saturday, Sept. 9, from 4 to 11 p.m. 
  • The European American Chamber of Commerce Texas and Galleria Dallas hosted Experience Europe in May 2023  with wine, food, and entertainment.   

The redevelopment of the Valley View Mall site is a huge step forward for the city. One question, however, remains: shouldn't they focus on fixing the current downtown before making a new one?