After a lengthy delay, the City’s Development Services Department may finally begin moving to its new office in northwestern Dallas.
The City announced last Tuesday that the Development Services Department (DSD), which is responsible for reviewing and approving building permits, will begin the first phase of relocating its office as soon as this week.
DSD will relocate to 7800 N. Stemmons Fwy between December and February. The anticipated move follows a 36-year stint at 320 E. Jefferson Blvd. in Oak Cliff, according to a City of Dallas news release. By relocating to a new building with an enhanced work environment, DSD claims it will be able to focus on faster permit turnarounds and streamline services.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, DSD under City Manager T.C. Broadnax has suffered periodic backlogs and various inefficiencies in operations that have cost builders and inhibited development projects.
The new office space will serve as a “one-stop” permitting shop that will purportedly provide “a convenient and efficient experience for customers, citizens, and stakeholders engaged in development processes,” said the City in its announcement.
DSD was initially scheduled to begin its relocation over the summer, but the move was delayed due to the alleged ransomware attack on City infrastructure in May and renovations on the new building, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“A lot of the IT resources were redirected to putting [DSD] back online as opposed to getting us set up [in the new building],” DSD Director Andrew Espinoza told The Dallas Express in June. “[The bond office] has been coordinating with contractors, handling budget issues and logistics stuff, along with electrical and plumbing.”
The relocation process will occur in two phases between the week starting on December 18 and early February 2024. The two phases are intended to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to customers’ business operations, according to the news release.
The initial phase will see the following divisions relocate to the new location: Q-Team, Fire Protection, Electrical and Plumbing Plan Review, Zoning Inspections, and the Northwest District Office. The second phase will occur between mid-January and early February and will involve the relocation of all remaining divisions.
During the transition period, DSD encourages all customers to contact the appropriate division for an appointment to “avoid unnecessary trips to the old location” and to “help the team maintain uninterrupted service delivery.”
DSD has been trying to put a greater focus on commercial permitting, and a bigger and better permit office could help do the trick. Mayor Eric Johnson also recently claimed Dallas’ housing affordability issue could be alleviated by reforming permitting and zoning to make it easier for developers to build more homes, spotlighting DSD and its turnaround times.