The first round of staff at Dallas’ Development Services Department has officially moved into the City’s new permit office.
“The first phase of office relocation to 7800 N. Stemmons has begun! Our team is settling in, bringing energy and collaboration to every corner,” DSD said in a post shared on Facebook.
Along with celebrating the first phase of DSD’s office relocation, the department also shared photos of the new office space.
The relocation officially marks the end of the department’s 36-year stay at 320 E. Jefferson Blvd. in Oak Cliff, as reported by The Dallas Express.
By relocating to a new permit building with an enhanced work environment, DSD claims it will be able to focus on faster permit turnarounds and streamline services, two aspects of its operations that have drawn a steady stream of criticism from businesses, builders, and developers.
“The new office space has been carefully selected to serve as a ‘ONE-STOP’ permitting shop, providing a convenient and efficient experience for customers, citizens and stakeholders engaged in development processes,” said DSD in a City of Dallas news release.
The transition to Dallas’ new permit building will occur in two phases. The initial phase is currently underway and will see DSD’s Q-Team, Fire Protection, Electrical and Plumbing Plan Review, Zoning Inspections, and the Northwest District Office move into the new permit building.
The second phase will occur between mid-January and early February and will involve the relocation of all the remaining divisions.
With local officials demanding faster permit times in Dallas, a new permit office with an enhanced work environment could help solve the problem. The main issue for Dallas heading into 2024 primarily involves commercial permitting.
The Dallas Express reached out to DSD Director Andrew Espinoza for a statement about the office relocation but did not hear back by the time of publishing.