Dallas City Council members approved more than $108,000,000 in taxpayer spending on Wednesday, which included awarding an emergency design contract for the former Hotel Miramar on Fort Worth Avenue.
The City acquired the West Dallas property in December 2020 for more than $3.5 million to house people experiencing homelessness. But it is still vacant, and officials have experienced “a myriad of challenges” since it was purchased, according to City documents.
“While the property has remained vacant, the need for Permanent Supportive Housing through the R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing Initiative to reach the communitywide goal of significantly reducing unsheltered chronic homelessness continues to increase,” documents show.
“In an effort to protect the City’s investment and achieve the original goal of providing affordable supportive housing options for those who are formerly unsheltered, an emergency procurement for the Project was completed due to the urgent and immediate attention to preserve the asset and to protect the health and safety of area residents.”
Using $536,186 in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund money, Kirksey Architecture was selected by staff to design the project.
The City said in a statement sent to The Dallas Express that the former hotel is not scheduled to open until June. It has committed an additional $5.9 million in taxpayer money to rehab the property, according to City documents, DX reported.
Initially, the nonprofit CitySquare was contracted to operate the facility upon completion but the organization “opted to cease their partnership with the City due to the internal changes in their scope of business,” according to the City.
Some 75% of Dallas residents say homelessness and vagrancy continue to be “major” problems here. Some local stakeholders are looking to bring the “one-stop-shop” model of homeless services used by Haven for Hope in San Antonio. This model has been credited with a 77% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in downtown San Antonio and has polled favorably among Dallas residents.
Other expenditures approved by council members on Wednesday include:
- $110,019 for 50% property tax exemption for qualifying child-care facilities.
- $55 million in the issuance and sale of general obligation refunding bonds, plus $418,000 in related expenses.
- $55,433.14 for an amended agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for Taxiway A rehab and an evaluation of a runway safety area.
- $500 line of credit for General Housing Partners in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for The Heights at Park Lane.
- $500 line of credit for O-SDA Industries in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for Olea at Oak Cliff.
- $500 line of credit for Palladium USA International in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for 3606 S. Cockrell Hill Road.
- $500 line of credit for St. Margaret in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for The Broderick.
- $500 line of credit for Sycamore Strategies in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for West End Lofts.
- $500 line of credit for Sycamore Strategies in its Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs housing tax credits application for Braniff Lofts.
- $741,921 for an amendment to the Dallas Housing Resource Catalog to the Land Transfer Program.
- $3,084,427 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the Bottom Infill.
- $7,820 to abandon a portion of an alley near Kiest and Los Angeles boulevards and authorize a quit claim.
- $8,820 to abandon easements at Skillman Street and Audelia Road.
- $424,859 for a construction services contract for Central North Construction for landscape enhancements at U.S. 67 and Camp Wisdom Road.
- $120,000 for agreement with Eglington Development for traffic signal installation at Forest Lane and Nuestra Drive.
- $342,449.85 for professional engineering services agreement for traffic-signal design services at six intersections.
- $154,056.96 for four traffic-signal improvements.
- $3,091,437.15 for a construction services contract for EARTC for storm damage.
- $700,000 for a cooperative agreement with Staples to provide hygiene products for women and babies in “high needs communities.”
- $715,141.64 for a three-year cooperative service agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for mobile forensic software.
- $5,224,827.60 for a two-year master agreement for liquid dipotassium orthophosphate.
- $9,974,836.75 for a three-year service price agreement with A Star Heat and Air for citywide plumbing services.
- $708,710 for a three-year service price agreement with Construction Rent-A-Fence for the Department of Aviation gates and security.
- $18,390,534.45 for a six-year service price agreement with Prestige Elevator Services.
- $7,358,064 development agreement with Dallas Wetlands Foundation
- $1,580,000 for supplemental agreement with HR&A Advisors for analytical, strategic, and community planning consultant services.
