AT&T has reportedly been touring large office sites in the DFW suburbs, prompting speculation that the telecom giant could be considering relocating its global headquarters out of downtown Dallas.
Multiple sources indicate that AT&T has visited a large office site in the suburbs, including the 1.8 million-square-foot corporate campus known as The Park at Legacy in Plano, according to the Dallas Business Journal. The site at 6501 Legacy Dr. is currently the headquarters of JCPenney, but is undergoing significant redevelopment.
Whether AT&T ultimately decides to acquire new space in the suburbs and whether that space would serve as its new global headquarters remains a mystery.
AT&T, based in downtown Dallas and historically regarded as a cornerstone of the city’s business landscape, currently resides in the 1.1 million-square-foot, 37-story Whitacre Tower, also known as One AT&T Plaza, located at 208 Akard. The building has served as AT&T’s central office since it relocated there from San Antonio in 2008.
When the DBJ inquired about whether a headquarters move or other significant corporate relocation was being considered, AT&T spokesperson Jeff Kobs told the publication that the company “just can’t comment.”
“That might be a little frustrating, but that’s just where we are today,” added Kobs.
The City of Dallas similarly declined to comment on the matter.
Artemio De La Vega, CEO of Dallas-based commercial real estate firm De La Vega Capital Development, said it is widely known that AT&T is “definitely looking up north.”
A recent report states that the telecom giant has been considering relocating from its downtown Dallas headquarters due to safety concerns in the area.
In the recent past, the company has raised concerns over homeless encampments and surging crime in the city. At the same time, however, AT&T CEO John Stankey has opposed laws aimed at tackling crime downtown, as reported by The Dallas Express. Yet, last year, the company initiated a rewards program for information regarding copper wire thefts following incidents that left at-risk residents without essential emergency services.
Steve Triolet, senior vice president of research and market forecasting for commercial real estate firm Partners, says the telecom company is likely looking to open new space in northern DFW submarkets, while retaining its footprint downtown.
“This move aligns with their push for more in-office work and positions the company closer to key talent pools in the northern suburbs,” said Triolet.