A Dallas City Council committee endorsed an expansion to the Oak Cliff Gateway TIF District meant to promote economic redevelopment, growth, and “stabilization” around North Oak Cliff and Bishop Arts.
Created in 1992, the Oak Cliff Gateway TIF District is bordered by I-30 on the north, the Trinity River Corridor on the northeast, and 12th Street on the south.
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a geographically targeted economic development tool designed to capture property tax collections from new developments and then divert those taxes to subsidize the development, according to The World Bank Group.
As part of the 244-acre expansion, a planned deck park will be developed over the I-35E R.L. Thornton Freeway. Adjacent to the deck park will be added sections to South Beckley Avenue and Clarendon Drive.
Before submitting the plan to Dallas City Council for approval, the City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) reviewed documentation and questioned staff about possible impacts the expansion could have on the community.
In total, the OED is projected to spend $10.5 million on “homeowner stabilization, home repair, and displacement mitigation” near the park.
“I’ve heard about the deck park, and I think it’s a good thing,” said Cyrus Shah, owner of PCS Tax and Auto Loan on South Beckley Ave.
Duncanville resident Talya Moore enjoys the district’s food, although she complains about the potholes in front of many businesses. “I only come over here for the Wingfield burgers,” she admitted.
Wingfield’s Breakfast & Burgers is located across from Shah’s tax firm on South Beckley and has served the community for 31 years.
“I think this neighborhood could use some improvement. The businesses here have the same goals as everyone else. We want to succeed,” Wingfield’s owner Tony Woods said. “We want to provide good incomes for our employees.”
Woods believes the planned deck park will benefit existing neighbors and attract new visitors to the area.
“It’s going to improve our customer base, and it’s going to expose us to more people who haven’t seen our home page nor experienced our food here,” Wood said. “It’s also a good thing for the city because it allows us to put more back in sales taxes. So, I think it’s a win-win for everyone.”
Dallas City Council will hold a hearing on November 9 to vote on the full expansion.
