The Dallas City Council has unanimously approved the creation of an area around Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center where the city would keep the state's share of hotel taxes to pay for the renovation or reconstruction of the facility. The state has allowed the creation of "project financing zones" since 2013.
Hotels in Dallas charge 13% in taxes. Dallas keeps seven percent; the rest goes to the state. With the creation of a "project financing zone," Dallas can keep the state's share but has to start spending it within five years.
The city expects the zone to raise $2.2 billion over 30 years.
"This will be used for a lot of improvements downtown, especially around the convention center," says City Councilman Chad West.
Earlier this year, the City of Dallas released a master plan to upgrade the area around the convention center. Details are available at www.dallasccmasterplan.com .
"The Area Master Plan will integrate the KBHCCD into a diverse mix of commercial, retail, residential and entertainment uses to support a vibrant neighborhood," the plan states.
Among recommendations are increased connectivity to different transportation options, "striking a balance between modes inclusive of bicyclists, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, transit and automobiles." The plan recommends studying the creation of a multi-modal transportation station near the convention center.
"It is designed to create more walkability in downtown, to generate more jobs, to generate more activities for people who live downtown," West says. "It's super exciting."
The city is now studying whether to renovate or rebuild the convention center. Options include adding ballrooms and meeting space, undertaking "major reconfigurations of the existing building," and rebuilding the entire center.
Only complete reconstruction addressed all priorities that were identified, which included more ballrooms and meeting rooms, construction of an on-site kitchen, creating an "engaging, cool, active walkable district, including restaurants and hotel," and "fix pedestrian circulation."
The report says the convention center is one of the biggest in the United States with one million square feet of exhibit space, but it is disconnected from surrounding neighborhoods and has fewer hotel rooms within walking distance than convention centers in other cities.
Dallas' timeline calls for a final decision on whether to renovate or rebuild the convention center in January.
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