A nonprofit in southern Dallas has renovated its headquarters using a grant from The Real Estate Council "Young Guns" group. The grant paid for the update to the Innercity Community Development Corporation's building south of Fair Park.
"We are celebrating a terrific partnership with TREC Community Investors, specifically their 'Young Guns' group," says ICDC Executive Director Billy Lane.
ICDC received a grant last year for improvements outside the building. Lane says those improvements paid for upgrades, new windows and repainting the parking lot.
"This building has been here since 1998. It has been a community asset for 25 years, and it's taken a lot of wear and tear," he says.
Lane says ICDC uses the space to attract businesses that can become an "asset" to the neighborhood, including a pediatric dentist and pharmacy. He says the building can house businesses that are needed in the neighborhood and lead to additional development.
ICDC has also built homes in the neighborhood, a clinic and a building where Dallas College provides workforce training.
"Is that an asset to be able to walk out your door and go to a clinic? Absolutely," Lane says. "Is it a convenience to be able to walk out your door and come to a training center where you can get your skills upgraded? Absolutely. That's what we're talking about."
Lane says the work helps people take pride in the neighborhood, can increase community involvement and reduce crime.
The group, TREC Community Investors, says the 15,000 square foot ICDC building is the first of its "Dallas Catalyst Project" in the Mill City area. The organization says it will spend $1 million on a three year economic development project. The group also plans to renovate Dallas ISD's Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center STEM Lab.
"It's an exciting time for TREC CI and Young Guns as we celebrate the completion of our first project in Mill City and begin even more impactful community revitalization projects," 2025 Core Committee Vice Chair Tanner Lloyd wrote in a statement. "I can't think of two better projects for our team to work on as our next step in Mill City. Our entire team is eager to get started."
The project at Dunbar is expected to cost $100,000 with $52,000 coming from TREC Community Investors and $30,000 from the nonprofit, Tackle Tomorrow.