Turning $100 million into $1 billion
The transformation of District 3 continues.

With a "ceremonial bulldozing" event, the Davis Street corridor reawakens this coming Friday — marking an initial private investment of $100 million that will turn into $1 billion over the course of the next five years.

In an corridor that will become known as the Davis Garden District, extensive plans will improve the infrastructure, reinforce existing neighborhoods, add owner-occupied residential units, enhance streetscaping, and link residential areas with neighbor-friendly retail.

But first, abandoned and crime-ridden apartment complexes will be demolished to make way for the new developments. On Friday, Jan. 11, at 9 a.m., you are invited to join Mayor Tom Leppert, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia, and me as we usher in this new era of revitalization for our corner of Dallas.

• Get the invitation details

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Calling all D-3 neighborhood presidents!
Is your neighborhood in District 3?

Find out here by entering in your home address and zip code. Results will tell you if I am your city council representative and if you live in District 3.

If you live in D-3, does your neighborhood have an organized neighborhood association or homeowners' association?

If so, does your neighborhood organization's elected president know about my inaugural neighborhood association presidents' breakfast?

It is imperative that District 3 and the City of Dallas have dedicated neighborhood leaders. As your City Councilman, I want to make sure that we have consistent and open communication on a regular basis. This is important so that neighborhood leaders are able to have direct access to their representative of the City ... and that I am able to update neighborhood leaders personally on current issues that will directly affect their neighborhoods.

All known, current elected presidents of District 3 neighborhood associations have been invited to a Jan. 26 breakfast. If your neighborhood is in District 3, and if you have a neighborhood organization with an elected president, you can help make sure your representative will be joining me on Jan. 26. Contact Melinda Medina on my staff at City Hall at 214-670-0776 or Melinda.medina@dallascityhall.com.

• Also, always contact my office if you are facing a city-related obstacle

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Trinity River project flowing ... and transparent
One of the resoundingly clear messages Mayor Tom Leppert and I came away with as the result of last fall's referendum on the Trinity River project was that voters are frustrated with the project's progress and transparency.

In careful scrutiny on your behalf, we have discovered several opportunities to increase the sense of urgency, establish accountability, build inter-agency cooperation and elevate public information in ways that stakeholders — you, the voters — deserve, want and need.

Look for the first results of this heightened attention this week when I unveil a document that has never before existed outside of the memos and minds of city engineers: the first master calendar for every component of the Trinity Corridor project.

This report will clearly indicate:

• which agencies and departments are responsible for what,
• what the budget and identified funding are for each element,
• what the sequential timeline is for the complete project
• when construction began or will commence on each element, and
• when each component will be completed.

I'll post the document to daveneumann.com as soon as it is completed.

In addition, on Jan. 18, the mayor and I will host the Mayor's Summit on the Trinity River Corridor Project. This summit will bring together all the heads of all the agencies and groups who have a piece of the project, giving us the opportunity to realign some relationships and instill in all our partners a sense of urgency. You are invited to join us Jan. 18, 9 a.m. at City Club in the Bank of America Tower, 901 Main St., Ste. 6900.

Those two new developments should help move things along.

• Learn more about what's planned for the Trinity River corridor and how you can help through the city's project Web site, the NTTA, Trinity Commons Foundation and the Trinity Trust

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District 3 highlights

• ILLUMINATION | Spur 408 (also called Patriot Parkway) is that link between Loop 12/Walton Walker and I-20 that skirts past DFW National Cemetery, Dallas Baptist University, The Potters House, Grady Niblo Road and Mountain Creek. It has also been in the dark with no highway lighting. I'm pleased to have expedited an inter-agency agreement with TxDOT that will finally illuminate that freeway.

• PRESERVATION | My thanks to District 3's Winnetka Heights neighborhood — a historic district — for helping to trigger a change in how the city's building inspectors and code officers are trained. The issue came into clear focus when a Winnetka neighborhood situation uncovered that city staff was not properly trained to know what the requirements of historic and conservation districts are or the full depth of certificates of appropriateness (a document approving work on properties in historic and conservation districts based on the specific design guidelines set by that district). Assistant City Manager A.C. Gonzalez and I championed the training changes that roll out this month ... and will benefit all of Dallas.

• CRIME REDUCTION | As a byproduct of neighborhood concerns, I am now meeting twice a month with Deputy Police Chief Rick Watson. We review the latest District 3 crime statistics and I am able to gather feedback on what our police department's strategies are to reduce crime, beat by beat, in the entire District. In addition, Council has also just approved two Weed and Seed grants for District 3. A U.S. Department of Justice initiative, the funds will be used to increase police presence for anti-gang activities without reducing the level of service in other areas.

• GOODBYE AND HELLO | We were saddened last month when, after 41 years of serving the youth of the West Dallas, the West Dallas Boys and Girls Club facility closed. As they say, though, when a door closes, a window opens. Habitat for Humanity completed two new homes last month in West Dallas and, with KB Home's new 71 single-family development in the works, we're grateful our city's recreation centers — including the Mattie Nash/Myrtle Davis Recreation Center for which Council also just approved funds to start a renovation project.

• Learn what else is happening in District 3

• Don't miss other City of Dallas news and events

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If you are aware of other news or events of interest to District 3 residents, please drop me a line about it at dave@daveneumann.com. If you have neighbors or associates who would appreciate my e-mail updates, feel free to forward this message to them and ask them to sign up on my Web site.