FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, February 27, 2026

CONTACT

Dylan Thomas

Marketing Manager

Downtown Dallas, Inc.

dthomas@downtowndallas.com

P: (949) 554-4029

Downtown Dallas, Inc. Announces Support for Relocating City Hall, Exploring Redevelopment Potential at Current Site

Nonprofit Installs 2026 Board Leadership, Honors John Crawford with Groundbreaker Award at Annual Meeting & Luncheon

DOWNTOWN DALLAS — Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), the lead advocate for Downtown for nearly 70 years, today announced support for relocating City Hall and exploring economic development opportunities at the current 1500 Marilla Street site.

DDI President and CEO Jennifer Scripps made the announcement during her yearly address at the nonprofit’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Luncheon at the Fairmont Dallas. She told the audience of more than 650 business and civic leaders that the DDI Board of Directors voted earlier this week unanimously in support of advancing the work endorsed by members of the City Council Committee on Finance on Monday.

“DDI believes this is a generational opportunity to modernize and elevate how Dallas delivers public services,” Scripps said. “But we must be equally clear: any future City Hall belongs within the highway loop in Downtown, integrated with transit, walkable neighborhoods, and the dense concentration of residents, workers, and institutions that define the heart of our city.”

Dallas City Council members last year asked City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and her team to conduct a review of the needed improvements and costs for the 47-year-old Dallas City Hall building. City Council members also requested a review of available office space for a potential relocation. 

Tolbert engaged the nonprofit Dallas Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to lead the process. The EDC, led by Linda McMahon, published its comprehensive report on the condition of City Hall last week, including the finding that complete repairs could cost taxpayers more than $1 billion over a 20-year period. 

“Dallas City Hall is no longer serving its intended purpose,” Scripps said. “The important functions that happen and must continue to happen within our city government are inefficient – truly stymied in that space.”

Scripps emphasized that Downtown has remarkable assets that could be creatively repurposed to improve customer service, consolidate functions, and remain accessible to the public City Hall serves.

 
DDI’s board members are also urging City leaders to pursue a bold, economically healthy vision for the existing City Hall site. Planning should leverage major public investments already underway in Downtown, including the new Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Dallas College, and Memorial Auditorium, the future home of the Dallas Wings. 

Scripps added that DDI remains hopeful the Mavericks and Stars stay in or near Downtown, “where they belong.”

2026 Board of Directors and Board of Governors Approved

Also at the DDI Annual Meeting, presented by Dallas College, outgoing Board Chair Katy Murray, former president of DallasNews Corporation, formally passed the gavel to incoming Board Chair Amy Lewis Hofland, senior director of the Crow Museum of Asian Art. 

The organization conducted its official vote approving DDI’s 2026 Board of Directors and Board of Governors. DDI is governed and advised by members of the boards, which steer the organization’s operations and strategic initiatives on behalf of Downtown stakeholders. 

“As board chair, my commitment to all of you is simple: partnership and intentional action,” Hofland said. “The future of Downtown Dallas will be defined by our careful, collective wishes for what we build next.”

In addition to Hofland, the 2026 DDI Board officers are Vice Chair Susan Harris of Atmos Energy, Secretary Laura Crawford of Perkins&Will, and Treasurer Todd Howard of Kirksey Architecture. 

The complete list of board members can be found on the DDI website here.

2026 Groundbreaker Award Presented to John Crawford

DDI presented its 2026 Groundbreaker Award to John Crawford, who served as DDI President and CEO from 2007 to 2017. 

In her remarks, Scripps recognized Crawford for helping shape Downtown Dallas’ modern resurgence and for the leadership and momentum that helped drive explosive residential growth and expanded national visibility for the urban core.

Crawford called the recognition “deeply meaningful.” 

“When I accepted the role of President and CEO in 2007, I did so with optimism and urgency,” Crawford said. “What followed was the work of an entire community, including so many in this room today. During that decade, more than $5 billion was invested in Downtown Dallas. The residential population grew by more than 185 percent. Retail absorption increased. Hotels opened. Corporate relocations returned and Main Street came alive once again.” 

Downtown’s Momentum: Investments, Events, Safety, and Quality of Life

Scripps’ annual report highlighted Downtown’s scale and its role as an economic engine for Dallas. DDI noted that Downtown today is home to nearly 16,000 residents across 50 residential properties, with $8 billion in active development.

The organization also spotlighted the importance of public space activation to Downtown vibrancy. Under DDI management, Downtown parks and public spaces hosted 300 events last year, drawing nearly 100,000 attendees and welcoming more than 1.7 million visitors.

DDI has been engaged on FIFA World Cup 2026 planning for nearly two years. The organization invested in infrastructure, art, greening, trees, facades, and other beautification in preparation for the roughly 40-day tournament this summer. 

On public safety, DDI reiterated its continued partnership with the Dallas Police Department and stakeholders through the Safe in the City initiative, noting measurable progress and the importance of sustained focus in the months ahead.

The event also featured a keynote panel, “NextGen Downtown: Creating A Pipeline Through Education and Industry Collaboration.” 

Rudy Bush, The Dallas Morning News vice president and editorial page editor, moderated a conversation with Brad E. Cheves, Dallas Regional Chamber president and CEO, Dr. Justin H. Lonon, Dallas College chancellor, and George (G.A.) Pivik, managing director and regional head, Dallas, for Scotiabank’s Global Banking Markets (GBM). 

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About Downtown Dallas Inc.

Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), is the champion of a clean and safe Downtown and of the economic development and vibrancy of this community of diverse, unique neighborhoods. 

• DDI mobilizes and amplifies the services of public agencies.
• Advocates for catalytic developments that strengthen Downtown.
• Provides care for the communities and public spaces it stewards. 

DDI elevates the quality of life for residents, workers, visitors, and other stakeholders.