City Hall Roundup: Plaza People Power, Alley Trash Pickup, Crosswalk Fallout
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Things are really starting to heat up at Dallas City Hall, and it’s not even June yet.
Between frustration over the potential rerouting of the Houston and Jefferson Viaducts and the apparently existential question of what to do with 1500 Marilla St., tempers seem to be running high. And then, of course, there’s the budget.
Without further ado, here’s some of what’s been going on with some of the city’s hotter issues.
Save City Hall Campaign Ramps Up Legal Threats
Last week, lawyers for the Save Dallas City Hall coalition gave officials 60-days notice to start repairing parts of 1500 Marilla St. or face litigation for allegedly failing to comply with city code rules governing buildings under landmark consideration.
Now, those lawyers have sent another notice, arguing the city would be in violation of state law if it were to sell or repurpose City Hall Plaza (Akard Plaza) without voter approval or proper public engagement and mitigation efforts.
“City Hall Plaza is not a commercial real estate commodity,” said Chris Bowers, an attorney
and spokesperson for the Save Dallas City Hall coalition. “It is a voter-funded public park and the preeminent public square for community assembly in Dallas.”
The coalition pointed to the plaza’s history, including voter-approved “Park Plaza Bonds” used to fund its construction in the 1960s, longstanding maintenance by the city’s Park & Recreation Department, and references to the site in multiple city planning documents identifying it as a park.
Under Texas law, the coalition argues the city cannot approve a project using parkland or a historic site unless officials determine there is no practical alternative and take steps to minimize harm after holding public notice and hearings. The group also contends state law would require voter approval before any sale of the plaza could occur.
“Various media reports indicate that the City is considering selling City Hall Plaza or allowing it to be used for a new sports arena or related development,” the coalition’s lawyers wrote to officials. “The Coalition demands that the City refrain from doing so unless and until it has first complied with Section 26.001 of the Parks and Wildlife Code and Section 253.001(b) of the Local Government Code.”
As everyone is no doubt aware, this legal saber-rattling comes amid ongoing discussions about potentially redeveloping the City Hall site, including speculation surrounding a new Mavericks arena and entertainment district.
Relatedly, the Save City Hall coalition just put out a slick new video with a call to action ahead of some staff updates to the city council. You might recognize someone in it.
Proposed Alley Trash Pickup Phase Out Narrows in Scope Even Further
It looks like fewer households that rely on alleyway trash pickup need to worry about a forced transition to curbside service. Staff said on Friday that they’re narrowing the scope of potential customer locations citywide that could lose their alleyway service to around 7,500.
Staff have been trying to transition to 100% curbside pickup for a couple of years now, citing workplace injuries and property damage in the narrower alleys. A proposal earlier this year targeting as many as 26,000 households was met with frustration by residents and council members. The issue is purportedly an operational question within the scope of the sanitation director’s authority — no city council approval needed, apparently.
“The current review is focused on locations with the most significant alley service constraints, including pronounced confinement and limited maneuverability, deteriorated or unimproved alley surfaces, dead-ends, fixed physical obstructions, and other conditions that affect the safe and reliable collection of garbage and recycling,” Assistant City Manager Alina Ciocan said in a memo.
Ciocan also said a consultant has been engaged to support research into new technologies and equipment that could help mitigate collection in narrow alleys. She also noted that the Sanitation Department and staff are working to develop a tiered rate structure to charge customers with alleyway pickup more since it costs more to service those locations.
“Rate recommendations are expected to be finalized along with the City Manager’s Recommended FY 2026-27 Budget, scheduled for release in August. This proposed rate structure will be presented for City Council consideration as part of the budget development process,” Ciocan said.
Staff previously stressed that there are significantly more incidents logged during alleyway collection than curbside. The difference is all the more stark considering alley service locations comprise only 37% of collection points. Nevertheless, many residents — particularly the elderly and disabled in homes designed around alleyway trash pickup — depend on the service.
Neighborhood Residents Call for More Public Art After Removal of Decorative Crosswalks
The Office of Arts & Culture has been conducting some community outreach after the city ended up complying with new Texas Department of Transportation rules banning non-traditional markings on roadways, such as the rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn.
Some 30 decorative crosswalks were slated for removal, with the city starting work in late March. The crosswalk removals sparked criticism from some residents and advocacy groups, particularly in Oak Lawn, where rainbow crosswalks had become a visible symbol of the LGBTQ community. State officials, however, claim that decorative pavement markings conflict with traffic safety standards and roadway regulations.
“Recent Community Identity Engagement sessions gathered input from residents and showed a strong desire for public art that reflects the identity, resilience, and inclusiveness of our richly diverse communities, specifically those impacted by the directive, including Oak Lawn/Cedar Springs/South Dallas communities,” Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo-Pereira said in a memo.
Engagement sessions were held with the Oak Lawn, Reverchon, and South Dallas communities, and more outreach will involve coordination with artists, community leaders, and local nonprofits. A survey was also conducted.
One project that is already underway (courtesy of an external donor) is a new mural installation at the Oak Lawn Branch Library. Painting the front-facing steps of the library could also be in the cards.
Cedillo-Pereira said additional concepts could see activation as funding allows.
“Participants highlighted themes of inspiration, happiness, culture, and connection, noting a preference for art that expresses shared values and lived experiences over figurative work. Across the survey, participants expressed a clear wish for a community where people feel safe, welcomed, and genuinely represented — particularly members of the historically marginalized LGBTQ+ population,” she said.
