Dallas leaders sound alarm as downtown deals with mass 'exodus' – Spectrum News

Dallas leaders sound alarm as downtown deals with mass ‘exodus’  Spectrum News

The Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks and Neiman Marcus all confirmed they'd be leaving downtown Dallas. TEXAS — Dallas city leaders and downtown advocates are expressing growing concern over what some are calling an "exodus" from the city's urban core as several high-profile organizations and institutions plan to move away. The concern comes as the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have both announced plans to relocate their future home venues outside the city's downtown area. The developments follow announcements that Saks Global will close the century-old flagship Neiman Marcus store downtown and that AT&T plans to move its headquarters to Plano. The Mavericks recently announced they are exploring a move to far North Dallas, while the Stars have confirmed plans to relocate to Plano.

The departures have fueled broader discussions about the future of downtown Dallas and the city's aging infrastructure, including Dallas City Hall. "Do we want to continue resisting the change and evolution that's happening?" Dallas City Council member Zarin D. Gracey said. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson pointed to competition from suburban cities north of Dallas. "The wolf is not in this room," Johnson said in a June city council meeting. "The wolf is up the tollway." The debate intensified after a recent city study reaffirmed it would cost more than $1 billion to remain in the current City