Proposition A promises to modernize Fair Park and the convention center with no tax increase to residents

By CHARITY CHUKWU                                                                                                                                    The Dallas Examiner   Two of the biggest tourist attractions in Dallas have a chance for upgrades and expansion when voters cast their ballots in November. Fair Park and the Kay Bailey [...] The post Proposition A promises to modernize Fair Park and the convention center with no tax increase to residents appeared first on Dallas Examiner.

Proposition A promises to modernize Fair Park and the convention center with no tax increase to residents

By CHARITY CHUKWU                                                                                                                                    The Dallas Examiner

 

Two of the biggest tourist attractions in Dallas have a chance for upgrades and expansion when voters cast their ballots in November. Fair Park and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas are a part of a $1.5 billion initiative backed by both community leaders and small business organizations.

The ballot measure known as Proposition A will ask citizens to vote for a “tourist tax” – a 2% increase in the hotel occupancy tax, which is paid by visitors who stay overnight in Dallas hotels and motels. Modernization of the venues would come at no increase in property or sales taxes to Dallas residents.
Mayor Eric Johnson, former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, State Sen. Royce West, State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado and former Mayor Tom Leppert spoke during a campaign kick-off for Prop. A at the Canvas Hotel on Sept. 15.

During a discussion regarding the reason behind the renovations, Johnson described it as a way to open up the city by connecting it to a new and improved region.

“We can return our national treasure, the Fair Park, to the glory it deserves while also making it more accessible to our communities. And we can transform our downtown by turning our convention center from an albatross to an engine – the engine of a new entertainment district that connects our downtown to this neighborhood where we are here today, the Cedars,” he said.
If approved, the measure would create more than 50,000 jobs, revitalize Fair Park into with $300 million worth of renovations and repairs and double the capacity and expected revenue of the KBHCCD with a $1.2 billion investment in the expansion.

“A vote for Proposition A is a vote for the revitalization of six key venues at Fair Park, which would be the single largest investment ever made in the history of Fair Park – which is 136 years old,” continued Johnson. “A vote for Proposition A is a vote for stronger neighborhoods, it’s a vote for growing Southern Dallas, it’s a vote for increased tourism, it’s a vote for historic preservation, it’s a vote for arts and entertainment in our city and it’s a vote for new jobs.”

Plans for both projects were approved in 2020. Improvements to Fair Park include renovations to the Automobile Building, the Centennial Building, the Band Shell, Music Hall, the Coliseum and the Cotton Bowl. The expansion of KBHCCD would connect the Convention Center District to neighboring entertainment districts. Construction would also link parts of the southern Dallas to downtown with a walkable deck over I-30 to connect to the Cedars District.

Hutchison expressed the importance of bringing the city together with the project and what it would mean for the public and local business.

“Our businesses will be able to thrive, our small businesses especially and our citizens are going to be able to have new entertainment venues that are open to the public, parking availability so that we have a seamless transition between our great north and south segments,” Hutchison explained.

The convention center plan is expected to open nearly 30 acres of land for new development with money accessed from the increase in the hotel tax.

“It will not cost our citizens any money and this is putting us really just now in line with what other cities charge for hotel occupancy and it’s going to be a huge benefit,” she said.

The tourist tax mechanism was formerly used to fund construction of the American Airlines Center and allowed the city of Dallas to completely pay off the debt 15 years earlier than expected.

Criado informed the crowd that the legislation was filed in the Texas House by Rep. Rafael Anchia and was worked in the Senate by West. Both members along with a bipartisan Dallas area delegation helped garner support for the measure to be passed.

“Sometimes the parties may clash on certain issues but on this issue that we know will transform our city with one vote, with no cost to our local community, is going to change the trajectory of our city,” remarked Criado.

The extensive improvements are projected to drive billions of dollars into the local economy, strengthen neighborhoods surrounding Fair Park and downtown and better connect the Central Business District to Southern Dallas.

“What we haven’t talked about is the opportunities it is going to create for the construction industry, for the families that are living in these areas that may have been overlooked. It’s going to provide workforce opportunities for our second chance individuals,” said Kimberly Shaw from the Regional Black Contractors Association.

Shaw envisioned the proposition as an investment towards the future of minority industry in the city.

“We want to make sure that when we look ten years down the line, we have companies that have been built from this opportunity, and they’re still standing today that can create generational wealth for their families. Not just an opportunity that comes to the city and is gone, and we don’t have anything to show for it,” she stated.

“A real opportunity for Black and minority contractors, for businesses at large and that also we’re focusing on workforce development and the economic impact this is going to have.”
Prop. A will appear at the end of the ballot after all other district and state races. The last day to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 11. For more information about the proposition, visit https://www.voteyesforpropa.com.

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