Downtown Dallas creates a net-zero city block of affordable housing

An underutilized surface parking lot
In 2009, the Central Dallas Community Development Corporation announced a $60M plan to redevelop a 2.5 acres downtown parcel into a leading-edge sustainable, mixed-use affordable housing project.  The program was for 500 units, 40% of which were to be at 60% AMI or lower.  The project was to be carbon neutral, produce zero waste, including storm water, and divert 75% of waste during construction. The site was a high-profile city block located between City Hall and the convention center, underutilized as a surface parking lot.  With the endorsement of Mayor Tom Leppert and working in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute, the Development Corporation intended this to be a national model of affordability and sustainability for urban revitalization.

FIX’s Role
FIX was brought on to help the Development Corporation define a roadmap for accomplishing the project, including specific design criteria and metrics, formalize the development strategy, and create initial design feasibility studies.  Working in collaboration with facilitation team, Urban Re:Vision, FIX guided Dallas city planners, consultants and the development team through a series of charette-style workshops to complete the initial vision for the project.  Construction is targeted to begin in 2011.