Committee names office-to-housing incentives a top economic priority

A leading economic-development priority for the City of Dallas is state incentives to encourage office-to-housing conversions, the committee determined during a discussion of the proposed legislative program. Council members said conversion incentives could accelerate downtown housing supply and align with other redevelopment efforts.

"That would be a huge incentive for our downtown," Chair West said in support of making the item the committee's champion in economic development. Members agreed to remove the item from a passive "monitor" status and to seek a legislative champion in the Dallas delegation to carry the proposal in Austin.

Staff will work with the office of government affairs to draft language and identify potential state or federal vehicles for incentives; the committee asked that the item remain aligned with broader downtown planning and any announced DDI initiatives.