{"id":2071,"date":"2026-05-12T01:32:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T01:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/?p=2071"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:21:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:21:56","slug":"people-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/people-first\/","title":{"rendered":"People First"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Downtown Disparity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown Dallas is at an inflection point. Over the past two decades, the district has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 200 residents in 2000 to more than 16,000 today, while remaining the metroplex\u2019s largest office hub with over 34 million square feet. Yet, like many downtowns nationwide, the commuter-driven office model that once sustained the urban core has been disrupted. Recent tenant losses have weakened public and investor confidence, and competition from nearby districts has intensified questions about long\u2011term relevance. At the same time, Downtown Dallas is far from stalled: nearly $6 billion in transformative development is underway, supported by ongoing efforts focused on public safety and activation. This convergence of investment and unmet potential presents a timely opportunity to recalibrate downtown\u2019s future, shifting strategy toward a people\u2011first model that prioritizes walkable, safe, and connected neighborhoods. By focusing on where people choose to live and spend time, downtown Dallas can unlock broader change and reassert itself as the cultural and economic heart of the metroplex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Density and Connection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown Dallas is constrained by two interdependent challenges: insufficient residential density and a fragmented public realm. Without enough people living downtown, active ground\u2011floor uses such as retail, dining, and entertainment cannot be sustained. Yet without a cohesive, walkable, and engaging public realm, it is equally difficult to attract the residents needed to justify new housing development at the necessary scale. Each condition reinforces the other, leaving downtown caught in a cycle that limits its vitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Fragmented Public Realm<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown contains several strong but isolated bright spots, such as the Dallas Farmers Market, Klyde Warren Park, and the AT&amp;T Discovery District, but these assets remain poorly connected to the wider district. One\u2011way streets designed for a commuter era still prioritize vehicle throughput over pedestrians, diminishing safety, undermining retail viability, and suppressing the character of the district. Blank fa\u00e7ades, vacant storefronts, and surface parking lots widen the gaps between destinations, creating a discontinuity that weakens the appeal of the public realm and reinforces perceptions of an unwalkable and uninviting environment. As Doug Prude of DDI observes, \u201cIn many places, we\u2019ve got some good clustering and areas that feel tied together, and then we\u2019ve got big gaps between them, and that\u2019s part of our challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although short\u2011term beautification and opportunistic leasing improve isolated blocks, they do not address the deeper issue: downtown lacks the consistent activity and density required to fully activate the public realm. These everyday conditions shape how people experience downtown, whether they choose to walk, linger, and explore, or retreat to cars and buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"People First_Timelapse of Downtown Dallas\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GTQ7JFnqxkc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Density Gap<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown also lacks the residential rooftops to support a robust ecosystem of daily life. As Billy Prewitt of Pacific Elm notes, \u201cIt&#8217;s like painting over cracks in a house with foundation problems\u2026 It\u2019s unsustainable if you don&#8217;t have the rooftops and density to support it\u2026 We need to add as many people as we can to the neighborhood at every price point.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without enough residents, pedestrian activity drops sharply outside peak hours, reinforcing the perception that people pass through downtown rather than live in downtown, and any cohesive retail corridors, dining districts, and entertainment offerings will continue to struggle for viability. This absence of consistent street life, and of residents to claim the neighborhood as their own, creates conditions that can unintentionally invite the unhoused population to use public spaces in ways that heighten social and safety concerns, an issue that continues to shape perceptions of downtown. As Pruitt emphasizes, \u201cGreat neighborhoods usually have a community of people that claim it as their own and fight for it.\u201d Investments in downtown parks, transit, and even the convention center transformation only succeed when they sit on top of a strong resident base that \u201cowns\u201d and activates them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The path forward begins with re\u2011evaluating the ground plane and designing environments that<strong> reward presence\u2014<\/strong>places where people want to walk, linger, and return, so downtown functions as a cohesive neighborhood rather than a collection of disconnected destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A People\u2011First Approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A thriving public realm does not emerge by accident. It requires deliberate strategies that balance walkability, livability, and the less tangible qualities that shape how a place feels. A people\u2011first approach centers the experience of residents and visitors, recognizing the inseparability of physical design, social dynamics, and emotional resonance. In practice, the most successful downtowns provide both purpose and reward: purpose through meaningful offerings, and reward through a journey that is engaging, delightful, and worth lingering for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A simple framework lies at the core of this approach: <strong>Comfort and Engagement<\/strong>. Comfort is the baseline. People must feel safe, oriented, protected from the elements, and provided with places to pause and rest. When comfort is present, people will more likely walk, gather, and linger. Engagement provides the reasons to stay: the retail, dining, daily conveniences, culture, events, and moments of delight. Public spaces must offer more than efficient movement; they should invite exploration and enjoyment. \u201cPeople come to downtown and decide what the quality of this location is based upon what they&#8217;re seeing on the ground plane. They don&#8217;t walk into every building\u2026 The ground plane tells you what kind of neighborhood you&#8217;re in.\u201d Pruitt emphasizes. In other words, people do not experience comfort and engagement as abstract ideals; they experience them in the everyday quality of streets, building edges, crossings, and shared spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Unmet Potential<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Several catalytic investments underway could reshape downtown\u2019s future. The convention center district in particular offers the opportunity to restore long lost connectivity, by opening its public \u201cheart\u201d to the city and re-establishing key north\u2013south movement corridors. As Jane Hamilton of Inspire Dallas explains, \u201cThis project sends a powerful message: downtown no longer has its back to the south. The district\u2019s new connections reopen that gateway and stitch together parts of the city that have long been cut off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, major projects alone cannot create a cohesive downtown. The corridors connecting these investments to existing \u201cbright spots\u201d remain fragmented. Without intervention, these new developments risk becoming another disconnected piece of the puzzle, successful in isolation but unable to knit together a continuous neighborhood experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The diagram below reflects a snapshot of key corridors downtown and the realities of the urban fabric that exists. It highlights inactive or inaccessible edges, blank fa\u00e7ades, service yards, vacant storefronts, and garage driveways that reduce the connectivity, activation, and porosity of the built environment. In combination, these edges ultimately weaken the conditions that make people feel safe and comfortable walking, lingering, and returning. Many older buildings operate like fortresses, turning their backs to the sidewalk, so the experience of downtown becomes fragmented and discouraging.&nbsp; Being able to walk from one place to another doesn\u2019t automatically result in people choosing to do so. The public realm must also deliver comfort and engagement, purpose and reward, so people have reasons to walk and stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a0665e2e42b5&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a0665e2e42b5\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"738\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/SB-Diagram-1024x738.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/SB-Diagram-1024x738.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/SB-Diagram-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/SB-Diagram-768x554.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/SB-Diagram.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Figure ground diagram to indicate areas of inactive facades and challenged street edges in Downtown Dallas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dallas Farmers Market demonstrates the impact of intentional care and design. As Emily Valentino observes, \u201cPeople notice a marked difference\u2026 It\u2019s clean, people feel safe, every demographic feels included\u2026 You can come here and not spend any money at all\u2026 If people come and just sit and dwell, that\u2019s fine\u2026 We know they\u2019ll come back because they like how they feel when they\u2019re here.\u201d The success of the Farmers Market underscores that people are drawn to places that support everyday life, not just programmed activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strategies for Success<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Meaningful transformation requires coordinated action across public and private stakeholders. A clear, shared vision supported by aligned policy, incentives, design standards, and infrastructure is essential for downtown to function as an integrated ecosystem rather than a series of isolated projects. When considering the challenges of creating city\u2011scale change, Evan Sheets of Downtown Dallas, Inc (DDI) reiterates its complexity, \u201cThere are levels of coordination and efficiency that don\u2019t exist when there are multiple stakeholders and decision makers\u2026 That\u2019s the environment we\u2019re working in.\u201d But, while it\u2019s complex, it is achievable. Other cities, such as Detroit, have demonstrated that they can deliver ambitious, multi\u2011stakeholder strategies at scale, demonstrating that stakeholder alignment and public\/private partnerships provide lasting benefits for the downtown and the city as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Building Neighborhoods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Revitalization must begin with building real neighborhoods, places defined not by a single destination, but connected by everyday life. For Downtown Dallas, this requires a surgical, corridor\u2011first strategy that identifies connective lines between existing and emerging locations of engagement and then deploys targeted interventions to strengthen the connective tissue between them. Adding residential density through infill and multifamily development is critical. As Doug Prude notes, success requires working with parallel strategies \u201cworking with brokers and owners\u2026creating clustering\u2026[and] making the environment inviting.\u201d Sheets adds that successful districts such as the Farmers Market are the product of \u201cstrong public\u2011private partnerships, visionary developers, and adventurous capital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dallas Farmers Market exemplifies the power of this approach. \u201cWe won the RFP from the City of Dallas,\u201d recalls Valentino. Over a decade later, \u201cwe did exactly what we said we were going to\u2026 We saw it as more than running a farmers market. We saw it as building a neighborhood, a community.\u201d The result is a district anchored by people who live and work there, shaping its character and sustaining activity throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown cannot rely solely on office workers, convention\u2011goers, or tourists. Retail, dining, and entertainment only thrive when everyday neighborhood life demonstrates strength and locals come first. When community takes root, amenities evolve, and tourists tend to follow. As Valentino notes, \u201cIt seems like people are really seeking out a lifestyle\u2026 We truly are catering to both [locals and tourists]\u2026 If you\u2019re just a tourist destination, you\u2019re not going to survive any downturn.\u201d Their touchstone reflects simplicity, authenticity, lifestyle, and a sense of belonging, the foundations of a thriving neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Improving Infrastructure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Infrastructure reform will unlock downtown\u2019s potential and create the conditions for comfort and engagement at a district scale. Dallas has implemented several transformational investments already. As Scott Goldstein of The GoldHam group notes, \u201cWith the convention center, I\u201130 reconstruction, and future mobility investments, we\u2019ll see natural connectivity emerge\u2026 linking downtown north to south, east to west\u2026 in ways most people haven\u2019t yet realized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Improving access to public transit and improving its quality represent a key component of this shift, reducing reliance on cars and supporting a more walkable, people\u2011oriented downtown. The redesign of streets themselves results in equal impact. Converting select one\u2011way streets to two\u2011way traffic can dramatically improve pedestrian experience, calm traffic, improve intuitive navigation, and support street\u2011level commerce, helping Downtown move beyond piecemeal beautification toward district-wide vitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the city must undertake these changes thoughtfully and inclusively. As Sheets points out, \u201cMajor moves like a two\u2011way street conversion\u2026require broad, inclusive conversations\u2026 We must balance servicing dense office uses and the vibrant street experience tenants want.\u201d &nbsp;When a city aligns transportation, mobility, and street design, infrastructure enables everyday use, making it easier, safer, and more comfortable to walk, linger, and connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Activating the Public Realm: Designing the ground plane for comfort, engagement, and purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most impactful \u201csurgery\u201d occurs where people experience downtown most directly: the ground plane. Billy Pruitt reinforces this notion, \u201cConnection to the public realm is easily the number one most important thing about every project that we do. People pick up on social cues from the ground plane\u2026 It becomes part of our truth about where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Streets, sidewalks, storefront edges, and building fa\u00e7ades shape not just movement, but meaning. Improving comfort at a corridor scale through enhanced sidewalks, seating, lighting, signage, shade, landscaping, and weather protection encourages people to walk, pause, and feel safe. When designed intentionally, these elements transform streets from simple corridors of movement into places of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engagement comes from purpose and reward. Active ground\u2011floor uses such as retail, dining, live\/work spaces, and the thoughtful programming of public spaces provide reasons to linger and return. Achieving this is challenging: early stage activation may not be financially viable without density, clustering, or incentives. Retrofitting existing buildings introduces additional complexity, often requiring policy support, financial tools, phased delivery, and absorbing or offsetting short\u2011term risk. As such, that engagement does not require active uses or retail on every foot of every block. Focused activation, strategic anchoring, improved visibility, and porous building edges can create a lively and engaging environment when paired with high\u2011quality streetscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Putting People First to Fuel Downtown\u2019s Rise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Genuinely magnetic, walkable districts happen intentionally, not as the result of one-off projects or temporary activations. They require clarity and commitment to a cohesive vision, intentional design, aligned investment, and sustained public\u2013private initiatives. When downtown prioritizes people first through comfort, engagement, authenticity, and the creation of community, it lays the foundation for long-term resilience and relevance. Dallas can move beyond perception challenges and unlock its full potential, not by chasing trends, short-term fixes, or the next big tenant, but by building real neighborhoods, shaped around everyday life. In doing so, downtown can once again rise to become the thriving, connected, and unmistakably human heart of the Dallas\u2013Fort Worth metroplex.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Downtown Disparity Downtown Dallas is at an inflection point. Over the past two decades, the district has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 200 residents in 2000 to more than 16,000 today, while remaining the metroplex\u2019s largest office hub with over 34 million square feet. Yet, like many downtowns nationwide, the commuter-driven office model [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-urban-design-planning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>People First - Columns - AIA Dallas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/people-first\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"People First - Columns - AIA Dallas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Downtown Disparity Downtown Dallas is at an inflection point. Over the past two decades, the district has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 200 residents in 2000 to more than 16,000 today, while remaining the metroplex\u2019s largest office hub with over 34 million square feet. Yet, like many downtowns nationwide, the commuter-driven office model [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/people-first\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Columns - AIA Dallas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-12T01:32:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-14T16:21:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/AdobeStock_632434073-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Conleigh Bauer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Conleigh Bauer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Conleigh Bauer\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b\"},\"headline\":\"People First\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-12T01:32:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T16:21:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2242,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/AdobeStock_632434073-scaled.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Urban Design\\\/ Planning\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/people-first\\\/\",\"name\":\"People First - 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Over the past two decades, the district has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 200 residents in 2000 to more than 16,000 today, while remaining the metroplex\u2019s largest office hub with over 34 million square feet. 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