Dallas Officials Aimed to Boost Downtown Housing

The city seeks to double its downtown residential population by 2036 to offset recent corporate and entertainment departures.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Remote Work

Dallas Officials Aimed to Boost Downtown Housing

Live Poll

Do you support the city's effort to use public funds to reshape the downtown residential area?

Dallas leadership has introduced the Vision 2036 plan to transform the downtown area into a residential hub. This effort follows the relocation of major entities like AT&T to Plano and the closing of the Neiman Marcus flagship store.

Why it matters

The city aims to reshape the urban core as traditional anchors vacate downtown Dallas. By focusing on residential growth, officials hope to sustain the downtown economy despite shifting corporate and entertainment footprints.

The city has set a goal to reach 32,000 downtown residents by 2036, effectively doubling the current population of 16,000. Additionally, $14.9 million in bond funding is currently allocated for Harwood Street improvements.

The players

Downtown Dallas Inc.

This private non-profit organization works with the city to drive economic development and residential growth in the downtown core.

AT&T

The telecommunications giant is a major corporate entity currently planning to relocate its headquarters from downtown Dallas to Plano.

The details

Proposed initiatives include incentivizing new residential construction and advancing office conversion projects to repurpose vacated space. The Office of Economic Development is currently collaborating with Downtown Dallas Inc. to finalize these strategies.

September 30, 2026: Downtown Dallas Inc. unveiled the Vision 2036 plan.
October 9, 2026: An assistant city manager submitted a memo regarding the plan to the City Council.
2036: The target year for reaching the downtown population growth goal.

Market Landscape

The Vision 2036 downtown redevelopment plan represents a strategic pivot toward residential density to counteract the exodus of established corporate and entertainment anchors. This move positions Dallas to compete with regional suburban hubs like Plano by creating a concentrated urban living environment.

Residents may see significant changes to downtown infrastructure, including the creation of a new urban trail and improvements to Harwood Street. The push for residential construction aims to expand living options as the city transitions away from its previous status as a corporate-heavy business district.

The takeaway

The city is actively working to transition its downtown from a corporate center into a primary residential district. Homebuyers and investors should monitor upcoming Council votes on these development incentives to understand the future of downtown living.