City of Dallas launches public call for ideas to shape future of City Hall and surrounding area
Dallas, Texas – Dallas officials are opening the door for the public to help shape the future of one of the city’s most important civic spaces, as leaders explore what comes next for Dallas City Hall and the surrounding land. The effort comes after the Dallas City Council requested more detailed information on possible paths forward, prompting the launch of a community-driven initiative designed to gather ideas from a wide range of voices.
At the center of this process is an “Open Call for Concepts,” which invites residents, business leaders, and developers to submit their thoughts on how the current Dallas City Hall building could be used in the future, as well as how nearby properties might be redeveloped. The city is not limiting the scope of ideas, instead encouraging participants to think broadly about both adaptive reuse of the existing building and larger redevelopment possibilities that could reshape the entire area.
This includes land that is expected to become available once the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center undergoes redevelopment, creating new opportunities for expansion and transformation. By opening up the conversation early, city leaders are aiming to gather a wide mix of creative, practical, and forward-looking proposals before making any final decisions.
Public input to guide future decisions
The ideas collected through this process will not simply be archived. Instead, they will play a direct role in shaping an upcoming report from Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, which is scheduled to be presented to the City Council in May. That report will outline potential options for the future of City Hall, making public feedback a key part of the decision-making process.
Tolbert emphasized the importance of broad participation, stating, “As we consider the future of Dallas City Hall and the surrounding site, I want every resident to know that their voice matters. We’re inviting residents, developers, and planners to share bold, creative, and practical ideas so that whatever path we choose reflects shared priorities and delivers the greatest benefit to the people of Dallas.”
To make participation accessible, the city has provided an online portal where submissions can be made. Interested individuals can visit the Open Call for Concepts page through the City’s homepage or go directly to the designated web address. Submissions must be completed by 2:00 p.m. CST on May 3, 2026, after which city staff will review the entries and prepare updates for council members.
Alongside this open submission process, the city is also working to gather structured feedback through a formal public survey. The Office of Communications and Customer Experience, also known as CCX, has partnered with ZenCity, a company that specializes in civic sentiment analysis, to conduct a statistically valid survey. This survey launched immediately and will remain open for approximately six weeks, giving residents additional time to share their views on what they want to see in the future of Dallas’s government center.
Together, these efforts reflect a broader push by city leaders to ensure that decisions about Dallas City Hall are shaped not only by officials and planners but also by the people who live and work in the city every day.
