Dallas ponies up $8 million for Forest Theater’s 100-year-old pipes and other outdated infrastructure
The City of Dallas took a significant step towards restoring the historic Forest Theater on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard with an $8 million grant for infrastructure updates and construction.
City council members unanimously approved the community development grant last week. According to city documents, $7 million of the funding will come from the Infrastructure Investment Fund, dedicated to addressing outdated or lacking infrastructure in underserved areas; while the remaining $1 million will come from the Public-Private Partnership Fund.
The Forest Theater holds a special place in the hearts of many South Dallas residents. Shirley Rhodes, who has lived in the community for more than 50 years, fondly recalled her childhood visits to the theater in the 1960s.
“As a child, that’s where I spent my Saturday mornings being entertained by movies,” she shared during public comments at the meeting. “Now we can go back to the movies, have a real restaurant, and then go up on the patio and enjoy the views of the city of Dallas.”
Elizabeth Wattley, President and CEO of Forest Forward, the nonprofit leading the charge to restore the theater and revitalize the surrounding neighborhood, expressed gratitude to the Council for their support in “bringing those shiny bright lights back to sunny South Dallas.”
According to a city memo from Nov. 8, Assistant City Manager Robin Bentley said that the $66 million project would include:
- Rehabilitation of the historic Forest Theater complex
- New ground-up construction of an approximately 28,000-square-foot building addition.
- A café, rooftop deck, lawn for special events, and a multi-use “festival street.”
Wattley is all too familiar with the costly infrastructure challenges that have hindered progress. Earlier this year, in an interview with Dallas Free Press, she highlighted the dire state of the theater’s utilities.
“Our pipes are 100 years old, clay and 6 inches around. We cannot redevelop this building without [the pipes] being replaced,” she said.
At the time, Wattley estimated that $3.8 million in infrastructure improvements were required just to make the theater operational.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, District 6 Councilmember Omar Narvaez underscored the broader impact of the investment, noting additional funding from the North Central Texas Council of Governments to improve transportation and parking in the area. He said the upgrades will enhance walkability and safety.
“It’s not the typical Dallas way of doing things,” Narvaez said. “But this is the way we should be protecting those gems that we have.”
District 3 Councilmember Zarin Gracey also shared his connection to the theater, recounting a memorable concert featuring Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Talib Kweli.
“That was a magical moment for me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to those kinds of experiences returning.”
Rhodes said she can’t wait to see the Forest Theater’s iconic marquee lights shine in Sunny South Dallas once more.
“I want to see Dallas glow again,” she said.
The Forest Theater construction is expected to begin in early 2025.
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Sujata Dand is an award-winning journalist who is energized by change brought in communities in response to news stories. She lives in and has spent most of her reporting career in Dallas, with ample experience covering health care, education and public policy.
“I think it’s important to elevate voices that are often ignored,” Dand says. “For me, that means meeting the people in our communities. We need to see people and listen to them. It’s often a huge act of courage for people to openly share their lives. So, I feel an enormous responsibility in making sure my stories are authentic and fair.”
Dand worked at KERA for almost 10 years, where she produced several television documentaries, including “Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas” and “High School: The Best and the Rest.” She also headed the multimedia project “Boyfriends,” which examined the complex personal and cultural factors that contribute to the way adolescent girls form and maintain relationships. Her work has garnered several local Emmys and national awards including a Gracie for best reality program.
Prior to her work with KERA, Sujata was a reporter and anchor at the CBS affiliate in Wichita Falls, Texas. She has worked as a freelance reporter for NPR and Dallas Morning News. Dand is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio.
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