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The Armonía Apartments is a 15-unit mixed-income housing development in West Dallas, created through a partnership between the City of Dallas and Dallas City Homes, providing affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing options for a range of residents.

Based on notes from Dallas Documenter Olivia West As the […]

The 2026 primary election in Texas was marred by confusion and chaos due to the Republican Party's decision to eliminate countywide voting and force all voters to cast ballots at assigned precincts, leading to thousands of voters showing up at the wrong polling locations.

Based on notes by Dallas Documenter Brianna Patt  Dallas City […]

The road to saving $2.6 million from the Dallas Public […]

The City Plan Commission voted to remove deed restrictions on […]

The proposed Sunny South Dallas PID would assess an additional annual fee to non-homestead properties within the district, with nearly half of the budget dedicated to public safety and community outreach, and requires City Council approval and majority landowner support by February 2027.

Hundreds of voters showed up at the wrong polling place […]

The Dallas City Council approved a long-contested development agreement on […]

Eula Wilson arrives with a red folder tucked under the […]

The City of Dallas is revamping its approach to home repair programs, outsourcing the programs to Volunteers of America Texas, Inc. and launching a new application process this spring.

The City of Dallas has a long history of home repair programs, which have evolved over decades, and are currently being redesigned and relaunched by Volunteers of America Texas.

Due to the removal of countywide voting in Dallas County, […]

On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council voted to take the reins on […]

Based on notes by Dallas Documenter Bridget Willis Smith  The […]

Based on notes by Dallas Documenter Drew Emrich Dallas City Council […]

Dallas and Williamson counties in Texas are switching to precinct-level voting for the primary election, which will require more election workers and may confuse voters who are used to countywide voting sites.

Dallas ISD staff presented their preliminary 2026 bond plan during a […]

In November, West Dallas residents attended a public meeting to […]

From notes by Dallas Documenter Brianna Patt As the city […]

From notes by Dallas Documenter Drew Emrich A policy for […]

The Dallas City Council voted unanimously to move city elections from May to November in an effort to increase voter participation and save money.

James Armstrong has been appointed as the City of Dallas Deputy Director of Housing and Homelessness, giving him the power to implement the changes he has been advocating for at Builders of Hope and to bring a neighborhood perspective to City Hall.

A zoning request for an apartment development along a single-family […]

VanAnthony Williams, Lisa Brown Ross, and Nijeul X discuss their plans for the South Dallas Cultural Center, African American Museum of Dallas, and Forest Forward, respectively, and how they will be engaging Dallas ISD schools and inspiring the next generation of artists.

South Dallas' arts and cultural institutions are preparing for next summer's FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park, with the African American Museum of Dallas mounting a Nelson Mandela exhibit and Forest Forward looking to maximize the opportunity to tell stories and build relationships.

South Dallas Arts Leaders Roundtable discussed how their institutions intersect and how they're continuing to learn from the histories of both South Dallas and their own organizations, with the goal of creating lasting impact and preserving cultural memory for future generations.

Three newcomers to Dallas recently arrived on the scene at […]

Park and Recreation board members questioned the future of South […]

Cynthia Rogers-Ellickson, the City of Dallas' Director of Housing and Community Development, reflects on her life and legacy of working to provide affordable housing and home repair services to the people of West Dallas.

This interactive map highlights the Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor in South Dallas, showcasing key streets, landmarks, and community planning areas tied to the legacy of civic leader Elsie Faye Heggins and the broader redevelopment efforts of Black leaders and landowners.

Long overlooked and plagued by safety concerns, the MLK DART Station has seen little of the investment poured into nearby Fair Park. Now, three commercial property owners — two Black, all local families — control 27 acres around the station. They have benefitted from a grassroots business coalition led by Hank Lawson and believe transit-oriented development could revive local businesses and draw long-overdue attention to South Dallas — even after a recent proposal fell through.

Written by Dallas Documenter Jenna Stephenson The Dallas city manager’s […]

Library closures, infrastructure investment and police funding were some of […]

Forest Forward recently welcomed community members to its new headquarters to share updates on the restoration of the historic Forest Theater and the expansion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy, and to introduce Nijeul X as the organization's new artistic director.

City staff and planning commissioners are bracing for a new […]

The City Plan Commission delayed the July vote of a […]

Elsie Faye Heggins led the charge to reshape South Dallas in the image of its Black residents, proposing to rename several streets and eventually succeeding in renaming Forest Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in 1981.

Dallas ISD and City of Dallas officials broke ground on the new Career Institute West, which will provide industry certification programs for high school students to enter the workforce after graduation.

Pesca Coastal Classics, a new restaurant in Trinity Groves, offers a blend of approachable seafood classics with Mexican-inspired flair, featuring a casual atmosphere, coastal-inspired decor, and a menu of seafood and non-seafood dishes, as well as brunch on weekends.

The City of Dallas and local partners are offering over 8,000 free activities for West Dallas teens this summer, including access to recreation centers, arts and entertainment venues, and programs such as open-gym volleyball, yoga classes, and Tae Kwon Do.

Hundreds of Dallas residents spoke against proposed service and fare […]

The City of Dallas approved a long-awaited area plan to […]

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux introduced himself to the Community […]

The City of Dallas has terminated the contract of Fair Park First, a nonprofit overseeing the 277-acre Fair Park, and plans to create a new nonprofit to care for the community park and work with donors and partners.

The Park South YMCA in South Dallas has reopened after a year-long renovation, featuring new facilities, programs, and a commercial kitchen, and offering financial assistance to ensure equal access to the community.

Dallas Free Press is seeking a visual journalist to join their team to capture the beauty and assets of the West Dallas and South Dallas communities.

Texas legislators are pushing for a charter amendment to move Dallas' local elections to November, which could lead to increased voter turnout and cost savings, but faces political hurdles.

Six candidates attended a forum to discuss public safety, affordable housing, economic growth, and more, with four of them declaring their support for a historic district in the Queen City neighborhood and an authorized hearing for the South Dallas/Fair Park Area Plan.

Nine candidates are running for the District 6 city council seat in Dallas, and eight of them attended a forum to discuss public safety, gentrification, affordable housing, and more, with candidates proposing policies such as reducing property tax values for West Dallas residents, preserving neighborhoods, and addressing environmental issues.

Natashia Gerald, a 42-year-old Dallas resident, is running for Dallas ISD District 5 trustee to advocate for effective programs and practices that meet the diverse needs of students in West Dallas.

Byron Sanders, a 20-year education leader and former CEO of Big Thought, is running for Dallas ISD District 5 trustee to ensure that Dallas ISD becomes a model of innovation, equity, and excellence for all students.

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

During a March City Plan Commission meeting, a dozen residents […]

During a March 6 City Plan Commission meeting, Kleberg residents […]

The DART board approved $5 million to temporarily extend DART’s […]

During a February meeting, the Parks and Recreation board members […]

A zoning request to build a duplex in a neighborhood […]

A STEAM nonprofit for school-aged children and a metal salvage facility on Singleton are asking the City for zoning changes in West Dallas.

A new business in South Dallas addresses employment barriers faced by residents impacted by the justice system.

South Dallas residents preserve local business as new developments will gradually appear on the MLK Jr. Boulevard corridor.

Fair Park First has announced an $8.65 million federal investment for the 10-acre community park, which will replace a portion of the parking lots in Fair Park, and has pledged to include amenities such as a 1-acre playspace and a historical marker, while also providing easy access to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Good morning! Here’s what the Dallas Free Press team is […]

Posters and playbills featuring Broadway musicals line the walls of […]

Good afternoon! Here’s what the Dallas Free Press team is […]

Good afternoon! Here’s what the Dallas Free Press team is […]

Good morning! Here’s what the Dallas Free Press team is […]

West Dallas homeowners have an opportunity to be reimbursed for increased property taxes since 2020 with Builders of Hope's latest program.

The latest This spring the Dallas City Council voted unanimously […]

The most powerful way to impact decisions on public school campuses is a site-based decision-making, or SBDM, committee, which directly advises the campus principal. Both Texas law and local Dallas ISD policy require an SBDM at every school with rules to ensure both staff and community representation on the committee.

Residents from West Dallas' Gilbert-Emory are leading the charge to give 75212 more banking options with a ground-up approach.

The latest:  At the most recent City of Dallas Landmark […]

Background information, priorities, and endorsements for District 9 Board of Trustees candidates Oralia Alonso, Da'On Boulanger-Chatman, Ed Turner, and LaKashia Wallace.

The collaboration between Dallas ISD, Toyota, and SMU is now in its school year, expanding grades as the West Dallas school landscape shifts.

Bonton representatives want to know why no one told them […]

As property taxes rise city-wide, Dallas residents have a variety of options for payment plans or exemptions to lower their burden of the bill.

West Dallas residents and leaders want the Trinity Park Conservancy to take action to ensure the park will benefit neighbors.

Neighborhood groups are trying negotiation and legal action to get GAF and its pollution out of West Dallas faster — and without leaving a mess.

The latest on City of Dallas MWBE contracts During a […]

On Oct. 12, West Dallas neighbors met to review policy suggestions for housing and land use for the West Dallas Community Vision Plan.

As Dallas works to create the city's first comprehensive land use plan, South Dallas neighbors ask how their input will be considered.

This excerpt from Ernest McMillan’s book, “Standing: One Man’s Odyssey through the Turbulent ’60s" is a glimpse into the work of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC, in South Dallas.

It wasn’t until Emmanuel Glover and Sarah Ashitey moved into Gilbert-emory that they learned their new house was in a historical African-American settlement.

A Dallas Morning News story by real estate editor Steve Brown notes that the purchase by Nebraska-based investor Goldenrod Cos. is "one of the largest such property transactions in years located so close to downtown" and "signals future development."

The South Dallas Fair Park Public Improvement District is coming to an end. Property owners of neighborhood homes and businesses advocated against extending the PID for another seven years, saying they didn’t feel the additional tax burden translated to tangible community benefits.

Ferrell Fellows' business model is simple: She buys off-market properties in South Dallas in need of serious repairs then renovates these homes, preserving character and history. They become residences for first-time homebuyers, long-term rentals for people not ready to take that leap, and shared housing for people she comes across in her community work, everyone from single parents to immigrants to prostitutes.

Fellows believes everyone deserves a dignified way to live.

“We're setting the agenda on much of what's going on in West Dallas,” Raul Reyes Jr. says. However, his six-year term is coming to an end, and he and Jeffrey Howard don’t want to lose West Dallas 1’s momentum. As they prepare to pass the torch to the next generation, they are hoping the website will build support and awareness of West Dallas 1’s continuing impact.

Frazier Healthy Homes is a South Dallas nonprofit program that provides home repairs to low-income residents, helping them to stay in their homes and pass down property to the next generation.

Key concepts in West Dallas' fight to get rid of polluters, including the significance of zoning, permits, and civic action.

Officers ordered protesters to get on the ground and began throwing smoke bombs and tear gas that blended their flashing red and blue lights into purple fumes. The air was filled with smoke screens and screams.

More than 600 protesters, lying face down on the concrete, had their hands zip-tied behind their backs. A few even jumped over the side of the bridge in an attempt to get away from the arresting officers and flying projectiles.

But not Tramonica Brown.

West Dallas residents have been begging for safer streets, and after decades of no response, the voices of neighbors living near Bernal Drive finally are being heard.

“The more things that we bring in that keep our residents in our community spending their money here, the more we create that ecosystem of a sustainable economy that is going to give back to this community, instead of all of our dollars being spent elsewhere,” says Councilman Adam Bazaldua.

Dallas Free Press recently asked questions about the South Dallas Fair Park PID to try to understand how these tax dollars are benefitting the neighborhood, and how COVID might be impacting the work.