Dallas Catalyst Project: Mill City

Mill City Magic

In partnership with Mill City Community Association, Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation, and Urban Specialists, TREC Community Investors will commit an initial $1 million over three years toward catalytic real estate projects that address public safety, affordable housing, updating infrastructure, and creating community gathering spaces and youth mentoring opportunities.

About Mill City

Founded in 1903 with the vision of opening a factory to train residents of color, Mill City has a history of economic vibrancy and community pride that, due to decades-long disinvestment, has been marred by blighted buildings, illegal dumping, loitering, and high concentrations of crime.

Neighborhood Demographics

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5,519 residents

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66% Black

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19% Latino

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52% employed

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$36,819 median income

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27% of residents are older than 65 or younger than 15 years old

Our Partners

Proposed and Completed Investments

Infrastructure Improvements

Dallas Catalyst Project: Mill City plans to address the neighborhood’s blighted commercial spaces and remediate at least 18 vacant lots. Infrastructure improvements, such as enhanced lighting, landscaping, and sidewalks, would address safety concerns and create a sense of community pride.

Affordable Housing

Dallas Catalyst Project: Mill City will construct at least eight single-family homes and offer one-on-one financial counseling and education to homebuyers.

Harris Home of Champions Boxing Gym

A boxing gym will provide the neighborhood with a much-needed safe public gathering space, physical fitness opportunities, and mentoring for at-risk youth.

Spring Plaza

2024 Young Guns Community Investors Project

Organization supported: South Dallas Fair Park ICDC

Address: 4907 Spring Avenue

Scope of Work: Fresh paint to the building’s exterior, new landscaping and digital signage, and upgraded safety and security measures.

Funding: This project received more than $75,000 in TREC Community Investors grant funding and $45,000 from ICDC.

Project Managers: Tanner Lloyd (Birch Construction), Matthew McManigle (Balfour Beatty)

Completed: June 2025

Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center

2024 Associate Leadership Council (ALC) Class Project

Organization supported: Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center (ZWHJCOC)

Address: 4608 Wahoo Street

Scope of Work: Transform a former church building into a neighborhood nonprofit headquarters with staff workspace, meeting rooms, an internet café and coworking space, fresh paint, flooring, and routine cleaning, as well as new landscaping, and pressure washing.

Project Managers: Ryan McDaniel (Grand Bank), Jessica Stroud (Stream Realty Partners)

Estimated Completion: August 2025

Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center

2025 Young Guns Community Investors Project

Organization supported: Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center

Address: 4200 Metropolitan Avenue

Scope of Work: Reimagine an existing space within the school into a new STEM lab with workbench area, media entertainment wall, hallway art wrap, acoustic ceiling tiles, as well as additional cosmetic enhancements, furniture, and improved electronic capabilities.

Funding: This project received a $52,000 TREC Community Investors grant and $30,000 from the nonprofit Tackle Tomorrow and IT provider Veritis.

Project Managers: Ryan Kolowich (OMNIPLAN) and KD Smith (Hunt Realty Investments, Inc.)

Estimated Completion: Early 2026

Frazier Revitalization Outdoor Space

2025 Associate Leadership Council (ALC) Class Project

Organization supported: Frazier Revitalization

Scope of Work: Renovate Frazier Revitalization’s outdoor meeting area into a more inviting and functional community space to support and expand the nonprofit community organization’s programming and services.

Funding: This project received a $75,000 TREC Community Investors grant and and estimated $26,000 in in-kind contributions.

Estimated Completion: Early 2026

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