• Mill City Community Association
• Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation
• Urban Specialists

The Mill City proposal includes the construction of an urban garden teaching farm to supply locally grown produce to a known food desert and provide nutrition education to residents.

To reduce crime, loitering, and illegal dumping, the Mill City team plans to renovate up to 18 vacant lots, with eight already identified. The initiative has already received $300,000 from additional funders.

Infrastructure improvements, such as enhanced lighting, landscaping, and sidewalks, would create a sense of place and belonging for residents while addressing community needs.

Mill City has also proposed the construction of Harris Home of Champions Boxing Gym to provide neighborhood youth with a gathering space, physical fitness program, and needed mentoring.

To address a lack of affordable housing, Mill City has proposed at least eight affordable single-family homes.

This proposal aims to liberate Oak Cliff from systemic oppression through a culture of education, while increasing social mobility and social capital.

• For Oak Cliff
• Betty Lin Early Childhood Learning Center
• Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Sr. Middle School (DISD)
• Dallas Park & Recreation

Enhancements to For Oak Cliff’s facilities, Glendale Park, Betty Lin Early Childhood Learning Center, and Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Sr. Middle School.

The proposal would transform an unused space at For Oak Cliff into a commercial kitchen, as well as upgrade the building’s structural support, plumbing, insulation, electrical, and HVAC.

As part of a broader Glendale Park master plan, the proposal calls for the construction of a playground with park shelter, landscaping, lighting, and seating in the park’s northern section.

Because the Betty Lin Early Childhood Learning Center’s annex building is currently unusable, the proposal calls for a rehabilitation including new fencing, doors, windows, plumbing, insulation, electrical, siding and HVAC.

Replace the boys and girls’ locker room showers at Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Sr. Middle School, which have not been functional for over a decade; update the school garden; and add a building mural.

Considered the most well-preserved Freedman’s town in the country, the once-thriving Tenth Street neighborhood declined due to the construction of I35, redlining, and families leaving the community. It is now designated as one of the most endangered places nationally, with several vacant homes and commercial properties.

In 1994, the neighborhood successfully advocated for Historic District status at the city, state, and national level to preserve and enhance the historic character and value of the community.

• 35.3 median age
• 7.3 percent has a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• $35,847 median household income
• 40.6 percent of the population is considered to be in poverty
• 20.8 percent being foreign born
• 44.5 percent speak a language other than English at home 
• 43 percent is Black or African American and 58 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino

• RAYO Planning
• bcWorkshop
• Oak Cliff Veggie Project
• Remembering Black Dallas
• Tenth Street Residential Association

Rayo Planning would serve as the umbrella organization for all projects, with bc Workshop, Oak Cliff Veggie Project, and Remembering Black Dallas serving as project leads. Additionally, Remembering Black Dallas and Tenth Street Residential Association would serve as consultants for all projects.

Projects within this proposal address issues of food access, a lack of community gathering spaces, preserving the neighborhood’s character and integrity, and increasing the housing stock and restoration of commercial uses within the community.

Bc Workshop would renovate a single-story building into a community center. The organization also plans to purchase and renovate a two-story commercial building (see header image above).

The proposal calls for enhancing the Tenth Street Community Garden by including an accessible drive aisle, pavilion, fencing, irrigation, lighting, a walk-in cooler, and raised beds.

Remembering Black Dallas would oversee the beautification of Oak Cliff Cemetery, which includes fencing, landscaping, benches, concrete patching, water access, gate and masonry features, walking trails, light poles.