Dallas, TX

Dallas’ permitting building renovation is the least of its problems

Published

2 years ago

May 26, 2024

Dallas’ permitting building renovation is the least of its problems

It was clear to anyone watching the confusing explanations and obfuscation about the permitting building debacle at Dallas City Hall that the city needed someone from the outside to come and clean it up. Leaders in city management themselves presented a plan to bring a third party to evaluate the building at 7800 N. Stemmons Freeway, which the city bought in 2022 and had been renovating to turn into the new base for its building permitting department. But permitting staff vacated in April after a host of issues surfaced, including problems with fire protection systems.

The third party the city selected is a bit of a head-scratcher. It tapped the Dallas Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit that is the city’s arm for business recruitment and expansion.

The EDC itself seems to be wondering why it got pulled into this mess.

John Stephens, president of the EDC, said in a public meeting that the assignment was a “one-time project.” Fellow EDC board member Jimmy Tran said he hoped it wouldn’t set a precedent for the type of work expected from the group, according to reporting by our colleague Everton Bailey Jr.

The recent hiring of Linda McMahon as chief executive officer of the EDC played a role in City Hall’s selection of the group. McMahon is the outgoing president and CEO of The Real Estate Council. In a memo, city staff said McMahon’s expertise in commercial real estate development made the EDC “a natural partner” for the city in figuring out a plan for the Stemmons building.

McMahon is a competent and respected leader in the Dallas development community, and she has been a critic of systemic city delays in issuing permits for residential and commercial construction. Her involvement in evaluating the Stemmons building would bring credibility to any plan to resolve the problems with that structure.

More than anything, the hiring of the EDC to develop a plan and a budget for fixing the Stemmons building is recognition that a plan by city staff would have no legitimacy. City Hall needs someone trustworthy to look over its shoulder and review its work.

The city is asking the EDC to develop a punch list of items that need to be addressed in the building, though the city is already working on its own list. The agreement also authorizes the EDC to hire its own experts to inspect the building “[t]o the extent not adequately addressed by the City-procured and City-produced reports and evaluations.”

A city document indicates that the EDC’s job is strictly to give recommendations about the Stemmons building. But that is not enough. The city auditor, at the council’s request, is looking into the purchase of the building and the moving of employees in and out of the structure.

City staff’s contradictory messages, the lack of due diligence, the passing of the buck — they suggest a profound cultural problem. The City Council needs to get to the root of that. The Stemmons building is not the main problem that needs fixing.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com

Source link

Dallas, TX

2 impact players who could be entering their final 2 games as a Dallas Cowboy

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

2 impact players who could be entering their final 2 games as a Dallas Cowboy

The 2025 season has been filled with plenty of ups and downs for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year, but Dallas will ultimately miss the playoffs for the second-straight season.

While the two games left in the regular season don’t mean anything in terms of standings, there are plenty of players on Dallas’ current roster who could be playing their final two games as a Cowboy. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two impact players who could be suiting up as Cowboys for the final two times in the coming weeks.

Getty Images

There is no denying that Cowboys’ running back Javonte Williams has had an outstanding 2025 campaign. After a breakout rookie year in 2021, Williams suffered major injuries, including a torn ACL in 2022, and many believed he would never reach his top form again.

Dallas took a chance on the 25-year-old running back, signing him to a one-year deal in hopes that he still had some juice left in the tank. The move turned out to be one of Dallas’ best of the offseason, as Williams has put together a career year in his fifth season in the league.

On the year, Williams is fourth in the NFL in first downs rushing, sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,147), tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (10) to go with a career-high 56.1% Rushing Success Rate. Williams has slowed down considerably in the second half of the season, averaging just 4.2 Y/A over his last four games. Still, those shortcomings are more a product of the recent struggles of Dallas’s offensive line, which has been a very inconsistent unit over the past four to five weeks.

Williams has been a diamond in the rough find for Dallas’ front office, but his outstanding 2025 campaign could price him out of a return to the Cowboys. While the 2026 free agent running back market does include some capable players (Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker), Williams will still be a hot commodity for running back-needy teams.

At just 25-years-old, at least one team will likely be willing to offer Williams a multi-year contract. Spotrac projects the running back to earn a three-year, $22M deal on the open market. While $7M a year isn’t a huge number, with all of Dallas’ needs to address elsewhere on the roster, it seems unlikely they would seriously consider bringing Williams back to Dallas at that number.

If Williams has found a home in Dallas and is willing to take a more modest number to remain here, he may stay. If he’s looking to cash in on his career-changing year, which he almost certainly will be, there’s a very good chance he’s about to play his final two games as a Cowboy.

Getty Images

When the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark back at the beginning of September, the 30-year-old veteran had big shoes to fill. While no one expected Clark to replicate Micah Parsons’ production on Dallas’ defense, Clark filled a big need the Cowboys had at defensive tackle and figured to be a guy who could make a significant impact right away.

With how bad the Cowboys’ defense has been as a whole, Clark’s season has gone a bit unnoticed, but the 10-year veteran has had a very productive year. When Dallas acquired Clark, they knew he would be solid against the run, but questions remained about whether he had anything left in the tank as a pass rusher. Surprisingly, Clark has turned back the clock a bit this year and has been a more than adequate pass-rushing defensive tackle.

In 15 games, Clark has recorded 43 total pressures, 33 QB Hurries, and four sacks, via Pro Football Focus. With two more games to add to these totals, Clark will likely finish with the second-most pressures, hurries, and sacks in his last four seasons. While the totals aren’t close to his star-studded 2023 campaign, they are still impressive for a veteran interior defensive linemen.

Clark has had a more than acceptable first season in Dallas, but his long-term future as a Cowboy is anything but certain. With the Cowboys acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, there’s a chance Dallas will not be able to afford to keep Clark, Williams, and 27-year-old Osa Odighizuwa all on their roster in 2026.

Of those three, Clark is the most obvious choice if Dallas is going to cut ties with one of the defensive tackles. The way Clark’s contract is structured, the Cowboys can get out of the deal this offseason with no penalty. If Dallas were to cut Clark (pre or post June 1), they would incur no dead money and save $21M against the cap this year and $20M in 2027.

As mentioned above, the Cowboys have so many other needs to address on their roster this offseason, keeping Clark at a $21.5M cap number just does not feel like a realistic option. Dallas could restructure the veteran’s contract to lower his 2026 cap number and keep him as a Cowboy for the remainder of his deal, but the more likely scenario seems to be Dallas releasing him at some point next summer.

Source link

Dallas, TX

The top Dallas-Fort Worth business stories of 2025 hint at what’s coming for 2026

Published

15 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

The top Dallas-Fort Worth business stories of 2025 hint at what’s coming for 2026

The Dallas-Fort Worth economy is ending 2025 in a much different manner than it began.

In a year that started with all eyes on Washington, D.C. and an incoming (and repeat) Trump Administration, North Texas carved its own path, reshaping the business landscape for years to come. Here are a few of the biggest stories of 2025:

January’s Department store disruption

Once a bellwether of the retail world, Plano-based JCPenney in January said that it was merging with Sparc Group to form Catalyst Brands, bringing in names such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.

February and March bring downtown disruption

Longtime Dallas-based luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus, which was acquired in 2024 by Saks Global, announced and then unannounced that it would close its iconic downtown department store. The move was a blow to downtown leaders and city officials in an era when the central business district is being displaced as the region’s business and cultural epicenter.

Texas is data center central

Texas became the hotbed for the data center boom this year, with dozens of companies announcing plans for these energy-sucking, AI-enabling facilities. Gasoline was thrown on an already sizzling market when OpenAi announced its Stargate initiative in February. This adds to major North Texas data center projects from players such as Meta, Google and Nvidia partners Aligned and Wistron.

DFW (Airport) keeps growing

After more than six years of discussions — delayed by new economic realities after the COVID-19 pandemic — DFW International Airport and American Airlines finalized a deal for a super-sized $4 billion Terminal F, the first new terminal since 2005. The upsized plans will include 31 new gates, exclusively occupied by Fort Worth-based American. The first phase should open in 2027.

‘How’s that working for ya,’ Dr. Phil?

Celebrity TV problem solver Phil McGraw saw his North Texas-based startup Merit Street Media crumble in 2025 and file for bankruptcy, starting a contentious, fireworks-filled and often baffling court battle with partners such as Professional Bull Riders and Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was more entertaining than the famous Dr. Phil “Cash Me Outside” episode.

D-FW bank bought for $10.9B

Dallas-based banking giant Comerica was purchased by Ohio’s Fifth Third Bancorp in a $10.9 billion deal. Fifth Third was essentially buying its way into the Texas market, alongside branches in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas.

Too many stories to count

These are just a few of the major storylines. There is also the drama about a Dallas ranch real estate agent killed by a buffalo during a hunt in South Africa, numerous real estate deals and residential expansions, arena searches by Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams that turned into a soap opera. A Muslim-centric development near Josephine gained national notoriety from politicians railing against the project.

National economic storylines such as international import tariffs and more aggressive national immigration enforcement efforts all reshaped the North Texas economy, too.

One thing was consistent. The Dallas-Fort Worth economy kept chugging along, adding some 42,600 jobs between the beginning of the year and the end of the third quarter. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Dallas chefs’ favorite bites of the year

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Dallas chefs’ favorite bites of the year

It’s difficult to look back over a year of meals and pick one bite that outdid the rest. It’s an especially difficult exercise if you eat and cook for a living.

We asked a handful of North Texas chefs and restaurateurs to do exactly that, though, and tell us what they ate this year that surpassed everything else.

Their answers are a de facto list of what and where to eat in the coming year.

Here are nine North Texas chefs and restaurateurs on their favorite bites in 2025:

Anastacia Quinones-Pittman, owner and director of culinary of Oh Hi Hospitality

“All the sides at a little place called Soulfood Street Bites (Addison). Their pork fried ribs are insanely delicious. I’m almost afraid to let people know about this place because they’re already so busy!”

Bonus bites: Hams Orchard peaches in Terrell. Grilled leeks at Pillar in Dallas.

Jay Jerrier, owner of Cane Rosso, Zoli’s Pizza and Thunderbird Pies

Texapolitan Pizza’s cheese pie

Jay Jerrier

“I have my Hall of Fame places that I eat ALL THE TIME like Muchacho and Asian Mint, but the dish that haunts me is the plain cheese pie from Texapolitan Pizza. It’s the only place I’ll eat pizza from in D-FW that’s not my own. As good as anything in New York.”

Bonus bites: 30 Clove Rigatoni and the ricotta toast from Misti Pasta in Brooklyn. Heirloom tomato and cucumber panzanella from Met Him at a Bar in Los Angeles. Creme brulee doughnut from Bread Ahead in London.

Jennie Kelly and Brandon Moore, chefs and owners of Fond

“Focaccia and butter at Osteria il Muro in Denton. Our fave restaurant in the Metroplex. We always get their specials and the ragu, but as a fellow restaurant that makes their own focaccia, we really love theirs. It’s warm and fluffy and perfectly seasoned. Maybe it’s because we’re not working/cooking, but we always cherish it when we go!”

Bonus bites: Cast iron cheddar cornbread and leek butter from Odd Duck in Austin. Jamon buerre from Rudemouth in New York City. Tiramisu at I Cavellini in New York City.

Belal Kattan, chef and owner of pop-up concept Bazaar

“The gorgonzola ravioli at Via Triozzi was one of the best pastas I’ve ever had. I really enjoyed it and think about it often.”

Gorgonzola, pear and walnut ravioli at Via Triozzi in Dallas
Daniel Gerona

Jessie Washington, chef and owner of Brunchaholics

“The Lobster jar from Enoteca Italia. It’s amazing. That bread is on another level.”

Uno Immanivong, chef and owner of Red Stix Asian Street Food

“The most memorable bite of food I had was a lobster brown-butter soup dumpling my friend and I made using leftover Thanksgiving lobster. We finished it with caviar. The idea came to life almost by accident. Our brown butter kept solidifying every 30 minutes, so we’d set the bowl by the fireplace to warm it back up.”

Tanner Agar, owner of Rye, Apothecary and Flamant

“Pokemon menu at Midnight Rambler. Sea urchin with trout roe at Shoyo. Mushrooms at Mirador. And if I’m allowed, the risotto tart with blue cheese ice cream at Rye.”

Olivia Genthe, chef and owner of Fount Board & Table and Little Blue Bistro

“I think about the pickles from Fond maybe three times a week. Crybaby sourdough is a new fave also. I ate an entire loaf after my Christmas party with just butter and vibes.”

The pickles at Fond in Dallas, which are made with garlic, crushed red chilies, mustard... — The pickles at Fond in Dallas, which are made with garlic, crushed red chilies, mustard seeds, dried dill, peppercorn and bay leaf.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer

Toby Archibald, chef and owner of Quarter Acre

“The lobster au poivre at Le Cou Cou in NYC. The oft-imitated dish is a signature of theirs and it was perfect! It appeals to all my French-trained sensibilities and then some.”

Bonus bite: Green curry ice cream made by chef Byron Gomez for the Drifter Dinner Series at Quarter Acre.

Source link