Downtown Dallas is reporting a marked improvement in public safety, a development highlighted at Downtown Dallas Inc.’s (DDI) State of Downtown event on September 30. DDI President and CEO Jennifer Scripps credited a larger police presence and a comprehensive “Safe in the City” effort for the decline in crime, while also acknowledging the looming departure of the city’s largest employer, AT&T, to Plano.

Police staffing and crime trends

According to DDI, the downtown area now has 130 police officers assigned and approved, up from the 90s a few years ago. The Dallas Police Department (DPD) reported a 16.5% drop in violent crime, a 29% reduction in robberies, and a 45% decline in auto theft for the second consecutive year. No homicides have been recorded in the central business district this year.

A Boston Consulting Group analysis commissioned by DDI showed that violent crime in the downtown core rose 42% between 2019 and 2023, while citywide violent crime fell 14% over the same period. The recent downward swing suggests the increased police presence and related initiatives are having the intended effect.

Proposition U and staffing goals

Dallas voters approved Proposition U in November 2024, mandating that at least half of annual growth in unrestricted revenue be directed first to the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, with the remainder supporting public‑safety objectives such as raising DPD staffing to a minimum of 4,000 sworn officers. The city’s current budget projects 3,651 officers by the end of fiscal year 2027, leaving the department 349 short of the goal.

DPD’s Central Business District patrol division reported an average two‑minute response time for Priority 1 emergency calls in 2025, its fastest on record, and officers arrested 90 fugitives on felony warrants during the year.

Homelessness outreach

Scripps also highlighted progress on homelessness, noting that all downtown encampments have been cleared through the “Street to Home” program. The downtown unsheltered‑homeless count fell 85%, with a May 21, 2026 coalition announcement reporting that more than 287 individuals have moved into permanent housing and that street‑homelessness counts are down 89% from their peak.

The second phase of the Street to Home initiative, funded with $28 million from the city, Dallas County and private partners, aims to sustain these gains across Dallas and Collin counties.

AT&T’s planned relocation

Amid these safety gains, AT&T announced a gradual, multi‑year relocation of its headquarters operations from downtown Dallas to a suburban campus in Plano. The company seeks a large, horizontal campus with significant acreage for development. DDI did not name AT&T onstage, referring only to the departure of downtown’s biggest employer.

Scripps stressed that the move was not unexpected, citing months of signals and speculation. She framed the situation as an opportunity for downtown to diversify its economic base and reduce reliance on the traditional office model.

Future development vision

In response, DDI unveiled a 10‑year vision developed with planning firm MIG that emphasizes converting vacant office space into housing, encouraging residential construction, and activating underused street‑level areas. The plan proposes a residential incentives program, streamlined permitting, additional office‑to‑residential conversions, more ground‑floor retail, and development on vacant parking lots.

MIG’s lead planner outlined an aspirational goal to roughly double downtown’s population to 40,000‑50,000 residents. While not a city‑adopted target, the vision reflects a shift toward a mixed‑use downtown where housing, education, retail, hospitality, entertainment and employment coexist.

Investment outlook

Scripps cited approximately $8 billion in planned and committed investment already inside the downtown loop, including the convention‑center redevelopment, Morgan Stanley’s regional hub lease at Fountain Place, Texas Woman’s University’s planned downtown campus, Dallas College’s El Centro expansion, the Dallas Wings’ move to Memorial Auditorium, and various office‑to‑residential projects. Therme’s proposed wellness resort is also moving forward, having received land‑use approval from the Dallas City Plan Commission.

These developments, combined with the public‑safety gains, aim to keep downtown Dallas competitive and attractive for residents, workers and investors, even as the city navigates the loss of AT&T’s headquarters.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.