The Dallas International District, a 450-acre district in the Valley View-Galleria area, anchored by an iconic 20-acre proposed park, will be a vibrant, multicultural live-work-play community that celebrates, encourages and inspires the diverse people and businesses of North Texas.

The Dallas International District in the 450-acre Valley View- Galleria area provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite and amplify the perspectives, voices and investments of our region’s fast-growing global community. As an engine for economic growth and a diverse cultural destination, the International District will solidify Dallas’ global leadership.

The district will also provide international businesses and retailers of all sizes a unique place to call home and will be energized by the 20-acre park, arts and entertainment, including one-of-a-kind international festivals and community gatherings, and a K-12 Dallas ISD vertical STEAM school.

Like other successful initiatives across Dallas, this is a public-private partnership between the City, property owners, developers, businesses, private foundations and individuals. Funding tools and programs already established by the City, including the Tax Increment Financing district (TIF), will certainly play a role but will also be leveraged to attract a mix of non-City funding to support the Dallas International District, including state and federal funds, as well as private and philanthropic funds. These include but are not limited to:

New Federal Funding – Leverage new federal funding to support infrastructure needs, including environmental and technology such as the Smart Cities efforts

Existing Federal Funding – Monitor federal funding through North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) and City efforts for ongoing needs

Partner with County/NCTCOG – Monitor state funding for ongoing needs

Philanthropic Efforts – Fundraise through private philanthropy and individuals to support additional needs around the school and park

Nonprofit Support – Work with existing nonprofits interested in the International District to build plans around their work

There are more than 400 owners of property within the International District. District leadership has conducted considerable community outreach with various stakeholders to:

1) Gather their input on their wants and needs for the area

2) Test various names as well as the idea of an International District

3) Begin to build a community presence that will support its growth

Most stakeholders, owners and residents are excited about the momentum surrounding the Dallas International District. Click these Testimonials to see what our stakeholders are saying.

The International District is the new name for the Valley View-Galleria area. Midtown is now the formal name for a newly redeveloped area near Walnut Hill and Central Expressway. This area of town, also known as Midtown Improvement District, is conventionally considered the “midpoint of Dallas” so is an appropriate term for that area.

Individual owners within the Dallas International District, however, have used Midtown in the past. “Galleria” and “Valley View” have also been used to denote the area. As the International District continues to develop, it will increasingly become known by the name. Like other developments, such as Uptown or the Arts District, the name change will become a part of the development’s momentum. Individual owners who pre-dated this change may still call their businesses or developments by the term “Midtown.”

While the International District has a few small businesses that use the name Midtown, more businesses and public projects now use the name in the new Midtown Improvement District. There is no expectation, however, that any business in the International District with the Midtown name must change its identity.

Yes. The original master plan for the International District kicked off in 2012 under the leadership of former Councilmember Linda Koop. It was produced by private developers, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood stakeholders. It was adopted by City Council in May 2013 as the Valley View-Galleria Area Plan, which resulted in the creation of a unified vision and implementation plan for the redevelopment and economic growth of the approximately 440 acres.

The Area Plan established a comprehensive vision to guide future private investment, economic development, and public infrastructure investments in a coordinated fashion toward an optimal tax base, quality of life and accessibility. It also adopted an illustrative vision for the area as a mixed-use neighborhood that would be high density and pedestrian friendly. The area would be anchored by a large central park and supported by vibrant retail, office and entertainment uses, with a mixture of housing choices. It would be connected by an integrated network of walkable streets and open spaces, and eventually linked to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail network.

Two key opportunities identified in the Area Plan were to break down the super blocks into pedestrian-scale parcels to provide a more walkable urban fabric, and to provide a community-scale central park with the potential to serve as a regional destination supporting local residents, workers and visitors. This would help make up for a severe lack of open space in the area.

The goal of the International District is to bring this plan to life, with some minor updates based on the needs of today.

In 2021, the City of Dallas embarked on a coordinated and collective strategic planning process, led by Suzanne Smith of Social Impact Architects and co-chaired by now-former Councilmember Lee Kleinman and former Park Board representative Amy Monier, to refine the vision and develop a unique brand for the 450 acres. The community was involved through town halls and surveys to develop the original vision. Now, District leadership is conducting additional community research with business owners and developers, residents, nonprofits and other possible stakeholders.

Through this planning process, community members have a renewed opportunity to reflect on past efforts as well as address future needs. These efforts will drive a strategic direction that not only rises to the needs of today, but also ensures relevancy in the future. The vision is now being championed by several noteworthy stakeholders, including current Councilmember Jaynie Schultz and former City Councilmembers Linda Koop and Lois Finkelman. 

Yes. In May 2014, City Council authorized the designation of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number 20 (Mall Area Redevelopment TIF District). Some of the 450-acre International District is part of a TIF district that is connected to Redbird Mall to assist in funding public improvements there. In effect, 10% of the tax increment generated in the Montfort-IH 635 Sub-District is annually transferred to Westmoreland-IH 20 Sub-District.

The district’s tagline is: Connecting the World to Dallas. Sharing Dallas with the World. These words emphasize a vibrant multicultural, live-work-play-visit community and a global meeting place for contemporary culture.

The Sanger-Harris mosaic on the original Valley View mall served as a source of inspiration for the colorful International District logo. The mosaic was created by Dallas architect Brenda Stubel in 1973 and became a beloved symbol of Dallas. Unfortunately, the iconic mural could not be preserved when the mall was razed. Our imagery in the district’s logo is a historical homage to Ms. Stubel’s mural. The variety of shapes and colors come together to form an abstract canvas representing a diverse, vibrant, and multicultural community of residential, commercial, retail, vocational, and educational centers for personal and professional growth.

Yes – we have accounts on all the major social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Here are just a few of the recent developments in the International District that are the result of this hard work and planning:

The district has been named a regional transportation innovation zone with a $10 million grant to plan an automated transportation system.

The Prism Center, in the heart of the International District, was purchased by the city in 2021 and is now serving as a district office for Councilmember Jaynie Schultz. A French trade office recently opened in the Prism and other trade organizations, nonprofits and city departments are expected to follow.

A series of International Night Markets as well as Europe Day events have drawn hundreds of residents from the district and across Dallas and its suburbs.

The Dallas ISD has recently purchased a 12-story building in the district to house a K-12 STEAM school.

The City of Dallas has begun work on Montfort Road as a wide, pedestrian-friendly boulevard lined with trees, public art, and streetscape design.

Multi-family projects and a 256-key hotel are under construction or completed, with more on the way.

The west side of the area has been moving forward, but the east side has had challenges converting from the needs of what was once Valley View mall and its large parking lot to a multi-use site that allows for high-density retail, residential and office space. One developer – Seritage – has already started building roads and will be announcing plans for its site soon. 

The City is excited about the public-private plans for the Dallas International District. As individual projects evolve in 2023, International District leadership should be able to supply a more specific timeline.

Yes.   

The District now has a website – www.dallasinternationaldistrict.com – and social media where you can stay up to date on all the latest happenings. You can also sign up for the latest updates on the website via email and donate to the planned 20-acre park.  

On April 28, 2021, the Dallas City Council approved the purchase of the first parcel of public property in the district to anchor the park development, the Prism Center. On Sept. 19, 2021, Councilmember Jaynie Schultz conducted a community event for neighbors and stakeholders to view the building. Since that time, District 11 has opened an office at the Prism Center. The building will have office space available to lease with the goal of co-locating multicultural groups, nonprofits and international groups to help spur innovation and activity within the International District.

The mall, including the old AMC theater, was demolished in spring/summer 2023.

In November 2020, Dallas residents passed a bond election that included $75 million to build a new Dallas ISD pre-K-12 STEAM school in North Dallas. Dallas ISD bought a 12-story building in the district and hopes to open with some grades by 2025.

On Sept. 15, 2016, the Parks and Recreation Board was briefed by the Dallas Midtown Park Foundation on what was then called Midtown Park. MIG, a national expert in park design, developed an initial plan based on the original 2013 Omniplan vision that eventually led to its inclusion in PD 887 and the 2017 Bond Program, which allocated a $6M match for the development of what will now be the 20-acre The Commons park.

North Dallas, which includes the 450-acre International District, has had a historically low percentage of parks within a 10-minute walk. The inclusion of the 20-acre The Commons would bring the neighborhood and surrounding communities in line with the City’s overall open space goals to increase access to greenspace for all residents. This was true in 2010 and continues to be true in 2022. Based on community feedback in 2021, stakeholders conducted a Park Assessment to adjust the original MIG plan to support several goals of the International District. The new plan can be found under the tab labeled “The Commons” on this website’s menu.

The Area Plan is crafted to ensure that transportation needs evolve as various projects evolve. In addition, to the Complete Streets project on Montfort, there are also forward-thinking plans for an Automated People Mover and Shared Parking.

In April 2014 and April 2019, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) authorized the programming of Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds to support a people-mover test track, also known as an automated transportation system (ATS). Recently, the NCTCOG Executive Board authorized the receipt of Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds for a people-mover test track, also known as an ATS based on its Last Mile Transit Connections Study and the Automated Transportation System and Shared Parking Feasibility Study.

In November 2020, RTC authorized $10 million in funds for implementation of an ATS pilot in what is now the International District. Currently, a consultant is working to develop performance guidelines for an ATS system.

Yes. The area plan specifically addresses the need for the International District to be walkable and bikeable and to include increased access to public transportation, including the automated transportation system (ATS). Currently, there are also plans to connect to the DART system’s Silver and Red lines, as well as to DFW Airport.

Yes. In fact, the City of Dallas is undertaking a Complete Street project for Montfort Drive, which bisects the International District north to south, to reduce vehicular travel from 6 to 4 lanes, facilitate improved walkability and incorporate new bike lanes. The project also includes $5.4 million for public streetscape improvements, including hardscape and landscape. The project, which will take about 18 months, is scheduled for completion in 2024.

The area plan established a specific goal to be a mixed-income community – much like Uptown Dallas – where anyone can find housing to fit their needs and lifestyle.

There are already all types of apartments in the district, including workforce and market rate, and there will continue to be. 

The City is excited that Dallas Police Department joined us in the launch event on September 19, 2021, for the International District. District leadership has briefed the department on plans for the area and will continue to work with them. As plans evolve, the hope is to establish community groups, such as a Crimewatch and Neighborhood Association, which have proven to be successful in other areas to support safe and involved communities.

No. District leadership is excited to work with Dr. Timothy Bray from The University of Texas at Dallas on an economic assessment of the area. His early work indicates that the International District will be highly beneficial for the overall economic development of the area.

The City of Dallas has worked hard over the past decade on positioning Dallas as a global city. The International District is an important next step in this process for the City of Dallas, and its impact is amplified by the addition of Beth Huddleston, Chief of Protocol & International Relations, and her work with the distinguished committee gathered by Mayor Eric Johnson to support international efforts.

This strategic planning process has been advised by the international community from the very beginning through interviews, surveys and tours of the Valley View-Galleria area. As one interviewee stated, “This shows that Dallas is serious about being a global city.” Through continued collaboration with the international community, District leadership look forward to creating a place that benefits all of Dallas.