Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson pushed back against criticisms of downtown Dallas, saying the city should not apologize for being an urban center even as questions linger over City Hall’s future and the loss of AT&T Inc.’s headquarters.
Speaking at a Feb. 23 fireside chat with Ken Malcolmson, chairman emeritus of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Johnson framed traditional central business districts as increasingly outdated. He outlined a vision for a reimagined downtown as a “neighborhood” combining live, work, and play elements.
Johnson emphasized that AT&T’s move to Plano reflects corporate needs rather than a commentary on downtown’s viability.
“I think the conversation that we have to now have… is that we’re not going to apologize for being a city – a real city, an urban metropolis, a diverse and cosmopolitan city,” Johnson said. “In some people’s minds, I guess the ideal city is just a very, very, very large suburb. That’s just not what we are, and we shouldn’t apologize for that.”
His remarks came just hours before a City Council committee was set to discuss a report estimating over $1 billion in costs over 20 years to restore the 47-year-old City Hall complex. Johnson’s comments signal a broader effort to redefine Dallas’ urban identity amid corporate relocations and evolving city planning challenges.
