DALLAS — The Dallas City Council voted 9-6 on Wednesday to keep the planned height of the new convention center lower than originally designed, a decision that will alter traffic access between Oak Cliff and downtown Dallas.
The approved design prevents the Houston Street and Jefferson Street viaducts from continuing underneath the convention center, disrupting a direct route used by motorists traveling between Oak Cliff and downtown.
The vote came despite a recommendation from the council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to restore the convention center’s original height and preserve the viaduct connections.
Under the initial design, traffic would have continued to flow beneath the convention center. City officials later reduced the building’s height by two stories as part of efforts to cut approximately $500 million from the project’s cost.
In March, city staff proposed rerouting traffic because of the revised design. Under the proposal, the Houston Street viaduct would carry one lane in each direction, while Jefferson Boulevard would have two lanes in each direction but would terminate near the Reunion parking garage south of the convention center. The city plans to construct a future flyover ramp connecting Jefferson Boulevard to Houston Street.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said restoring the convention center to its original height would add about $597 million to the project and delay construction by one year.
Tolbert said the delay could result in more than $271 million in lost convention business and an additional $1.4 million in monthly losses.
During the council meeting, residents, business leaders and community representatives expressed differing views on the project.
Craig Davis, president and chief executive officer of Visit Dallas, said the city had already informed more than 40 convention organizers that it could not accommodate their events in 2030 as originally planned.
William Joy, president of the Bishop Arts Neighborhood Association, raised concerns about the impact of the redesign on access between Oak Cliff and downtown.
Council members also debated the proposal before the vote.
Councilwoman Kathy Stewart said she opposed returning the project to its original height because doing so would require additional redesign and review, increasing costs and delaying construction.
Councilman Chad West argued that the city should improve, rather than reduce, access between Oak Cliff and downtown and warned that the decision would have long-term consequences.
