Valley View Redevelopment Project Set To Begin

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Construction is expected to begin this year on a major redevelopment project at the old Valley View Center in Dallas. There has been an ongoing effort to revitalize the area over the past decade, but plans finally appear to be coming together.

City officials said that the Valley View Center has lost its shine, and has recently been characterized by vacant spaces, faulty lot layouts, inadequate street layouts and deteriorating infrastructure. These burdens usually end up sending potential customers somewhere else to visit, eat and shop.

The mall originally opened more than 40 years ago and has failed to keep up with changing demands. However, officials see it as a key piece to bringing even more development to the uptown area. "We're competing with neighboring suburbs to bring in new corporations, new jobs, better housing," said Dallas City Council member Lee Kleinman.

In order to get the ball rolling, the Dallas Economic Development committee on Monday unanimously voted for $36 million of tax increment financing funds to be used for the initial phase of construction. City officials said that the old mall would be torn down sometime this summer.

Scott Beck is the CEO of Beck Ventures. He is excited, he said, to start working on this particular project. "The city and I have been working tirelessly for the past four years to reform the area," Beck said. "The catalyst is the destruction and demolition of Valley View mall."

The proposed redevelopment plan features an outdoor shopping center, restaurant and entertainment spaces, an AMC movie theater with about 10 screens, office areas, residential units and a full-service hotel. Construction would be complete in 2019. The Dallas City Council will consider the proposal on Wednesday.