Last November, TREC members voted to name Mill City the next focus neighborhood of the Dallas Catalyst Project (DCP). A previous success in South Dallas’ Forest District community over the last six years, the collaborative neighborhood revitalization initiative sought to promote equitable development, improve the quality of life for residents, increase job preparedness and wealth creation opportunities, enhance safety and infrastructure, and support affordable housing.
Within Mill City, TREC Community Investors commenced a multi-year, $1 million partnership with Mill City Community Association, Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation, and Urban Specialists. The group agreed to pursue four major catalytic projects:
- Remediate several of the community’s blighted, vacant lots and provide enhanced lighting, landscaping, and sidewalks to address public safety concerns and create a sense of community pride
- Build an urban teaching garden in the middle of a known food desert
- Construct at least eight single-family homes and offer financial counseling and homebuying education
- Open a boxing gym to provide the community with a safe public gathering space, physical fitness opportunity, and mentoring for at-risk youth
We have made considerable progress toward the DCP’s overarching goal of a better future for Mill City and its residents. Throughout the last year, we have:
Built Relationships
Throughout the year, TREC Community Investors has met with various Mill City stakeholders and potential funders to introduce ourselves, strengthen relationships with residents and organizations, and gain a better understanding of community priorities and needs. TREC members contributed more than 2,600 volunteer hours and $272,000 in in-kind donations and pro bono services toward Dallas Catalyst Project: Mill City this year.
Kept the Ball Rolling
Following some initial hurdles in beginning our major projects, our Associate Leadership Council (ALC) and Young Guns teams took on projects that could quickly begin serving the community. ALC class members are developing a new headquarters for Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center from a former church building, while the Young Guns are renovating the Spring Plaza home of South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation and three retail tenant spaces.
Tightened the Gameplan
In 2025, we plan to deepen our community engagement efforts in Mill City by continuing work on the DCP grant projects, launch our Minor Home Repair grants program – through which we offer homeowners up to $25,000 for projects and partner with community-based organizations to administer the repairs – within the neighborhood, and select the next wave of ALC and Young Guns projects.
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