DALLAS – The City of Dallas received $1.5 million in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield Grants aimed at assessing, cleaning-up, and redeveloping contaminated properties in historically disadvantaged communities. The grants will support the City of Dallas’ Brownfield Program, which is focused on improving the quality of life for residents, particularly those living in communities with environmental justice concerns.
“I am proud of our Dallas’ efforts to secure a cleaner and more sustainable city,” said Environment and Sustainability Committee Chair and District 9 Council Member Paula Blackmon. “This award from the EPA not only strengthens our resolve to foster safer, cleaner, and more resilient neighborhoods – it means a great deal to our community and demonstrates that we are doing something right.”
The City of Dallas is receiving $1 million from the EPA Revolving Loan Fund and $500,000 from the Community-wide Assessment Grants. The Brownfield Grants will provide funding for assessment and cleanup of sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, petroleum, and other contaminants.
“We are grateful to the EPA for their work and also in recognizing the City’s commitment to environmental justice,” City Manager T.C. Broadnax said. “Conserving and preserving our environment for future generations is a top priority for the City. These funds will help the City continue its work in making our communities healthier and more sustainable, particularly our communities that are most impacted by environmental hazards.”
The EPA Community-wide Assessment Grant will provide funding for site assessment, inventory, and site redevelopment planning. The Revolving Loan Fund Grant will allow the City to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The target areas for the grant include South Dallas, Fair Park, and related focus areas.
For more information, go to: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2023-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-revolving-loan-fund
The City of Dallas is recruiting for its next City Manager. This position is appointed by, and reports to, the Dallas City Council. Council members are seeking community input and resident feedback on qualifications, characteristics, and opportunities for the next City Manager.
Residents are asked to participate through two options: (1) a statistically valid survey through ETC Institute and (2) a general questionnaire through Zencity.
The ETC Institute survey and its administration are standardized, and the results are statistically significant with a limit of 100 responses for each City Council district. Randomly selected residents will be invited to participate in the survey by mail, phone, or online survey in English and Spanish.
The Zencity questionnaire allows for expanded reach to all Dallas residents and the link will be available in digital formats. To participate in the survey, please use the following link.
Your voice matters! Share the leadership qualities you value most in the next City Manager. Responses are confidential, and we thank you for your participation.
Smart Cities Connect has awarded the City of Dallas the top honor of the 2023 Smart 50 Awards, which recognizes 50 cities across the globe for innovative and influential work related to smart cities projects and initiatives. Of the 50 awardees, three overall winners are selected and honored at the Smart Cities Connect Spring Conference & Expo.
The city won the award for its work on the Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project, Dallas’ first smart community located in Southeast Dallas in which all streets, alleys and sidewalks were reconstructed in conjunction with multiple technological quality-of-life improvements.
“District 5 is honored to have been selected as the City’s first smart community and now to be known globally for our efforts. We look forward to being an example of what is possible not just across Dallas, but in other cities around the globe,” District 5 Council Member Jaime Resendez said. “It’s fitting that on National Infrastructure Week the City of Dallas is awarded this honor, and speaks to how important infrastructure is to city leadership.”
Through Red Cloud, the city will provide community Wi-Fi to almost 190 homes in the neighborhood, Air Quality Environmental Monitors (AQMs), and AI-enabled situational awareness cameras at select locations by using newly installed LED streetlights integrated with wireless access points (WAPs).
These improvements are expected to provide the city with neighborhood-specific data which can be used for future enhancements to public safety and infrastructure planning. City staff will continue to test the capabilities of the technology with the goal of potentially expanding on the services provided and replicating the Red Cloud project on a wider scale across the city.
For more information about the Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project, please contact Jacob McCarroll at Jacob.mccarroll@dallas.gov.
DALLAS and WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Edgemere Dallas (“Edgemere” or “the community”) and Lifespace Communities (“Lifespace”), as owner and operator, announced entry into a forbearance agreement with UMB Bank, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) for the Retirement Facility Revenue Bonds (the “Revenue Bonds”), and Intercity Investment Properties, Inc., as lessor (the “Lessor”) dated December 21, 2021 (the “Forbearance Agreement”). The forbearance is intended to provide the time necessary to proceed with ongoing, active discussions towards a consensual agreement among the parties designed to strengthen the community’s financial position for the long term and achieve a more sustainable future.
During the forbearance period, the parties agree to work cooperatively to reach a consensual resolution of the Revenue Bonds and the ground lease. Pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement, the Indenture Trustee and the Lessor have agreed to forbear from exercising any rights or remedies during the forbearance period.
The initial forbearance period is anticipated to be extended to March 31, 2022, subject to satisfaction of certain milestones and further extension by the parties.
The community remains fully operational and continues to provide exceptional care and service to our residents and their families, welcoming new residents each month.
“We are confident that our active and productive discussions with our stakeholders will enable us to strengthen the community’s financial position and build toward a more sustainable future for Edgemere,” said Jesse Jantzen, president and chief executive officer of Lifespace. “This agreement provides the breathing room needed to reach a fair resolution and marks a positive step forward. The best interests of our current and future residents and their families are our top priority and we remain committed to delighting our residents. We take the responsibility with which we have been entrusted seriously and are committed to resolve these financial issues in a manner that will allow current and prospective residents to enjoy the highest standards of quality and care for many years to come.”
Edgemere is represented in this matter by Sidley Austin LLP and FTI Consulting.
About Edgemere Dallas
Edgemere opened its doors in 2001, and immediately set a new standard for luxury senior living retirement communities in North Texas. It was the first Life Care community to land in Dallas and, for almost a generation now, it’s offered residents an unparalleled set of benefits.
Edgemere’s drive to deliver a top-tier experience is reflective of our vision for excellence in senior living. It’s a vision shared across all 14 members of the Lifespace Communities® family. Together, our missions remain focused on one thing — celebrating the lives of seniors in everything we do. This simple notion has led Lifespace and its multistate system of senior living communities to experience decades of success and financial stability and, even more importantly, earn the trust of thousands of team members, residents, and their families.
Additionally, Edgemere’s status as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization means all revenues are reinvested into the community. This not only fuels the development of better services, amenities, and opportunities for our residents, but also ensures that in the event of a financial hardship that’s no fault of their own, residents won’t be asked to leave the community.
About Lifespace Communities
Lifespace Communities, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is a not-for-profit organization proudly serving older adults for more than 40 years. Founded in 1976, Lifespace Communities has grown to own and operate 14 continuing care retirement communities in seven states, serving more than 4,700 residents and employing more than 3,700 team members. For more information about Lifespace and its communities, visit LifespaceCommunities.com.
Media Contact
Susan.Straub@lifespacecommunities.com
EdgemereCommunications@fticonsulting.com
SOURCE Lifespace Communities
