Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has strongly rejected assertions that local enterprises are losing faith in the downtown area, characterizing such narratives as inaccurate. In an email newsletter published Tuesday, Johnson outlined several corporate developments and major events to counter the perception of economic decline.
Johnson highlighted that Dallas has led the state in post-pandemic economic recovery, pointing to significant business investments as proof of this trend. He noted that Goldman Sachs is constructing a new campus expected to employ roughly 5,000 workers. Additionally, Frontier Communications has moved its headquarters from Connecticut to the city, and Morgan Stanley is considering expanding its presence there.
Johnson described Morgan Stanley potentially establishing a regional hub in the Y'all Street sector as a major victory.
The mayor also referenced the arrival of major financial exchanges, including Nasdaq, the Texas Stock Exchange, and the New York Stock Exchange, stating they are all coming to the region. To address specific closures, Johnson acknowledged that Neiman Marcus shut its downtown location but emphasized the retailer still plans to invest in its NorthPark Center site, located approximately 13 minutes from downtown.
He further noted that Fifth Third Bank and the Dallas Mavericks will remain in the city, though not in the downtown core.
Johnson pointed to Dallas being selected by FIFA as the home for its international broadcast center for the World Cup, noting the city hosted more matches than any other location. He argued that these choices demonstrate confidence rather than a loss of it.
He contrasted the current situation with the previous administration, claiming the city was less competitive with higher taxes and lower police staffing levels before his term began.