queued up to follow—creating the essential resident base to justify destination retail along I-20. “It’s a win-win,” the city’s economic development lead explains. “The county and state partners helped us with corridor and intersection improvements. Now a long-dormant site is generating property tax and— soon—sales tax, while adding the rooftops retailers want to see.” FROM PASS-THROUGH TO PULL-OVER The highways that once whisked traffic past Balch Springs are becoming the city’s biggest asset. With I-20, I-635, and US-175 converging inside city limits, location is a differentiator for logistics users, light industrial, and business park prospects seeking regional reach and labor access. The city is working active acreage along these corridors with willing landowners to recruit higher-value uses—from destination retail to high-employment commercial. Mayor Taylor points to a simple sales pitch with a big impact: “From Balch Springs, you can be in downtown Dallas or out again in about 15 minutes—and that’s compelling. Our goal is to capture spending from commuters heading home and welcome those coming in.The gateway strategy is about putting the right offerings in the right places so people choose to stop.” A WALKABLE “SMALL-TOWN NEXT TO THE BIG CITY” Even as the market accelerates, city leaders are careful to preserve what residents love. Balch Springs maintains a small-town feel—where neighbors often know one another—and the City Center is designed to amplify, not erase, that community DNA. Plans call for green commons, trail connections, and eventfriendly spaces tied to existing anchors like the library and civic center—all within steps of new City Hall, police, and courts, consolidated into a modern campus. 24 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12
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