D1 Update from Councilmember Chad West - Friday, October 2, 2026

Friday, October 2, 2026

Fellow Cliff Dwellers,

I hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying the rain and the cooler weather as much as I am. With a tough budget season behind us, we are looking at a busy fall. I hope to see many of you at our National Night Out event next Tuesday, October 6th led by D1 Park Board Member JR Huerta starting at 5pm.

Viaducts Update. City staff presented an updated plan for the viaducts at a D1 meeting last night that I requested, to give all of us an opportunity to weigh in. I am frustrated by the lack of community input over the past few years, especially when the convention center’s development directly impacts our daily commute. Staff believes this new plan will better connect Oak Cliff to Downtown, something we have all repeatedly asked for. Staff expects construction to start at the end of this year, at which point the temporary reroute will start and last until the completion of the Convention Center in 2030. Please see the draft temporary concept (slide 5) and the long-term concept (slide 4) below. Please send any comments to Rosa.Fleming@dallas.gov and Ghassan.khankarli@dallas.gov and you are welcome to copy my team.

Slide 4 - Long-term concept:

Slide 5 - DRAFT temporary concept:

Martin Weiss Park Update. Thank you to everyone who attended the second Martin Weiss Recreation Center Renovation meeting on Wednesday night. You can see the full presentation, including the draft renderings here. Improvements include a brand new gymnasium, a dedicated seniors room with more space, an additional set of bathrooms, and upgrades to the current facility. Next steps are as follows:

December 2026 – Finalize drawings and specs
March 2027 – Select contractor
Summer 2027 – Start construction (note that the center will be fully closed during construction)
Summer 2028 – Finalize construction

Westmoreland Skate Park. Thanks to neighbor Ryan Schorman along with the crew from Skateparks for Dallas for continuing to monitor the design work for the upcoming skateboarding park at Westmoreland Park in West Oak Cliff. Join me and other advocates later this month at Cenzo’s for some free skateboarding lessons for kids and to support fundraising efforts to add a shade structure to the park.

As always, don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything:

Chad West - chad.west@dallas.gov

Jake Ettinger - jake.ettinger@dallas.gov

Ashley Long - ashley.long@dallas.gov

Chad West

Jefferson Complete Street

Project Moves Forward

On September 23rd, the City Council approved Item 39, awarding a $2.7 million contract to Halff Associates to advance engineering and design services for the Jefferson Complete Street project between Hampton Road and Polk Street.

Funded through the 2024 bond program and championed by neighborhood advocates William Zimmerman and Russ Aikman, the project will help transform this corridor into a safer, more accessible roadway for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

Reminder: Complete the Houston Street Bridge Renaming Proposal Survey!

Houston Viaduct Proposed Renaming. Due to a sign and noticing error, Councilmember Zarin Gracey deferred this item to consider renaming the Houston Viaduct to Pettis Norman Bridge on September 9th. Per his motion, the item will come back on October 14th with two options – a formal street name change as initially requested or a ceremonial street name change. A ceremonial street name change would not officially change the name of the street, but instead add a sign with the name for 10 years, like the Don Maison example below from Marsalis Ave. If you’d like to provide input on this updated option, please complete this survey by October 12, 2026.

Texas Tribune Festival

Last week, Councilmember West joined two panels at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin focused on one of Texas’s most pressing issues: housing. The first panel explored ways to expand housing supply and affordability across the state, while the second examined the challenges driving the Texas housing crisis. Councilmember West shared perspectives on the importance of creating more attainable housing opportunities for Texans and communities across the state.

2nd Annual Cliff Crawl

Friends of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Oak Cliff Cultural Center’s programs and community impact, invites you to power the 2nd Annual CLIFF CRAWL—Oak Cliff’s high-energy neighborhood scavenger hunt and fundraiser.

Teams will sip, snack, explore, and celebrate their way through the best of The Cliff, taking on challenges and discovering local businesses, cultural spaces, and iconic landmarks along the way. It’s part adventure, part party, and all community. Click here for more information, including how to purchase tickets and sponsorships!

From October 1 - 8, join people across the country for Week Without Driving, an opportunity to experience your community without relying on a personal vehicle. Try walking, biking, taking transit, carpooling, or asking for a ride, and notice what’s easy, what’s challenging, and what barriers you encounter along the way.

For many people, getting around without driving isn’t a one-week challenge, it’s an everyday reality. Week Without Driving helps us better understand the experiences of people who don’t drive, including people with disabilities, older adults, young people, and people who cannot afford to drive.

You don’t have to give up driving for the entire week to participate. Try it for one trip, one day, or as much of the week as works for you. The goal isn’t perfection! Just experience, reflect, and consider what would make transportation more accessible for everyone.

Learn more and sign up at www.weekwithoutdriving.org

District 1 Small Business of the Month

This month we highlight Slow & Steady Coffee, a Latino-owned neighborhood coffeehouse tucked into a converted home in the Elmwood neighborhood of Oak Cliff. Founder Germán Sierra, a proud Oak Cliff resident, spent years navigating the renovation, zoning, and permitting hurdles it took to open a shop of his own. The very obstacles that delayed the opening inspired the name "Slow & Steady." It’s a reminder to stay patient, passionate, and resilient. This perseverance makes the shop feel like a real people's champion. They’re a small business that fought hard to bring something good to its neighborhood, and succeeded.

Step inside and it feels like walking into someone's living room: bright, warm, and lined with vinyl records and good music. Guests can enjoy single-origin coffee roasted right in Oak Cliff, espresso drinks, chai, teas, and pastries. With cozy indoor seating and a spacious outdoor patio, it's an easy place to get work done, catch up with friends, or spend an afternoon with the family, all looked after by a staff that's both knowledgeable and welcoming. True to its community roots, the shop even offers a discount for guests who walk there on Saturdays.

We're proud to celebrate Slow & Steady Coffee and Germán Sierra for the patience, resilience, and community spirit they've brought with them into Oak Cliff. Be sure to stop by and settle in!

Dallas Public Library Expands Hours

Following the adoption of the FY 2026–27 budget, the Dallas Public Library will restore open hours across the system, with the expanded schedules taking effect in January 2027 to allow time to hire additional staff. Until then, current hours will remain in place.

The new schedule will expand all seven Flagship Libraries to seven days a week, bringing nearly 100% of Dallas residents within a 15-minute drive of a library open seven days a week. Neighborhood Libraries will offer three evening openings each week, while the Central Library will open seven days a week and Bookmarks at NorthPark Center will add Sunday hours.

The new schedule will be:

The adopted budget provides $3.1 million in additional library funding, including support to continue the Adult Learning volunteer program through FY 2026–27. Dallas College, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, and Wilkinson Center will also provide adult education classes at six high-need locations.

These changes reflect continued efforts to expand access to library services and resources across Dallas.

There's Still Time to Get a Free Tree!

Branch Out registration has ended, but you can still get a free tree from the Texas Trees Foundation and Dallas Water Utilities. They have teamed up to provide free 15-gallon trees to residents of City of Dallas Council District 1. If you are a homeowner and you have adequate Right-of-Way space, you are eligible for ONE free tree provided by Texas Trees Foundation, with support from QTS, and planting services provided by Dallas Water Utilities Forestry & Habitat Management. The Right-of-Way is the strip of land between your sidewalk and the road; typically, on the side or in front of your home. Dallas Water Utilities will not plant in any location that is not the Right-of-Way. If you would like to receive a free tree, please fill out the registration form here.

Registration Deadline: December 15, 2026

Planting Dates: November-December 2026