Ten years in the making, the Dallas International District is moving ahead in the area north of LBJ Freeway between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road.

Plans include a 20-acre central park, one-of-a-kind international festivals, and community gatherings where “worlds can collide” year round. It will include a mix of luxury and affordable multifamily living and a Dallas ISD STEAM school.

People can expect advanced mobility features, too. The district has a Civic Innovation Smart Zone funded by a public-private partnership. 

The district’s goal is to be a home for international businesses of all sizes and boost Dallas’ presence on the global stage. An early anchor is the French-American Chamber of Commerce, which opened its trade office. The nonprofit organization promotes and develops business connections and opportunities between the U.S. and France. 

Growth in and around the district will increase trade, foreign investment, and cultural community, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson says. 

The vision for the cultural district gained momentum last year, and now that it’s underway, “2023 will be even bigger,” says Suzanne Smith, strategic project manager with the City of Dallas and CEO of Social Impact Architects. The group has three goals, which include the acquisition of more land to build the park, building the International STEAM Academy and hiring a principal, and adding more international trade offices to the Prism Center.

A version of this story was originally published in Dallas Innovates 2023.

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