Dallas city officials say they have resolved a federal fair housing discrimination case.
In 2010, 1600 Pacific Building L.P. filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, accusing the city of Dallas of discrimination when the city wouldn’t fund proposed redevelopment of a high-rise in downtown. Developers claimed a city official told them downtown Dallas wasn’t an appropriate location for low-income housing.
HUD launched an investigation, issuing its findings in November 2013. HUD said there was “a pattern of negative reactions to projects that would provide affordable housing” in northern Dallas.
In January, the city responded, saying the investigation included several errors. Dallas maintains HUD used outdated, incomplete and incorrect information in concluding the city erred in how it funded and approved low-income developments.
The HUD investigation "ignored most of the city’s substantial accomplishments to develop affordable housing – many of which could not have been achieved without HUD’s active support and approval,” the city’s January letter stated.
HUD declared at least some of the findings were incorrect, the city said in a statement.
“Under this agreement, the City admits no wrongdoing, pays no money to HUD, and gives no relief or money to 1600 Pacific Building, L.P.,” the city said in a statement.
City officials plan to host a regional housing symposium and to try to organize a regional housing study. City officials also plan to present to the Dallas City Council a recommendation to “expand the non-discrimination ordinance to include a prohibition of discrimination based on source of income.”
Read KERA's earlier coverage
From January: Dallas To HUD: You’re Wrong About Affordable-Housing Violation Claims
