Duncanville, TX: A City Reborn
Jeremy Koontz for Duncanville City Council, District 3
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.." For Duncanville, TX, the season is changing, and the time has come for us to heal and to build. It is our responsibility as engaged citizens, diligent city employees, and selfless elected officials to recognize the changing times, nurture the rebirth of our community spirit, and take the initiative necessary to carry out a collective vision.
the power of COMMUNITY
In 2021, I ran for election to the Duncanville City Council to represent District 3 because I desired to serve as an advocate for the citizens of our District and because I believed in the power of community. During my first term as the Council Representative for District 3, my efforts were focused not on accomplishing my own personal objectives, but encouraging citizen engagement and participation in the democratic process, increasing public awareness about public policy, and identifying the common needs and desires of our diverse community. At the end of the day, our work as elected representatives is all about the community, that is, the people we serve: if we maintain public transparency, give the community fair opportunities to weigh in during the decision making process, receive our direction from the collective will of the whole rather than serve only a few, what we can accomplish as a community is limited only by our own imagination.
In 2021, I ran for election to the Duncanville City Council to represent District 3 because I desired to serve as an advocate for the citizens of our District and because I believed in the power of community. During my first term as the Council Representative for District 3, my efforts were focused not on accomplishing my own personal objectives, but encouraging citizen engagement and participation in the democratic process, increasing public awareness about public policy, and identifying the common needs and desires of our diverse community. At the end of the day, our work as elected representatives is all about the community, that is, the people we serve: if we maintain public transparency, give the community fair opportunities to weigh in during the decision making process, receive our direction from the collective will of the whole rather than serve only a few, what we can accomplish as a community is limited only by our own imagination.
clarity of VISION
In 2023, with community still at the heart of my campaign, I ran for re-election to the Duncanville City Council. During my first two years of office, laboring to meet the citizens of the community where they are, on their properties, in their neighborhoods, in their businesses, engaging with the people who live and work in our city, a vision began to take shape, not my own vision for the direction I think the city should be headed, but a collective community vision: the citizens of Duncanville have, for decades, had a clear vision of the direction they would like the city to go, a clear vision of what they want the city to look like, a clear vision of what they want the city to BE. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to convert that simple, yet powerful community vision, to practical city policies such as the Ladd Preserve Masterplan, a Strategic Plan for the Revitalization of the Downtown District, the Dog Park Masterplan, a Drainage Masterplan and Complete Streets Policy, and the most important of all city vision policies, the updated Comprehensive Plan scheduled for approval this year.
Without a clear vision, a community wanders aimlessly in the dark, but when a collective vision is established the entire community rallies to support and execute a plan we all can be proud of.
the time for INITIATIVE
Now, in 2025, after four years of service as a community advocate, with a more refined understanding of the collective vision of our community, it is my goal to begin making the community’s vision a substantial reality. Imagine spending an afternoon in the revitalized Downtown District. Imagine public safety facilities that our first responders are proud to call headquarters. Imagine a network of bike trails where you could ride from one side of Duncanville to the other. The current reality is that the citizens of Duncanville have been imagining such things for years, in some cases, decades. Now is the time to take the initiative and convert our vision to reality.
Now is the time to transition from discussions and planning to action, time to do what is manifestly good and right for all, not just a few, to initiate the plans in service to the will and collective vision of our community.
support and nurture the Rebirth
In what manner is Duncanville, TX being reborn? One need only observe the many ways in which the newfound community spirit is naturally manifesting itself. Lately, there has been a surge of interest in supporting the arts and embracing local culture, resulting in the establishment of our own cultural arts district and a variety of city sponsored National Hispanic Heritage Month festivities. The community is reaffirming its commitment to supporting first responders, as demonstrated by the vote to provide them increased COLAs and provide updated service credits, the completion of a new fire station, and with plans for a new police station on the horizon. Recently the city recognized the limited benefit of developing irreplaceable greenspace and prioritized conservation and preserving the natural environment, and beautification through designation of a nature preserve as well as adoption of a native landscaping ordinance. The city is adopting more aggressive economic development strategies such as property acquisition and implementing higher zoning and code standards to make the city more attractive to quality businesses and restaurants.
We can all see it happening: Duncanville is being reborn. It is not that any of us are making it happen, but it is happening of its own accord, naturally, according to the seasons. Duncanville has passed through its winter of economic challenges and barrenness, political bitterness and pettiness, and all manner of internal disasters. Now, like new growth discovered in early spring, the city is showing signs of renewed life; it is up to us as a community, elected officials, citizens, city employees, and local stakeholders, to continue working together to support and nurture that new growth, foster our community spirit, and celebrate the coming successes.
Downtown District Revitalization
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For decades the community has desired and envisioned the revitalization of Downtown Duncanville, the economic and cultural hub of the city. While many plans have been drafted and even adopted, it has not been until recently that organic change has started to occur. Only in the past few years have numerous opportunities presented themselves that offer to catalyze the revitalization of the city's hub of activity, in a manner that has been desired but so elusive for decades.
The natural and right course of action to be taken: establish Duncanville, Texas as a model city of redevelopment, beginning with the Downtown District. The opportunities are presenting themselves through which the city of Duncanville can demonstrate how a city can be born again through reimagination, revitalization, redevelopment, and repurposing, and prioritizing redevelopment projects over new development. With the city's new culture of conservation and preservation of our sparse remaining greenspace, the investment and effort must be in overhauling and recreating the substantial amount of existing development. Such efforts must naturally begin in the Downtown District. |
Strategy for Revitalizing the Downtown District
1) Adopt a local historic preservation ordinance, incentivizing businesses and properties that make efforts to enhance and restore historic character and assets
2) Incentivize homeowners in the Downtown District to restore and enhance historic/cultural character of properties and homes
3) Develop DCEDC design incentive and property improvement program with specific guidelines and standards for Downtown District
4) Improvements to zoning ordinance to encourage Downtown District redevelopment
5) Adopt walkability plan and identify opportunities for trail connections throughout Downtown District and to surrounding neighborhoods
6) Mural program: identify spaces ideal for mural enhancements (arts fund)
7) Identify and acquire small parcels and spaces to convert to plazas and public spaces for sculpture and art installations
8) Partner with BNSF for use of right-of-way for connecting trail to Old Rail Station
9) Incentivize music/jazz venue/restaurant
10) Assist with relocation of non-conforming properties
11) Task KDB with drafting and making recommendation for landscaping and beautification plan for Downtown District
12) Develop District to incorporate into established cultural district, establish Texas Commission for the Arts criteria as standards for developing Downtown District
13) Encourage Downtown District business owners to establish business alliance, possibly for eventual conversion to a non-profit that would partner with the city as well as Chamber of Commerce
1) Adopt a local historic preservation ordinance, incentivizing businesses and properties that make efforts to enhance and restore historic character and assets
2) Incentivize homeowners in the Downtown District to restore and enhance historic/cultural character of properties and homes
3) Develop DCEDC design incentive and property improvement program with specific guidelines and standards for Downtown District
4) Improvements to zoning ordinance to encourage Downtown District redevelopment
5) Adopt walkability plan and identify opportunities for trail connections throughout Downtown District and to surrounding neighborhoods
6) Mural program: identify spaces ideal for mural enhancements (arts fund)
7) Identify and acquire small parcels and spaces to convert to plazas and public spaces for sculpture and art installations
8) Partner with BNSF for use of right-of-way for connecting trail to Old Rail Station
9) Incentivize music/jazz venue/restaurant
10) Assist with relocation of non-conforming properties
11) Task KDB with drafting and making recommendation for landscaping and beautification plan for Downtown District
12) Develop District to incorporate into established cultural district, establish Texas Commission for the Arts criteria as standards for developing Downtown District
13) Encourage Downtown District business owners to establish business alliance, possibly for eventual conversion to a non-profit that would partner with the city as well as Chamber of Commerce
We CAN do better!
There is no reason to lower our standards. If we see that our children are not doing their best, we tell them they can do better, that they should not settle for good enough, that they should not be content with mediocrity. We teach them to work hard and be competitive, not necessarily with others, but with themselves: are you as good as YOU can be?
When we look at the city of Duncanville, are WE as a community, doing our best?
If we want more and better restaurants IN Duncanville, let's WORK to get more and better restaurants and support them when we get them. If we want nicer parks and city facilities, let's WORK to make those improvements. If we want to fill the many vacancies in commercial properties along the Main Street and Camp Wisdom corridors, let's do the work necessary to fill them. If we want Duncanville to be a city that sets standards, that leads instead of follows, that establishes best practices instead of follows them, we have to do the work worthy of those outcomes.
Yes, we can do better, so let's DO BETTER!
There is no reason to lower our standards. If we see that our children are not doing their best, we tell them they can do better, that they should not settle for good enough, that they should not be content with mediocrity. We teach them to work hard and be competitive, not necessarily with others, but with themselves: are you as good as YOU can be?
When we look at the city of Duncanville, are WE as a community, doing our best?
If we want more and better restaurants IN Duncanville, let's WORK to get more and better restaurants and support them when we get them. If we want nicer parks and city facilities, let's WORK to make those improvements. If we want to fill the many vacancies in commercial properties along the Main Street and Camp Wisdom corridors, let's do the work necessary to fill them. If we want Duncanville to be a city that sets standards, that leads instead of follows, that establishes best practices instead of follows them, we have to do the work worthy of those outcomes.
Yes, we can do better, so let's DO BETTER!
Elections 2025
Early Voting: April 22nd - April 29th
Election Day: May 3rd
Early Voting: April 22nd - April 29th
Election Day: May 3rd
