On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the City of Dallas (the “City”) began legal proceedings to secure progress on its plan to transform the former U.S. Naval Air Station site at Hensley Field into a premier mixed-use community. . For the benefit of all Dallas residents.
The city plans to continue negotiating with the U.S. Navy regarding environmental remediation at Hensley Field during the legal process. The city must complete the restoration before moving forward with plans for the site, which include a sustainable urban system, parks and open space, a diverse mix of land uses and mixed incomes, and the creation of thousands of jobs. This legal process is necessary to preserve the city's right to environmental remediation from former military operations at the Hensley Field site.
“We appreciate all the efforts of the U.S. Navy to remediate the site over the past 20 years,” said Dallas Administrator TC Broadnax. “We are confident that we can reach agreement on the final stages of the project that will ensure Hensley Field can be safely developed into a first-class community offering mixed-income housing, recreation, commercial space and more. We continue productive discussions with the U.S. Navy and remain focused on reaching an agreement.”
The U.S. Navy leased land known as Hensley Field from the City of Dallas in 1949 to operate Dallas Naval Air Station. The Navy closed Naval Air Station Dallas in 1999 and returned the site, which contained environmental pollution similar to other U.S. military facilities, to the city of Dallas. The city filed a lawsuit in 2001 over environmental issues and reached a settlement agreement in 2002 that obligated the Navy to complete environmental remediation at Hensley Field by the end of 2017, but that deadline was not met. While the Navy has made progress and continues to work with the city, the Navy must meet its obligations to complete the repairs.
Hensley Field is located on more than 700 acres of largely undeveloped land on the border of Dallas and Grand Prairie. The City's Hensley Field site, prepared at the Navy's request, aims to use the site as a catalyst for the community's goals of economic recovery, social equity, and environmental sustainability. The purpose of these legal proceedings is to work with the Navy to reach an amicable resolution while preserving the City's rights, ensuring that the Navy meets its obligations and meets remedial standards necessary to implement the redevelopment plan. It is important to confirm the following.
The City will continue to work with the Navy to reach an amicable resolution so that Hensley Field can be redeveloped to reach its full potential and better serve Dallas residents.
