West Dallas advocate Janie Cisneros answers questions form a reporter following an Economic Development Committee hearing about whether to spend consulting money when it comes to buying out a pair of shingle manufactures. The Committee heard a consideration of a resolution directing the city manager to utilize contingency reserve funds to procure a consultant for GAF and Tamko shingle manufacturers to shut down during a meeting at Dallas City Hall, April 6, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
The city of Dallas is taking a step forward to determine the cost of shutting down two shingle companies that have operated in West and southern Dallas for decades.
After years of residents requesting the use of amortization — a tool that allows cities to close businesses that negatively impact the community — to shutter two shingle factories: GAF in West Dallas and TAMKO in Joppa, the discussion will head to the Dallas City Council on April 22.
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The City Council’s Economic Development Committee was briefed Monday on the amortization process and the next steps. The item will go to the full council without a committee vote.
“This is a very crucial first step,” said Andreea Udrea, deputy director of Planning and Zoning. “To understand what the monetary implication is if the Board of Adjustment and City Council were to reach a determination that they need to amortize [GAF and TAMKO].”
Residents from both communities have asked the city to shut down operations of the two companies, arguing the industrial facilities are polluting their neighborhoods and harming their health and well-being.
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At the meeting, some council members said this discussion was a long time coming. Others questioned why the city should take on this case and whether it made economic sense.
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Planning and Development Deputy Director Andreea Udrea finishes answering questions from the Economic Development Committee during a hearing about whether or not to spend consulting money to buy out a pair of shingle manufacturers. The committee heard a consideration of a resolution directing the city manager to utilize contingency reserve funds to procure a consultant for GAF and Tamko shingle manufacturers to shut down during a meeting at Dallas City Hall, April 6, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Jesse Moreno, a council member who chairs the committee, said this was a big decision for the city of Dallas and “environmental impact issues are very concerning to our constituents.”
Council member Bill Roth, whose district includes North Dallas, said he wasn’t sure whether the city could afford an amortization process given its budget constraints.
“Certainly, environmental issue is a tremendous issue that we need to be protective of and prevent and protect our citizens and our areas,” said Roth. “We have to also balance that against the economic impact for the city to be able to figure out if there’s a significant cost benefit for us to be pursuing this amortization process.”
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Council member Adam Bazaldua, whose district includes TAMKO’s location, said this was only the first step in gathering the necessary information before making any decision. He said he has been asked repeatedly by his constituents to look into this.
Residents and representatives of TAMKO were at the meeting.
Janie Cisneros, leader of Singleton United/Unidos in West Dallas, said she was glad this conversation was moving forward, but she was disappointed that it was focusing on the price the city would have to pay.
“But what about the residents? What about the price we have to pay for our health? The cost burden of living next to these facilities is way more,” Cisneros said.
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TAMKO representatives declined to comment on the discussion. GAF did not respond to a request for comment.
Economic Development Committee member William Roth asks questions of Planning and Development Deputy Director Andreea Udrea during a hearing about whether or not to spend consulting money to buy out a pair of shingle manufacturers. The committee heard a consideration of a resolution directing the city manager to utilize contingency reserve funds to procure a consultant for GAF and Tamko shingle manufacturers to shut down during a meeting at Dallas City Hall, April 6, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Council members Bazaldua and Laura Cadena, who represents the West Dallas neighborhood, submitted a memo in November, requesting the city manager use contingency reserve funds to hire a consultant to review how much it would cost the city to shut down these two industrial plants.
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Council members Chad West, whose district includes Oak Cliff, Zarin Gracey, whose district includes the Mountain Creek neighborhood, and Paula Blackmon, whose district includes the White Rock Lake area, also signed the memo.
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Now, the council will consider a resolution to hire an independent consultant to determine the valuation of the industrial operations. To pay for the consultant, the city would have to allocate about $200,000 from the contingency fund. If approved, city staff will carry out its standard process to hire a consultant.