In 2017, I was working for an advertising agency in Fort Worth. It was a good job, but my coworkers knew my heart was in Arlington. After work, I planned small music festivals, attended community meetings, and hosted a podcast promoting the Arlington music scene.
I had previously interned with Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, so Downtown felt familiar. When a friend sent me an administrative assistant posting there, I jumped at it.
That was when I met Maggie Campbell. We interviewed over coffee, and she ultimately rejected me for that role. But instead of ending the conversation, Maggie saw another possibility. She offered me an opportunity to provide marketing services as a contractor. I promptly left my job for about half the pay.
She had good reason to send me on my way altogether. Near the end of our first conversation, I told her, “It is my goal to have your job in ten years.” Some leaders might have been put off by that kind of youthful certainty. Maggie instead heard it as commitment. She gave me room to prove myself, and then spent the years that followed teaching me what genuine community leadership looks like.
Nearly eight years after that interview, Maggie is retiring after 12 years as Downtown Arlington’s President and CEO, and I will begin my tenure at the beginning of next month. I know her as a mentor and deeply committed community leader, with a fiery passion for Arlington, deep integrity, and the willingness to keep pushing when change takes time.
Her influence is visible throughout Downtown. She helped bring the Levitt Pavilion to Arlington and recruited community favorites such as Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Babe’s Chicken Dinner House. Her commitment to clean and safe programs improved the experience for visitors, residents and businesses. Even the Downtown Arlington Classic Car Show – returning September 26 – began as Maggie’s idea and grew into a signature regional celebration.
Before her retirement, I sat down with Maggie to discuss her vision for Downtown Arlington and what should remain at the center of our work.
Garret: As placemaking professionals, we think a lot about the physical experience of Downtown and how it impacts different users. What does the district’s future look like in that regard?
Maggie: We have done a great job building a more walkable public realm, but the experience can still change dramatically from one block to the next. There are gaps in the urban fabric – I call them gaps in the teeth. We need to fill them so sidewalks, shade, lighting, landscaping, storefronts, and active uses connect rather than appear in isolated pockets. New development will help, but we cannot wait for individual projects to solve every gap. Public and private partners must keep creating a complete, welcoming experience at sidewalk level.
Garret: We need stronger connections between Arlington’s central neighborhoods and economic drivers. How do Downtown and the Entertainment District fit together?
Maggie: This summer showed that people will walk between Downtown and the big games, but the connection is not yet where it needs to be. Collins Street between Division Street and Randol Mill Road is essential. Although much of it sits outside the Downtown Business Improvement District, its condition affects our future. Without a stronger link between the districts, Downtown’s long-term sustainability will suffer. We should continue advocating for a safer public realm, stronger pedestrian connections, and new private investment along the corridor.
Garret: We’ve seen tremendous growth since you helped found the organization in 2006. How should Arlington recruit the next generation of businesses?
Maggie: Downtown’s sustainability will be measured by sales and customers. The district has grown to nearly 60 restaurants and bars, plus cultural destinations, small businesses and community events. To support them, we need more residents, office workers, entertainment and nightlife. Recruitment should target uses that fill real gaps, extend activity into more hours of the day and give people reasons to return. The right mix, supported by greater density, will create the steady customer base our businesses need.
Garret: Parking has long been an issue Downtown, and our businesses say it needs serious attention. How should it be managed?
Maggie: Parking is a function of business. It should first serve customers and then support the employees who make our businesses possible. Without both, businesses cannot survive. As Downtown grows, parking must be managed more intentionally, but the entire system – meters, garages and lots – must be clear, convenient and designed around customers. If it feels confusing, punitive or like a money grab, people will go elsewhere. Parking should support access and turnover while leaving a positive first and last impression.
Garret: What challenges will Downtown Arlington face as an organization?
Maggie: Growth will increase demand for services while revenue can be uncertain and staff and contractor capacity remains finite. More businesses, residents, and development create new expectations. During my tenure, Downtown Arlington expanded its entrepreneurial sponsorship program and developed a problem-solving approach to City partnerships. Both brought new resources to events and programming. That approach will remain essential as the organization balances growing needs, responsible budgets and sustainable workloads.
Garret: As longtime civic leaders begin to transition, how should Arlington engage and prepare its next generation?
Maggie: For two decades, engaged and informed board members invested in Downtown have helped this organization remain effective and influential. The same principle applies across Arlington. Many people who shaped this phase of the city will not serve forever, so we need to identify the next generation now and invite them into meaningful roles. They need context, responsibility, and opportunities to build relationships with the people and institutions that move Arlington forward. Fresh ideas matter, but so do commitment and continuity. I am proud of our work, and the organization and district are well positioned to continue the momentum.
Maggie has every reason to be proud. Downtown Arlington and the organization that serves it are stronger because of her leadership. Retirement will not take her away entirely; she will remain involved in a few key areas in a consulting role, giving us the benefit of her experience during this next chapter.
This year also marks Downtown Arlington’s 20th anniversary. We will celebrate at our Annual Meeting on November 19, with opportunities for companies and community partners to deepen their connection to the heart of Arlington. For me, it will be a chance to thank the leader who saw possibility in an overconfident young community builder, and to recommit to making Downtown Arlington a more connected, welcoming, and enduring place for everyone.
