Vote coming in late March on a zoning change that would pave the way for high-rise project in South Dallas.
By Everton Bailey Jr.
Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday put off a decision on a zoning change that could pave the way for a 25-story residential and retail tower in South Dallas.
Council Member Adam Bazaldua, who represents the area, proposed the deferral to late March. The move comes after the city plan commission’s unanimous recommendation in October to deny the zoning change.
Commissioners cited concerns about the building’s height, lack of community engagement and incompatibility with the neighborhood’s character.
Bazaldua acknowledged those concerns Wednesday, saying he didn’t believe the tower should be so tall and agreed with area compatibility concerns. But he said he wanted to avoid outright rejection of the project, calling for more time to possibly modify the proposal and get more community buy-in.
“I don’t want to send a message when we have an opportunity like this to come around, that we are not welcoming an inevitable growth that’s coming to South Dallas,” Bazaldua said.
The proposed Winners Tower, at 1709 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., would include a hotel, condos, and ground-floor retail. The estimated $250 million project is led by Raphael Adebayo, pastor of Winners Assembly Christian Church and the property’s owner, who has been acquiring land in the area since 2007.
According to city records, the applicant is asking for city permission for a 25-story tower, but the zoning change being sought typically allows buildings to go up to 270 feet tall, which is about 20 stories. The property is currently zoned for a maximum height of 50 feet, or 3.5 stories.
City documents on the proposal don’t specify whether the additional stories would be accommodated through shorter floor heights or some other means.
The site, on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Colonial Avenue, is surrounded by businesses and single-family homes.
At the October hearing, supporters argued the tower would bring jobs and innovation to the historically underserved area. But plan commissioners, including area representative Tabitha Wheeler-Reagan, questioned whether the project would truly serve South Dallas residents.
Everton covers Dallas city government. He joined The Dallas Morning News in November 2020 after previously working for The Oregonian and The Associated Press in Hartford, Conn.
Vote coming in late March on a zoning change that would pave the way for high-rise project in South Dallas.
By Everton Bailey Jr.
Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday put off a decision on a zoning change that could pave the way for a 25-story residential and retail tower in South Dallas.
Council Member Adam Bazaldua, who represents the area, proposed the deferral to late March. The move comes after the city plan commission’s unanimous recommendation in October to deny the zoning change.
Commissioners cited concerns about the building’s height, lack of community engagement and incompatibility with the neighborhood’s character.
Bazaldua acknowledged those concerns Wednesday, saying he didn’t believe the tower should be so tall and agreed with area compatibility concerns. But he said he wanted to avoid outright rejection of the project, calling for more time to possibly modify the proposal and get more community buy-in.
“I don’t want to send a message when we have an opportunity like this to come around, that we are not welcoming an inevitable growth that’s coming to South Dallas,” Bazaldua said.
The proposed Winners Tower, at 1709 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., would include a hotel, condos, and ground-floor retail. The estimated $250 million project is led by Raphael Adebayo, pastor of Winners Assembly Christian Church and the property’s owner, who has been acquiring land in the area since 2007.
According to city records, the applicant is asking for city permission for a 25-story tower, but the zoning change being sought typically allows buildings to go up to 270 feet tall, which is about 20 stories. The property is currently zoned for a maximum height of 50 feet, or 3.5 stories.
City documents on the proposal don’t specify whether the additional stories would be accommodated through shorter floor heights or some other means.
The site, on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Colonial Avenue, is surrounded by businesses and single-family homes.
At the October hearing, supporters argued the tower would bring jobs and innovation to the historically underserved area. But plan commissioners, including area representative Tabitha Wheeler-Reagan, questioned whether the project would truly serve South Dallas residents.
Everton covers Dallas city government. He joined The Dallas Morning News in November 2020 after previously working for The Oregonian and The Associated Press in Hartford, Conn.
