City Hall Roundup: Heavenly Homes Proposal For Infill Development in The Bottom District Postponed to April 24

Elected officials and Dallas leaders are revitalizing their commitment to housing and economic development in underserved areas. 

Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold would probably say she’s not revitalizing that commitment; it never diminished. But discussions about breathing life into southern Dallas appear to have ramped up lately as bond projects are slated and new development opportunities arise. 

At the top of the list is a development agreement for a 32-unit single-family affordable housing project in The Bottom District. 

A proposal to authorize a $3 million loan increase to Texas Heavenly Homes Ltd. was originally on a Feb. 14 Dallas City Council agenda. It was deferred to March 27 and again postponed. The matter will now be heard on April 24. 

The Bottom District Infill Development

Texas Heavenly Homes already has a website featuring a community site plan and a variety of floor plans for homes in the $200,000s and $300,000s. Many of the homes are reserved for low-income families and individuals.  

According to the website, the area known as The Bottom was established as a Freedmen’s Town two decades after it was settled in 1845. 

“Along with Oak Cliff, this land was incorporated into the City of Dallas in 1903, enjoying rapid growth all the way into the early 20th Century,” the site states. “Shotgun-style homes populated the area and a vibrant commercial district sprung up, including many family-owned businesses.”

The area declined in the 1930s during the Great Depression and the construction of the Trinity River levees. Many residents moved away. 

“Today, The Bottom District is poised to recapture its former glory with a $110 million investment by Texas Heavenly Homes, the City of Dallas, Golden S.E.E.D.S. Foundation, Texas Capital Bank, and community stakeholders,” the website states. “Spanning 126 acres, this groundbreaking project is designed to include up to 400 new homes. It’s also destined to revitalize the area by promoting economic development and a renewed sense of community.”

The City of Dallas’ contribution to the project will come from federal Community Development Block Grant funds, according to city documents.