Ramrock Real Estate’s Preston Center West Development Clears Dallas City Plan Commission
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A mixed-use development at Preston Center West that will include 180 housing units was recommended for approval Thursday by the City Plan Commission.
Residents have voiced concerns about traffic, parking, and alleged incompatibility with an area plan, but you wouldn’t know it from the lack of discussion at the CPC meeting, as just one resident addressed the panel in opposition during a public hearing.
District 13 Plan Commissioner Larry Hall, who represents the Preston Center area, made the motion for approval, which was supported by all other commissioners except Deborah Carpenter, who represents District 6.
“I’ve been associated with Preston Center for at least 50 years,” Hall said. “[This development], along with two others approved by the Commission and Council in 2020, will bring significant residential to this highly commercial area, along with new retail, onsite parking, new sidewalks, trees, and landscaping. I believe it’s going to provide new life and vitality to Preston Center.”
District 10 Commissioner Tip Housewright said he was optimistic “that we are one step closer to a greater goal of a significant redevelopment at Preston Center Garage and some better urban design for a district that sorely needs it.”
View the updated case report and development plan here. Watch Thursday’s CPC meeting here.
The Plan For Preston Center West
Ramrock developer Robert Dozier said Thursday he began acquiring property in Preston Center in 2002. In 2015, the City formed a seven-zone task force to hold stakeholder meetings and engage the community. In 2016, the task force approved the Northwest Highway/Preston Road Area Plan, which was subsequently approved by the Dallas City Council the following year.
Dozier said at an April 10 community meeting that plans call for 280,000 square feet of residential space, 350,000 square feet of office space, and 25,000 square feet of retail space.
Ground-floor retail and two levels of parking are planned, in addition to an 11-story office tower and a 13-story residential tower.
Today the office building is 125 feet; Ramrock is proposing a height of 225 feet. Construction would likely begin in early 2026 for a 24-month build, Dozier said.
Concerns About Preston Center West
The only resident to speak in opposition to the project at Thursday’s CPC meeting said the area cannot handle a project of this size and scope. There have been numerous accidents along Preston Road and Northwest Highway, said William Tovell, a University Park resident.
“Candidly, this thing is great, it’s beautiful, no disrespect, but it doesn’t belong where it is,” Tovell said.
CandysDirt.com obtained an email circulated by University Park residents last week citing concerns about the project, primarily related to traffic.
“There should be an immediate call to address the traffic issues before further development proceeds,” the email states. “Within approximately a one-mile radius of Preston Center, there are more than 1,000 new residential units either already approved or currently in the approval stages. That likely equates to more than 2,000 additional vehicles for residential alone, notwithstanding the additional office, restaurant, and retail traffic. As well Christ the King Catholic School has morning and afternoon carpool traffic that passes through this quadrant. Northwest Highway, Preston Road, Douglas Avenue, and Luther Lane, with the Hilton Hotel, cannot accommodate this volume of vehicles as they exist today.”
A public hearing and vote on the project has not yet been scheduled before the Dallas City Council.
