Neighborhood Group Claims 1,800 Signatures Opposing Preston-Royal Tower Project
Share News:
Critics of a controversial development in Preston Hollow said they collected almost 1,800 signatures in opposition to the proposed $650-million mixed-use project that would see a 28-story hotel and 24-story apartment tower proposed for a small shopping center at the intersection of Preston Road and Royal Lane.
Preserve Preston Hollow, a non-profit neighborhood group seeking to preserve the “scale, character, and livability” of the area, has been canvassing to get residents ready to fight the project once its zoning request hits the City Plan Commission.
“If approved, this project could become a template for similar spot zoning, opening a door for developers to locate skyscrapers in other parts of Dallas where they don’t belong,” said CRE professional and Preserve Preston Hollow member Doug Hazelbaker in a news release.
The term spot zoning is often used to describe when a small parcel is rezoned in a way that’s inconsistent with the surrounding area and the jurisdiction’s general zoning plan.
Burk Interests and Greenway Invest Company need officials to authorize a planned development district to allow for building up to 325 feet. The 7-acre project site where a shopping center currently operates is currently zoned for “community retail” uses with a maximum height of 54 feet. Single-family neighborhoods comprise much of the surrounding area.
“The City adopted Forward Dallas 2.0 just 18 months ago to protect what it considers stable areas from incompatible growth,” Hazelbaker said. “I cannot think of a more glaring example than siting a 325-foot tower just 700 feet from a school.”
Park Cities Day School preschool is just across Royal Lane. A handful of Preston Hollow residents shared similar concerns with CandysDirt.com earlier this year, pointing to possible increased traffic congestion at the intersection complicating pick-up and drop-off at nearby Saint Mark’s and the Winston School.
“Zoning exists to protect neighborhoods from exactly this kind of overreach,” Hazelbaker said.
The project hasn’t hit the CPC’s calendar just yet, with the zoning request still requiring revisions in the city’s development platform DallasNow.
In a bid to demonstrate the extent of community opposition, Preserve Preston Hollow mapped their signature gathering in surrounding neighborhoods. Perhaps unsurprisingly, opposition was concentrated around the proposed project site. The group solicited petition submissions on its website, so a number did come in from farther out in the city. Nevertheless, it appears many in and around the neighborhood registered their concern.
Organizers plan on hosting a community meeting on April 28 to raise more awareness about the development and educate residents on how to engage with City Hall.
Leland Burk, president of Burk Interests, previously told CandysDirt.com that they plan on proposing traffic improvements and expanded sidewalks that his company and Greenway Investment Company would pay for to alleviate some of the community concerns, saying that the project will “enhance the neighborhood experience.”
Once completed, the development will comprise ultra-luxury condos and apartments, class A office space, a five-star hotel, new dining options, and green space.
“The addition of these amenities is exactly the right infusion of new development needed to continue the legacy of excellence at this important corner,” he said.
The developers also said they plan to replace more than 100 trees on the site that sustained significant tree and canopy loss during the 2019 EF-3 tornado.
16 Comments
Leave a Comment
I live right down the street and I’d like to see it get built
NIMBY is such a bad look. “I got mine and everyone else can get lost”
NIMBY’s are anti-growth at any cost. Dallas LOST population in the latest census … this type of mindless fear mongering opposing growth will only lead Dallas into further stagnation and decline. Build the towers … and stop calling them skyscrapers as they are not! They’re highrises, not skyscrapers. Dallas must embrace higher density residential projects just like these two highrises in order to survive and avoid decline!
Completely inconsistent with our single family residential neighborhood. If the city of Dallas approves it, it will be another major reason for Preston Hollow to leave Dallas.
I think it looks interesting and would be a good addition to that corner. Don’t developers typically ask for a lot of square footage, expecting to get something more moderate approved as a compromise?
I drive down Preston nearly every workday and the traffic is horrible, both northbound and southbound. The area between Forest Ln and NW Highway is the worst. I can’t fathom how bad it will become with a massive commercial/residential building and the number of incremental automobiles it will bring.
I feel my thoughts about the residential neighborhood impact aren’t relevant since I do not live in the area, but my happy self would be looking northward if this tower becomes a reality.
The city can’t afford to let the wealthy get their way. If Dallas doesn’t density than Dallas is done. If the people don’t like it then they should move and let Dallas change without them.
Barbara and I live in a single-family home four blocks away from “The Knox” development nearing completion… a mixed use project larger in scale than that proposed at Preston Royal. In addition to Knox Street’s retail and restaurants, our neighborhood includes a healthy mix of mid-scale residential densities, townhouses, duplexes and condos. We love walking to dinner and looking out our windows at our new skyline. Living in a vibrant, walkable urban area is enervating and keeps us young and healthy. And our property values are going way up because of the desirability of our neighborhood. Don’t fear this proposal.
I’m with Justin on the comment about “skyscrapers”. Give me a break. The other day I saw a proposed 10-story building described as a “tower”.
No NIMBYS in this organization. The property was damaged in 2019 and has been nothing but an empty lot for a few years. http://www.PreservePrestonHollow.org wants something developed on the site. Something mixed use like Preston Hollow Village would be great!
This proposal is a blatant violation of the area’s zoning and a direct threat to the integrity of an established single-family community. Its scale and density are entirely incompatible with the surrounding neighborhoods, schools, and local retail. Good luck getting a restaurant reservation in the area should this be built.
Dallas recently moved to curb precisely this type of developer overreach because it results in all the traffic and density related problems we are all aware of. Have you been in the Knox and Travis area since it’s “redevelopment “? What a nightmare. Approving this project would disregard that effort and erode the credibility of the City’s zoning framework.
Traffic in this area is already at a breaking point during peak hours and school dismissal.
Preston Hollow does not need to be “reimagined” by out-of-scale high-rise construction. Our area is desirable because it is balanced and appropriately developed. Will your property be more or less valuable if it’s near the development aberration?
This proposal undermines the community balance and offers no meaningful progress or benefit.
This project should be rejected.
Its totally not the place for such a development. The fact that the city is meeting to discuss this is the very reason people want to leave. It is frightening because it can’t be undone.
If this project gets approved, it will be another example of the politicians screwing the people they represent. That someone would propose a project so out of touch with the surrounding neighborhood exemplifies the greed that infects people. This proposed project should be DOA.
Proposed Zoning changes *are the buisiness* of the surrounding property owners. That public interest is enshrined in law – both in state law – the Local Government Code – and in municipal law – the Dallas City Code. It is absolutely the business of area homeowners, when a Zoning Change is applied for. The current zoning, Community Retail was in place when this land was acquired. Why not build under the current zoning – which allows all the “uses” being applied for – hotel; retail; and even Mixed-Use Residential (per the recent SB840 amendment to the local government code). A developer could build it all, at a generous height of 54 feet (similar to the scope of the Texans Credit Union tower at Preston Forest). Why not bulid something iconic and truly classy, like a Highland Park Village with a Hotel ZaZa and some mixed-use residential. And why not build some ☆truly-walkable☆ cottage courts with walk-thru access to the adjacent residences on the west side and the south side. The current proposal seems to prevent neighboring walkability forcing foot traffic onto Royal Lane. The price points sound unaffordable for young, first time buyers and renters. Whereas, the pre-existing, well-renovated condos next to this site start at $300,000, and blend seemlessly with the community. Why fight what is a treasure of existing potential and harmony under EXISTING zoning?
NIMBY Leland Burk was against stadium lights at Ursuline’s soccer field because the impact it would have on HIS neighborhood. It’s rich that he feels this is justified even though the vast majority of neighbors DO NOT WANT IT. He can take his 100 trees and sidewalks and go somewhere else.
This type of development is out of character with our neighborhood and would have a profoundly negative impact on the community. It also has implications for nearby areas.
We want development—we just want it to follow Forward Dallas 2.0, the long-range guide for how and where the City should sensibly grow, which the City Council adopted in September 2024.