What’s Happening at the Belmont Motor Hotel? We Caught Up With Owner Jordan Ford

A while back, I promised you the dirt on the famous Belmont Motor Hotel, the Charles Dilbeck design that sits high upon a hill overlooking downtown Dallas. It took a while, but sometimes you simply have to be patient and persistent.

One gray, rainy day a couple of months ago, I met with the Belmont’s owner, Jordan Ford, and his architects, Lance Raney and David Droese of Droese Raney architects. I asked the preeminent authority on Dilbeck, Willis Winters, to join us. Early last month, I was finally able to tour the property.

I found that Ford shared the same passion for this historic motel as the rest of us. His determination was evident, and his commitment to the Belmont was unwavering.

Saving The Belmont Hotel – A Historic And Cultural Icon

CandysDirt.com: Jordan, what is your goal with the Belmont?

Jordan Ford: The focus is on getting the business up and running and saving the architecture by having the property emerge anew.

CD: Why did you buy the Belmont?

JF: I wanted to create a place in the city I grew up in that offered people an experience. I’ve always loved Dilbeck’s architecture, and the Belmont is a place where many people feel a sense of ownership because they have memories here. When I moved back to Dallas from Los Angeles, I’d become passionate about hospitality and had partnered with people in that industry. They brought the Belmont project to me.

CD: What was the original plan?

JF: We wanted to upgrade, then develop additional rooms and sources of revenue on the campus. The historical buildings only sit on half of it. Two areas were always planned for growth. To preserve the historic motel, we had to focus on a more comprehensive renovation of the additional lots. 

CD: What happened to the original plan?

JF: The partnership dissolved, and I was the majority shareholder of the Belmont.

The Good Knight and the Glory Days of the Belmont Hotel 

CD: What was plan B?

JF: I’m in hospitality. I’m not a developer. I got to know Philip and Shawn Todd, who are not only smart developers that understand the historic component, but they are also a local family and involved in hotel operation. That became a three-year relationship. We came up with a design we thought was viable, but ran into an issue with the ability to redevelop the other properties. There was a pivot because of problems with the current zoning. There are multiple PDs and overlays. We were just not capable of getting it off the ground at that point.

CD: What were the problems along the way that have caused so much delay?

JF:  We were closed during Covid, but used that as an opportunity to scale up the renovations that were part of the original plans. Then the ice storm in February 2021 happened. We experienced significant water damage due to the pipes being located in the ceilings. The walls, ceilings, heating, and air conditioning were destroyed. It took months of cleanup. Then we had to ensure the viability of the buildings. 

CD: Most people would have walked away. Why didn’t you? 

JF: I never gave up on the idea of saving the Belmont. Despite the challenges and setbacks, I felt a responsibility to do the right thing. The Belmont was glitz and glamour in its heyday, and I’m passionate about bringing that back. 

CD: What are the next steps?

JF: I’m working with Lance and David, Dallas city officials, and the Landmark Commission. With all the damage, it can’t be looked at the same way I had originally planned. We have to incorporate all of the property and have a holistic view of opening up the revenue streams. Currently, zoning is the most challenging aspect of the process, and we are working in partnership with the city to create a cohesive property that can be redeveloped while preserving the original historic structures. 

What Took You So Long, Karen?

Well, it would have been remiss of me to serve up a story on the Belmont without seeing the damage for myself. Getting access to the property was challenging because Ford travels extensively, and there isn’t a team on hand to open it up to anyone. Lance Raney met me early in July to see the damage firsthand. Regardless of its shape, I was enamored. I’d never been on the property. I was raising a child when y’all were partying up there, so I missed all the fun. But I can tell you, I felt what can only be called the spirit of the Belmont. There is a vibrance to the buildings and the grounds that is intense. You simply want to will it back to its heyday. 

Ford wants what we all want: a functioning, revenue-generating historic property that everyone can once again enjoy; otherwise, he would have pulled the plug long ago.