DALLAS — The proposed operator of the long-awaited housing project received unanimous approval Wednesday from a glowing Dallas City Council, eager to mark progress after years of delay on the project.
The Council approved hiring St. Jude's as the operator for the permanent supportive housing project planned for the old Hotel Miramar at 1950 Fort Worth Ave. in North Oak Cliff.
"It was a crack hotel frankly," said Councilmember Chad West, who represents the area. "Now we have an operator whose contract can be pulled if they are not cooperating with neighbors and abiding by the rules."
St. Jude's will convert the motel into about 70 units of permanent supportive housing, with preference given for tenants who are veterans, disabled or elderly, city staff told council Wednesday.
The city initially purchased the hotel in 2020, but long delays in re-developing it caused frustration late last year from West and other councilmembers. As it stands, the project will still not be ready for people to move in until early 2026.
"The goal [of permanent supportive housing] is if you have committed to being a part of this solution and actually end up in this housing, you want to get back up on your feet," West explained.
"They’re not just throwing people in there who aren’t at least giving some indication that they want to try to make their lives better," he said.
Several city councilmembers spoke out in favor of the project, which passed with unanimous support.
No members of the public spoke against the nearly $5 million deal during the discussion Wednesday morning at City Council.
The Miramar project is one of several developments the city owns -- city staff said plans were underway to move forward with others in the coming months.
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