Dallas Ahead of the Game in Adaptive Reuse

Thanks in part to a state tax credit created in the early 2000s, downtown Dallas is set to create roughly 1,500 new housing units by converting office buildings to residential uses.

1 minute read

March 21, 2023, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View of downtown Dallas skyline at night with tall tower lined with green lights

Sean Pavone / Dallas, Texas

The office-to-residential conversion trend continues with a series of adaptive reuse projects in downtown Dallas that will bring roughly 1,500 new housing units to the area, per a story by Tucker Wells in the Dallas Business Journal. The population—and the median income—of the neighborhood is projected to grow from 6,000 to 8,000 people.

For downtown Dallas’ high-rise office buildings, adaptive reuse isn’t a new concept. According to Wells, “Dallas started to ‘stack uses’ into these 1980s-built Texas towers roughly 20 years ago. That was partly because of the stack of empty buildings in the city, but also due to a state historic tax credit that came online at the same time, according to Jennifer Picquet-Reyes, principal at Merriman Anderson Architects.” Developers began introducing hotels, restaurants, and upscale residences as a way to boost the downtown economy.

In addition to creating a mixed economy, “The growth of Downtown Dallas could end up culminating in the preservation of historic buildings through adaptive-reuse projects. ”

Friday, March 17, 2023 in Dallas Business Journal

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

"Welcome to Texas" road sign with Texas flag and "Drive Friendly - the Texas way" slogan

Report: Austin’s State Roads Deadlier Than City Roads

Traffic fatalities and serious injuries grew on state-owned roads in the Texas capital, even as city-owned streets saw death rates plateau.

53 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

View from lakeside with green grass and pink blooming flowers

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?

A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

1 hour ago - PNAS

Close-up of black parking meter with blurred street in background

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit

The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

2 hours ago - Next City

Project Manager III

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

UDO Transportation Planner

City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.