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

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs

City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.

June 18 - NBC San Diego

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing

Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.

June 18 - The Texas Tribune

Red brick five-story multifamily housing building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings

Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.

June 18 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)