Dallas City Council gave final approval Tuesday night for a long‑debated $800 million mixed‑use development at the southwest corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane. The 9‑6 vote permits two towers to rise to a maximum of 199 feet, provided the project meets mixed‑income housing requirements, according to WBAP.
The 7.27‑acre parcel has sat vacant since a tornado in October 2019 destroyed office and retail structures. Developer Leland Burk, president of Burk Interests, together with Greenway Investment Co., plans apartments, condos, a hotel, office space, shops and ground‑level restaurants. Burk cited about $800 million in private investment and pledged that the developers will fund new traffic signals and intersection improvements, as reported by NBCDFW.
Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis (District 13) amended the original request, lowering the height from the developer’s initial 325 feet to 199 feet—a compromise she said will preserve the neighborhood’s character while delivering “meaningful experiences with families and friends,” NBCDFW quoted. Willis also secured commitments for traffic‑signal timing at Preston and Royal and an emergency signal at Dallas Fire‑Rescue Station 41.
Opposition to the project was organized by Preserve Preston Hollow, a nonprofit that gathered 5,315 signatures against the proposed height, according to NBCDFW. The group also submitted 175 letters to City Hall. At the public hearing, the city secretary recorded 262 replies opposing the rezoning and only eight in favor after 283 notices were sent to nearby property owners, WBAP noted.
Several council members voiced dissent. District 12 Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn warned, “We are not listening to our residents with this vote… This is not the right development for this property. It is far too tall.” District 11 Councilmember Bill Roth proposed a 110‑foot limit (or 121 feet with a housing bonus) and sought to keep the hearing open, but his amendment received six votes in favor and nine against, per WBAP.
The council’s approval also triggered a recall effort against Willis. D13 Together, a coalition of District 13 residents, announced a drive to collect roughly 9,500 signatures by Dec. 7, aiming for a May 2027 recall election, WBAP reported. The recall is framed as broader than a single zoning case, citing other development disputes in the area.
Before a building permit can be issued, the Dallas Transportation Department must install the emergency signal at Station 41, upgrade the Preston‑Royal intersection signals, and complete a timing study of eight nearby signals, according to WBAP.
What’s next: The city will review the developers’ traffic‑signal plans and conduct the required timing study. Recall organizers must submit the required signatures by Dec. 7 to trigger a petition review, after which the city could schedule a recall election as early as May 2027.
Sources: nbcdfw.com, wbap.com
