The Richardson City Plan Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 20 to rezone the Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham hotel, allowing the property to be converted into a new affordable‑housing development called Hudson Heights.

Project details

Built in 1982, the hotel currently houses 72 suites across three buildings, an activity center, an outdoor pool, tennis courts and a fitness center. Each suite already includes a full kitchen, balcony and storage space. The conversion plan will create 36 studio apartments and 36 one‑bedroom apartments, with studios ranging from 550 to 600 square feet and one‑bedrooms at least 820 square feet.

Developer Culby Culbertson says rent for studios will be $950‑$1,000 per month and $1,600‑$1,800 for one‑bedrooms, targeting Richardson’s workforce and new residents. “As we’re continuing to grow the city, we need workforce housing to accommodate a lot of the tremendous growth,” Culbertson said.

Upgrades and amenities

The renovation will upgrade interior fixtures, add fresh paint, and improve exterior finishes. The existing activity building will become a residential clubhouse with a leasing office and study area. The indoor fitness center, outdoor pool and tennis courts will remain, with the courts also supporting pickleball. Two landscaped areas will be turned into open‑space picnic spots, a grill area and a fenced dog park.

Parking and community impact

Culbertson requested a reduction in the required 144 parking spaces, noting the property currently has 90 spaces and the smaller units will likely attract single occupants with one car each. Street parking and a possible shared‑parking agreement with nearby businesses are also being considered.

Commission member Kristen Schascheck cautioned that while the development aims to be affordable, assumptions about a strict one‑to‑one parking ratio may be premature. “It may be a little presumptive to assume that it’s going to be a 1‑to‑1 ratio,” she said.

Next steps

Following the commission’s recommendation, the Richardson City Council will review the rezoning request. Vice Chairman Jeremy Thomason praised the plan, stating it makes sense to convert the underused hotel into needed housing for the city’s workforce. Culbertson estimates the full renovation could be completed within a year.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Richardson — read the source article.