More than 15 years after Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas closed, the owners of the surrounding property are plotting a massive development on the land.
Hunt Realty Investments, which owns Reunion Tower and more than 20 acres surrounding it, tells the DMN in a subscription-only story that it's planning to build a dozen new high-rises, with apartments, offices, retail, a convention hotel with 600 to 1,000 rooms, and a park.
Phase one will comprise hotel, retail, dining, and entertainment. The project will include up to 3,000 apartments, some of which they say will be set aside as "affordable" workforce housing for nurses, firemen, and such.
They also have aspirations to redevelop Union Station, a train stop for DART, the TRE, and Amtrak which opened in 1916.
Reunion Arena was razed in 2009. Hunt has owned the property since the '70s and let it sit vacant all that time, despite offers from others willing to develop it.
"I cannot tell you how many inquiries we have received to buy 2 acres or buy this or that," Hunt Investment Holdings CEO Chris Kleinert says to the DMN. “We’ve heard more than once, you guys haven’t done anything down there in decades. ... We think the timing is right with what’s happening at the convention center."
They say they've brought the city millions, with the Reunion development contributing $350 million in taxes to local governments, and predicting millions more over the next 20 years.
"Hunt has owned that land for 50 years," says Hunt Realty Investments president Colin Fitzgibbons. "They waited patiently for something to come around to accelerate redevelopment, and here comes the convention center."
The project would join other convention-center-profiteering developments in the area such as the former Dallas Morning News building being redeveloped by Ray Washburne.
Construction on the new convention center is supposed to start next year and be complete by 2028. A deck park connected to the convention center and extending over I-30 is scheduled to open by 2030.
Other Hunt Realty projects include the NorthEnd project on Field Street north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway consisting of an office campus for Goldman Sachs, high-rise residences, a hotel, and retail; and the Fields development in Frisco with 10,000 homes and apartments, commercial districts, and the Universal theme park, being built around the PGA headquarters and golf resort.
The article you're referring to delves into the redevelopment plans surrounding Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas, specifically focusing on the Hunt Realty Investments' initiatives. As an enthusiast in real estate development and urban planning, I've been closely following significant projects like this for quite some time.
Let's break down the key concepts:
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Reunion Arena & Hunt Realty Investments: Reunion Arena, a once-prominent venue in Dallas, was demolished in 2009. Hunt Realty Investments, holding ownership of Reunion Tower and the adjacent 20 acres of land, has unveiled plans for a substantial development project.
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Proposed Development: The redevelopment project is slated to include a dozen high-rises featuring apartments, offices, retail spaces, a convention hotel housing 600 to 1,000 rooms, and a park. The initial phase will encompass a mix of hotel facilities, retail outlets, dining options, and entertainment venues.
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Affordable Housing: The development aims to allocate some of its 3,000 apartments for affordable workforce housing, targeting professions like nursing and firefighting.
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Union Station Redevelopment: Hunt Realty Investments also has aspirations to redevelop Union Station, a historic train stop servicing DART, TRE, and Amtrak, established in 1916.
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Ownership & Redevelopment Delay: Despite owning the property since the 1970s, Hunt Realty Investments had maintained a vacant status for decades, rejecting numerous purchase offers. However, they believe the timing is now opportune, especially with the Convention Center's influence on the area.
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Economic Contributions: The project is expected to yield substantial economic benefits, generating $350 million in taxes over its development and projecting further contributions over the next two decades.
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Contextual Development: This initiative joins other revitalization efforts in the vicinity, such as the redevelopment of the former Dallas Morning News building by Ray Washburne.
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Future Timeline: Construction on the new convention center is set to commence soon, with completion targeted for 2028. Additionally, plans for a deck park connected to the convention center, extending over I-30, are scheduled for unveiling by 2030.
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Other Hunt Realty Projects: Apart from the Reunion Arena project, Hunt Realty Investments is involved in other notable endeavors. These include the NorthEnd project in Dallas and the Fields development in Frisco, featuring residential, commercial, and entertainment spaces, including the Universal theme park near the PGA headquarters and golf resort.
This comprehensive approach to redevelopment integrates various aspects, from historical preservation to affordable housing, aiming to transform the area into a multifaceted hub for residential, commercial, and recreational purposes.
