Southeast Dallas, Texas, October 9, 2025
News Summary
Construction has begun on Palladium Buckner Station, a $107 million, 304‑unit mixed‑income residential project adjacent to the Buckner DART Light Rail Station in Southeast Dallas. About 244 units (roughly 80%) will be income‑restricted for households at or below 60% of AMI, with 60 market‑rate units. The development includes 90 one‑bed, 147 two‑bed, and 67 three‑bed units (30 townhomes), two parking garages with roughly 350 spaces, a landscaped public promenade to the rail stop, and amenities such as a pool, fitness center, community room and business spaces. Financing combines LIHTC equity, loans, tax‑exempt bonds and city incentives.
Palladium Buckner Station breaks ground on $107M mixed‑income, transit‑oriented housing in Southeast Dallas
Construction has started on Palladium Buckner Station, a new 304‑unit mixed‑income residential project built beside the Buckner DART Light Rail Station in Southeast Dallas. The development sits on land now used as a DART station parking lot at 8008 Elam Rd. and is being developed by Palladium USA with ground‑up construction now underway.
What was announced first
The project is reported to cost about $107 million (also cited as $107.1 million). It will deliver 304 apartments, of which roughly 244 units (about 80%) will be income‑restricted and reserved for households earning at or below 60% of area median income (AMI). The remaining 60 units will be market‑rate apartments.
Unit mix and building type
City records list the unit breakdown as 90 one‑bedroom, 147 two‑bedroom, and 67 three‑bedroom units. Included in the three‑bedroom count are 30 two‑story townhome units. The development is described as transit‑oriented, with a publicly accessible pedestrian promenade planned to provide a direct walking connection to the Buckner Light Rail Station.
Financing and public support
Multiple funding sources have been assembled. A financing package from Regions Bank includes $34 million in low‑income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity, $26 million in bridge loan proceeds, and a $47 million Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Section 221(d)(4) loan. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded the 4% LIHTCs for the deal.
The City of Dallas has approved a $14.5 million economic development incentive for the project. That incentive package is split into a loan not to exceed $6,183,092 and a grant not to exceed $8,316,907, drawn from several city funding sources administered by the Office of Economic Development, including general obligation bond proceeds from housing and economic development propositions. Additional public support includes $49.9 million in tax‑exempt bonds issued through the Dallas Housing Finance Corporation, which is partnering on the development.
Design, construction and partners
The site design is by ARRIVE Architecture Group, with construction led by BBL Building Co. Operation Community Care is listed as a community partner on the project. The development will include two residential parking garages totaling about 350 spaces, a resort swimming pool, a modern fitness center, conference and business centers, a children’s playroom, a 1,600‑square‑foot community room, a basketball court, and other on‑site amenities. The public promenade is described as carefully planned with enhanced landscaping to connect the property to the rail stop safely and directly.
Policy context and local expectations
The project is one of several proposed transit‑oriented developments on DART‑owned property that aim to increase transit ridership by placing housing directly next to rail stations. Local policy moves to reduce or eliminate parking minimums were cited as a factor enabling more efficient use of station land for housing. City officials framed the project as the result of long‑range planning with transit authorities to build compact, connected neighborhoods near rail.
Local reactions
Public commentary has been mixed. Supporters say the development will add needed affordable housing near transit and may spur economic activity in parts of Southeast Dallas that have seen limited private investment. Some residents raised concerns about public incentives, preferring single‑family homes over apartments, and voiced worries about crime and homelessness. City leaders and the district council member highlighted the project as a major investment and noted the developer’s commitment to long‑term property management.
Where this fits in the broader development picture
The Palladium Buckner Station proposal was unanimously approved by the Dallas City Council for the city incentive. It joins other high‑profile developments in the region, including a large mixed‑use project planned at 8300 Douglas that will combine office, residential and retail space with sizable parking and amenity programs, scheduled to open in 2028.
Next steps
Construction is underway. Timelines for lease‑up were not specified in initial reports, but financing and incentive approvals are in place to move the project forward. The development team and city partners say they will continue coordinating site work, public access improvements, and neighborhood engagement as construction proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Palladium Buckner Station?
Palladium Buckner Station is a new mixed‑income, transit‑oriented residential development being built next to the Buckner DART Light Rail Station in Southeast Dallas. It will include 304 apartments and public pedestrian access to the rail stop.
How many units will be affordable?
About 244 of the 304 units (roughly 80%) are planned to be income‑restricted and leased to households earning at or below 60% of area median income.
How is the project being paid for?
Funding includes LIHTC equity, bridge loans, an FHA Section 221(d)(4) loan, tax‑exempt bonds, and a city economic development incentive. Regions Bank provided key financing and the Texas housing agency awarded 4% tax credits.
What will be built on the current parking lot?
The surface parking lot will be developed into new residential buildings with two parking garages for about 350 spaces and a landscaped pedestrian promenade linking the site to the DART station.
Who is designing and building the project?
ARRIVE Architecture Group is the design firm and BBL Building Co. is the construction partner. The developer is Palladium USA, and a local nonprofit is listed as a community partner.
When will people be able to move in?
Construction has started. Exact move‑in dates were not detailed in initial reports and will depend on construction progress and lease‑up scheduling.
Key project features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Palladium USA |
| Location | Adjacent to Buckner DART Station, 8008 Elam Rd., Southeast Dallas |
| Project cost | About $107 million |
| Total units | 304 apartments (90 one‑bed, 147 two‑bed, 67 three‑bed; 30 three‑bed townhomes) |
| Affordability | 244 units at or below 60% AMI; 60 market rate |
| Parking | Two garages, ~350 spaces |
| Public access | Pedestrian promenade directly to DART Buckner Light Rail Station |
| Design & build | ARRIVE Architecture Group (design); BBL Building Co. (construction) |
| Financing highlights | $34M LIHTC equity; $26M bridge loan; $47M FHA 221(d)(4); $49.9M tax‑exempt bonds; $14.5M City incentive |
| Amenities | Pool, fitness center, conference & business centers, children’s playroom, community room, basketball court |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Housing Finance: Construction begins on transit-oriented development in Dallas
- Wikipedia: Transit-oriented development
- CultureMap Dallas: Buckner Station / Palladium Buckner Station coverage
- Google Search: Palladium Buckner Station
- WFAA: Dallas / Buckner Station project report
- Google Scholar: Buckner DART Station transit-oriented
- CandysDirt: Dallas green-lights $14.5M for transit-oriented project
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Transit-oriented development (search)
- Hoodline: Dallas City Council approves $14.5M incentive for Palladium Buckner Station
- Google News: Palladium Buckner Station
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