By Sriya Reddy
A property on Bexar Street that the city of Dallas once heavily invested in is now up for sale after about a decade of little economic development, the opposite of what the city envisioned.
Applications to purchase 5210 Bexar St., located in the Ideal Neighborhood in South Dallas, opened in early June and closed at the end of that month.
The city acquired the property through foreclosure by the original owner, Kaminski Holdings, according to the Request for Applications from the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. Its director, David Noguera said, in an email, that the city is looking for an organization familiar with affordable housing management to own that property.
“The idea is to transfer the property to an organization that will use it to continue serving lower-income households and community-based organizations in the retail space on a long-term basis,” Noguera said.
His department is still conducting reviews on who will own the property, so it cannot comment on the applicants. It will be giving recommendations to the City Council in September.
Bexar Street was envisioned as an area of bustling economic activity when the city invested millions into Kaminski Holdings and Hailu Ejigu, who owns the building across the street, about a decade ago. However, a couple of years later, it was evident that that promise was not fulfilled. Businesses in the area have been short-lived and some storefronts remain vacant.
The mixed-use building has apartments for lower-income residents on the top floor and four units for businesses on the bottom floor. Right now, three of the four units on the first floor are occupied.
Quotess Stevenson owns Envy Me, a women’s clothing store that occupies one of the bottom floor units. Stevenson, a Pleasant Grove native, said that residents appreciate her store and she loves the community.
“I’ve actually had residents, who’ve been there for decades, come, you know, shop with me,” Stevenson said. “They were very excited about my store being here. I’ve had a great experience.”
Stevenson said that she was told by her landlord that the sale would not harm, or move, her storefront. This is her second location after one in Pleasant Grove, and Stevenson said that moving to Bexar Street boosted her business.
One of the applicants for the property is BridgeBuilders, a faith-based community organization that has been in South Dallas for 25 years and has been located in this mixed-use building since September 2020. BridgeBuilders’ hope for the space is to use it for its job training program, driving academy, and transitional housing.
Jonathan Fechner, executive director of BridgeBuilders, said that his organization is working with the community to understand what the needs and wants are for 5210 Bexar St. and will adjust its plans accordingly. He said that Bridgebuilders’ plan is flexible and he will work with the businesses that are already there.
“What we’ve heard from the community is that they want to see this space redeemed, right.” Fechner said. “They want to see it utilized for its original intent.”
Another applicant for the space is Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation, an affordable housing organization that began in West Dallas. Because the bid is still active, Builders of Hope would not reveal its plans. However, it is looking forward to potentially working with the community.
“Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation is excited about the possibility to work alongside existing neighborhood organizations within the Ideal community,” said James Armstong, president and CEO of the organization. “We believe collective impact is the key to building strong communities, and we hope to deliver that same approach to 5210 Bexar.”
More than anything, Fechner hopes that the community is the priority.
“Whoever owns it, as long as they’re listening to the community and fulfilling the community’s desires for this space, we’re happy,” Fechner said. “My hope is that whoever does take this place considers the needs and desires of the community over anything else.”
