If it’s been a few months since you last drove through the Davis/Zang intersection near the Bishop Arts District, you likely wouldn’t recognize where you are now. Buildings five stories tall are going up on three of the four corners, and a new CVS stands where El Corazón was. Melba St., on the other side of the district, is beginning to feel like the State Thomas neighborhood of Uptown: mid-rise apartments and town homes on all sides with a small historic home here or there.
Not only are the streets torn up from increasing utility sizes to accommodate the growth and reconstructing complete streets, but there are about 20 large-scale residential and commercial projects currently under construction in North Oak Cliff, totaling more than a quarter of a billion dollars of investment and adding more than 1,200 units.
This massive development wave began back in 2008 when Oak Cliff community leaders began development of the Bishop-Davis Rezoning Plan, approved by Council in 2010. Bishop Arts was already a burgeoning hot spot. There were already million dollar homes in the Kessler neighborhoods. The city had already resurfaced N. Bishop Ave. with parallel parking and street trees through the district. Then the streetcar was funded. And the Nazerian family was granted $2 million to continue assembling land. The economy tanked, then improved. The streetcar was built. The rest is recent history. Now, the vision set almost a decade ago is becoming reality.
Here’s the latest status on the big projects under construction directly adjacent to the Bishop Arts District. In Part 2 we’ll detail projects throughout the rest of North Oak Cliff.
Crescent Communities
Novel Bishop Arts
Novel Bishop Arts
- First units available late July/early August (all units along Davis and 40 units in Flatiron building)
- 302 units total
- 23,000 square feet ground retail/restaurant/creative space including four signature restaurants
- Finalizing plans with five of nine retail spaces
- Five to six stories
- Block between N. Beckley Ave. and N. Crawford St. sold Aug 2017 to H.E.B. to construct a Central Market
- Project to be finalized end of 2018
Alamo Manhattan
Victor Prosper at Bishop Arts Station
Victor Prosper at Bishop Arts Station
Phase 1 now under construction includes the two buildings north and south of W. Davis St.
- 220 apartment units (two buildings)
- 25,000sf restaurant & retail
- First building units available late April, now pre-leasing
- Second building complete this summer
- Retail will be a mix of independent restaurants, neighborhood services and a few small “mom and pop” entrepreneurs
“We have received so many unsolicited comments on ‘how good the brick looks.’ We agree and are very pleased—the architect did a great job! The next building should look even better and we can’t wait to see it.” – Matt Segrest, CEO of Alamo Manhattan
Exxir Capital
Phase 1 is under construction. Three of the four corners at Bishop and Melba are Exxir projects underway. The single-story shops on the southwest corner are almost complete. Tribal Juice Bar anchors the southernmost store. A new David Uygur concept will anchor the Melba/Bishop corner, opening in early June.
Both eastern Melba/Bishop corners are under construction and Phase 3 property at Bishop and 9th has been cleared and is staged as parking. Exxir Capital has begun Phase 2, an underground parking garage and 246 apartments.
Urban Genesis
Bishop Highline – Phase 1
Bishop Highline – Phase 1
Bishop Highline’s first phase consists of two structures on Melba St. — one east and one west of N. Bishop Ave.
- 71 units (west) + 47 units (east) = 118 total
- Four stories
- Now leasing — first units became available May 1
- Discounts for those who live or work in the area currently
Urban Genesis
Bishop Highline – Phase 2
Bishop Highline – Phase 2
- 130 units
- 20 new construction townhomes and 500-square-foot studios for rent provide “affordable luxury” in a variety of sizes
- Redevelopment of existing building and adjacent new construction
- Construction to begin May through Summer 2019
- First floor will house a live performance and film theater
- Phase 2 will include a 5,000-square-foot rooftop deck for residents and theater patrons
- “Art is Everywhere” project theme will extend to lighting, bike racks and mural art
Bishop Arts Melba Townhomes
- Four units, two stories, plus private garage beneath
- 2,250-plus-square-foot roof deck
- Units starting at $450,000, one listed recently for $547,900.
- All units SOLD
410 Melba
Literally borrowing the plans from their neighbor, Bishop Arts Melba Townhomes, you can see the minor exterior differences between the two and can expect differences in the interior finish out as well.
- Four units, two stories, garage beneath
- 2,250 sf plus roof deck
Madison Townhomes
- currently in planning & design phase
- 4 units, for sale, upward from $450s+
That’s the update on development projects just occurring directly around the Bishop Arts District. Stay tuned for Part 2: Current development in the surrounding North Oak Cliff neighborhood.
