A vacant Oak Cliff hospital, once tapped by the city to expand homeless services, is now on the market.
The Dallas City Council was scheduled to discuss the sale in closed session Wednesday. The city bought nearly 14 acres at 2929 South Hampton Road for about $6.5 million in 2022. At the time, city officials planned to convert the former hospital into housing and support services for residents who are experiencing homelessness.
But the purchase was made without public discussion, and when community members found out about the hospital’s proximity to a school, city library, single-family homes, a senior living apartment complex and Kiest Park, outrage and opposition erupted. Since then, residents said they’d prefer to see housing with a mix of retail spaces at the site.
Gracey said the sale would help grow the tax base in District 3.
Following two years of back and forth, the City Council voted in June to put the property up for sale. However, the city will sell only if it is able to recoup the amount it spent. If not, all bids must be submitted to the City Council for review.
Political Points
The actual minimum price point set for the site is unclear.
Gracey has previously stated that he would like to use the proceeds from the sale to help redevelop a former extended-stay hotel at 4150 Independence Dr., another city project aimed at serving and providing housing to residents experiencing homelessness.
The South Hampton Road property is commercially zoned and allows for medical offices and uses such as surgical or ambulatory services with a maximum of 300 beds. A new law passed earlier this year also allows developers to create multi-family housing in commercially zoned areas.