A yoga, coffee roastery or rock-climbing gym is on the East Dock developer's tenant wish list.
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A local developer plans to breathe new life into a dilapidated former icehouse near the Dallas Zoo and the Southern Gateway Park under construction along Interstate 35E.
Proxy Properties LLC, which has been doing adaptive reuse projects in the Oak Cliff area for 12 years, purchased the property at 900 E. Clarendon Dr. in October.
The company is now revealing more details about its plans.
The current buildings on the 3-acre site include a 1900s ice house, as well as warehouse additions built in the 1920s and 1960s, the developer said. The company plans to renovate the interior and exterior of the building, totaling approximately 62,000 square feet, and create a mixed-use development called East Dock.
“We're trying to do something that's kind of historic and industrial design, something that's true to its original form,” said AJ Ramler, owner of Proxy Properties. “East Oak Cliff has a huge art community, so we're thinking of some concepts for an art studio there. Then we're going to create a public space.”
This project will focus on retail and industrial applications. Developers plan to target tenants such as a yoga studio, coffee roastery, education and training facilities, art studios, small retail studios, a streamside restaurant, and a rock climbing gym in the former Ice House building. .
“The idea is to have an interesting design that's unique to Dallas, but also achievable from a price point of view,” Ramler said of the industrial space, predicting rents “will be about half what they would be in the Design District.” He added that he is doing so. . ”
The project team said in city documents that no rezoning is required for the project. Ramler said the site was originally built as an icehouse, but was also used as an airplane manufacturing facility. He said the company is pursuing tax increment financing and will likely pursue state historic tax credits as well.
The southeast side of the property backs onto Cedar Creek, and the southern property line is adjacent to the Dallas Zoo Station on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Red Line.
“There are a lot of businesses in the Design District and other areas that are looking for more affordable alternatives that are very close to the city center,” Ramler said.
When it comes to retail, Ramler said the Dallas Zoo, which attracts 1 million visitors to the area each year, presents a huge opportunity.
“There are very few renovated retail stores east of Route 35,” Ramler said. “Literally nowhere. [for zoo guests] With the exception of McDonald's and Popeye's, I go there for lunch afterwards, so I think there's a big demand for it. ”
Ramler plans to make the project speculative, meaning no tenants will be locked in before construction begins.
“This is how we have always done everything, usually without a broker, and everything is leased right away,” Ramler said.
The project team, which included Ramler and architect Alicia Quintans of JQAQ Atelier LLC, submitted plans to Dallas' Urban Design Peer Review Committee in April.
The panel will consider potential projects throughout the city, including applying for tax increment financing, a tool that uses property tax revenue from new development in designated areas to support public improvement and urban construction projects. To do.
Ramler's company owns 350,000 square feet of residential and commercial real estate, primarily in and around Oak Cliff.
“We rarely sell things. Our strategy is to buy it, develop it and hold onto it,” Ramler said. “That’s great because Oak Cliff his market was probably his highest rated in all of DFW. [area]. ”
Ramler previously redeveloped the Oak Cliff Assembly Church on Morrell Avenue into an arts complex with office and event space.
“The amount of interest we had in that property was incredible,” he said.
