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 $107 million mixed‑income project next to DART Buckner Light Rail Station
Construction has begun on Palladium Buckner Station, a $107 million transit‑oriented, mixed‑income housing development located adjacent to the Buckner DART Light Rail Station at 8008 Elam Rd. in Southeast Dallas (Pleasant Grove). The Dallas‑based developer Palladium USA is building 304 apartments on land that is currently an underused DART station parking lot. The project sits in City Council District 5 and represents one of several proposals to place housing directly on DART‑owned property to increase ridership and housing near transit.
Quick facts: size, unit mix and affordability
The development will deliver 304 residences with the following unit mix: 90 one‑bedroom units, 147 two‑bedroom units and 67 three‑bedroom units. Within the three‑bedroom product, 30 units are planned as two‑story townhomes. About 244 of the 304 units — roughly 80% — will be income‑restricted and leased to households earning at or below 60% of area median income (AMI). The remaining 60 units will be market‑rate apartments.
Parking, access and public connections
The site plan includes two residential parking garages offering a combined total of 350 spaces. A publicly accessible pedestrian promenade will provide a direct, landscaped connection to the DART Buckner Light Rail Station, intended to make walking to transit safer, easier and more attractive for residents and neighbors.
Amenities, design and construction
Reported onsite amenities include a resort‑style swimming pool, a modern fitness center, a conference center and business center, a children’s playroom, a 1,600‑square‑foot community room, a basketball court and other community spaces. ARRIVE Architecture Group is the project’s design firm and BBL Building Co. is the construction partner. Operation Community Care is listed as a community partner to support resident services and local engagement.
Financing and public support
The total development cost has been reported as both $107 million and $107.1 million. Financing includes several major pieces led by Regions Bank: $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 4% LIHTCs for the project.
Additional public and quasi‑public support includes a $14.5 million economic development incentive from the City of Dallas — structured as a loan not to exceed $6,183,092 and a grant not to exceed $8,316,907 drawn from multiple city funding sources administered by the Office of Economic Development, including general obligation bond proceeds tied to housing propositions. The development also leverages $49.9 million in tax‑exempt bonds issued through the Dallas Housing Finance Corporation and is being advanced in partnership with that agency. The Dallas City Council voted unanimously to approve the $14.5 million incentive.
Policy context and local reaction
City leaders have framed the project as part of a wider push to concentrate housing near transit and to free up land for housing by reducing or removing parking minimums. Supporters view parking reform and transit‑oriented projects as ways to produce more housing, broaden access to transit and stimulate private investment in parts of Southeast Dallas that have seen limited recent development.
Public commentary has been mixed. Some community members expressed concern that public incentives favor larger multifamily development over single‑family housing and raised issues around crime and homelessness. Others welcomed the addition of affordable units and the potential for densification close to a rail station to improve access to jobs and services.
Leadership and local officials
City officials described the ground‑breaking as the result of years of planning and coordination with the regional transit agency to create new housing and stronger transit connections. Local council leadership emphasized the project’s scale for Southeast Dallas and its potential to catalyze further economic activity in the Pleasant Grove area. Palladium USA leadership noted the start of construction and framed the development as part of the company’s ongoing work to deliver high‑quality mixed‑income housing in Dallas.
Broader development landscape
The proposal is one of five transit‑oriented developments on DART‑owned property being reviewed to create a mix of market‑rate and affordable housing near transit stops. Separately, another major development in the city — a mixed‑use project at 8300 Douglas — is scheduled to open in 2028 and will include a large office tower, a 17‑story residential tower with 147 high‑end units, ground‑floor retail and a rooftop park. That project includes extensive amenities, significant parking across multiple levels, and sustainability targets for office and residential components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being built at the Buckner DART station?
Palladium Buckner Station is a new ground‑up, mixed‑income apartment community with 304 units built on an underused DART station parking lot adjacent to the Buckner Light Rail Station.
How many units and what type are included?
The development includes 90 one‑bedroom units, 147 two‑bedroom units and 67 three‑bedroom units, of which 30 three‑bedroom units are two‑story townhomes.
How affordable is the project?
About 244 units (approximately 80%) are income‑restricted for households earning at or below 60% of area median income (AMI). Sixty units will be market‑rate.
Who is financing and building the project?
Financing includes LIHTC equity, bank bridge financing and an FHA Section 221(d)(4) loan from Regions Bank, plus tax‑exempt bonds and a City of Dallas incentive. ARRIVE Architecture Group designed the project, and BBL Building Co. is the construction partner.
What public benefits or connections are included?
The plan adds a landscaped, publicly accessible promenade that links the apartments to the DART Buckner Light Rail Station and includes community amenities such as a pool, fitness center and community rooms.
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Key project features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project name | Palladium Buckner Station |
| Location | 8008 Elam Rd., adjacent to Buckner DART Light Rail Station, Southeast Dallas (Pleasant Grove) |
| Total cost | $107M – $107.1M reported |
| Units | 304 apartments (90 1‑BR, 147 2‑BR, 67 3‑BR; 30 3‑BR townhomes) |
| Affordability | 244 units at or below 60% AMI; 60 market‑rate units |
| Parking | Two garages providing 350 spaces |
| Design & construction | ARRIVE Architecture Group (design); BBL Building Co. (construction) |
| Key financing | Regions Bank: $34M LIHTC equity, $26M bridge loan, $47M FHA 221(d)(4) loan; $49.9M tax‑exempt bonds; $14.5M City incentive |
| Public access | Landscaped pedestrian promenade connecting directly to the DART station |
| Amenities | Pool, fitness center, conference/business center, children’s playroom, 1,600‑sq‑ft community room, basketball court |
| Community partner | Operation Community Care |
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
Author: Construction CA News
CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER The CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructioncanews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in California and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Rose Parade, Coachella, Comic-Con, and the California State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the California Building Industry Association and Associated General Contractors of California, plus leading businesses in technology and entertainment that power the local economy such as Apple and Alphabet. As part of the broader network, including constructionnynews.com, constructiontxnews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape across multiple states.
