Dallas City Homes and its partners celebrated the opening of Armonia Apartments in the La Bajada neighborhood in West Dallas on April 9, 2026.
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A new West Dallas apartment building’s name means harmony, but getting people to come together for the project took time.
There were moments when the West Dallas project was on life support and would have been easier to sell, said president of Dallas City Homes Jason Brown. But the nonprofit developer and its development partners still cut the ribbon on Armonia Apartments in early April.
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“We knew that if we sold this piece of land whoever would have bought it would not have done any justice or inclusion for neighborhoods,” Brown said in an interview. “So for me, it’s an outward expression and affirmation of our work in the city and the legacy of the organization, to continue doing good deals that benefit community.”
Armonia Apartments, at 3115 Topeka Ave., is a 15-unit, mixed income apartment building. Of the units, 11 are reserved for people earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income, according to a news release. The Dallas-area median income for a family of four is $117,300, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The development faced several challenges but worked with funders and members of the La Bajada community to get the project across the finish line.
Securing funding
Initially, the apartment’s income restricted rental rates didn’t support what it would cost to build the project, Brown said. But the $4.8 million development secured funding.
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In 2017, the project was funded by two $275,000 initial acquisition investments from TREC Community Investors and Business and Community Lenders of Texas, according to the news release.
Additionally, the Dallas Housing Opportunity Fund and the city of Dallas invested nearly $1.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, to support the project’s construction and financing.
Finding financing can be a hurdle for small- and medium-sized developers.
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Financing Armonia Apartments required a change to how the city finances developments, according to previous reporting from The Dallas Morning News. The city removed a requirement that the city only take a lower repayment priority if the city’s subsidy is lower than the loan from a financial institution.
During the ribbon cutting, Brown said the Armonia development was the result of strong partnerships.
“I want to sincerely thank HUD, the city of Dallas — even though we fight and argue — but one thing that’s in common is the end results to ensure a more equitable Dallas,” Brown said.
Demand for housing
Dallas has a deficit of affordable housing units, which is worse for people with extremely low and very low income. Armonia Apartments’ rates could address the needs of low-income renters.
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One-bedroom units at Armonia start at $1,100 and two bedrooms start at $1,320, according to a promotional flyer.
An individual making 80% of the area median income has a salary of about $65,700, according to the Dallas Housing Authority. That number rises to about $93,850 for a family of four.
Dallas City Homes worked to fund the apartments at that rate below the area median income, but the demand for apartments that serve people with an even lower income is starker.
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The demand for units for households earning at or below 50% of the area median income outpaces supply by about 46,000 units, according to a report from the Child Poverty Action Lab. That gap is about 43,000 units for households earning at or below 30% of the area median income.
Future work
Dallas City Homes also owns land north of the apartment building that Brown said could possibly become more housing or have another use.
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Dallas City Homes also lists pending projects like a potential development in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood called Hillburn Seniors for people older than 55 and a community garden project on Topeka Avenue on its website
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During the Armonia Apartments ribbon cutting, Brown said it was important to respect the existing community while investing in its future.
“We’ve been in conversation with the neighborhood — good and bad — for a long time because they were fearful what would happen in the neighborhood and who you’re building houses for, and so it was a lot of vetting and approvals to get their blessing,” Brown said.