<\/p>\n
Dallas City Homes and its partners celebrated the opening of Armonia Apartments in the La Bajada neighborhood in West Dallas on April 9, 2026.<\/p>\n
SPF Solutions<\/p>\n
A new West Dallas apartment building\u2019s name means harmony, but getting people to come together for the project took time.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Armonia Apartments<\/a> in early April.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew that if we sold this piece of land whoever would have bought it would not have done any justice or inclusion for neighborhoods,\u201d Brown said in an interview. \u201cSo for me, it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n The development faced several challenges but worked with funders and members of the La Bajada community to get the project across the finish line.<\/p>\n Securing funding\u00a0<\/p>\n Initially, the apartment\u2019s income restricted rental rates didn\u2019t support what it would cost to build the project, Brown said. But the $4.8 million development secured funding.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s construction and financing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Finding financing can be a hurdle<\/a> for small- and medium-sized developers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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\u2019s subsidy is lower than the loan from a financial institution.<\/p>\n During the ribbon cutting, Brown said the Armonia development was the result of strong partnerships.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI want to sincerely thank HUD, the city of Dallas \u2014 even though we fight and argue \u2014 but one thing that\u2019s in common is the end results to ensure a more equitable Dallas,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n Demand for housing\u00a0<\/p>\n Dallas has a deficit of affordable housing units,<\/a> which is worse for people with extremely low and very low income.\u00a0Armonia Apartments\u2019 rates could address the needs of low-income renters.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n One-bedroom units at Armonia start at $1,100 and two bedrooms start at $1,320, according to a promotional flyer.<\/p>\n An individual making 80% of the area median income has a salary of about $65,700, according to the\u00a0Dallas Housing Authority<\/a>. That number rises to about $93,850 for a family of four.<\/p>\n Dallas City Homes worked to fund the apartments at that rate below the area median income, but the demand for apartments<\/a> that serve people with an even lower income is starker.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Future work<\/p>\n Dallas City Homes also owns land north of the apartment building that Brown said could possibly become more housing or have another use.<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775016909_917_rawImage.jpg\" "\\"#\\"")
<\/p>\n