Redevelopment looks to improve Dallas neighborhood

12:52 AM CDT on Friday, May 30, 2008

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

DALLAS - After the controversial Convention Center hotel deal, the Dallas City Council is now involved with another one regarding two motels.

However, this plan looks like it will improve a southern Dallas neighborhood while helping open up development near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The neighborhood zoning fight that closed the crime-infested Southern Comfort motel and Sunset Motel on Lancaster Road may mean a new day for the area.

“It's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together," said Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway. "Now we are beginning to see that we got a pretty good looking puzzle here.”

Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved an $850,000 loan to the Urban League next door and a non-profit corporation to buy and demolish the motels and redevelop the site. They plan to build an office building and a job training center.

The VA Medical Center across the street already expressed interest in the office space.

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