Imagine it's 1964. You're standing in front of one of Dallas' newest hotel hotspots, the Cabana Motor Hotel, catching a glimpse of The Beatles during their first—and only—tour stop in the city. A few years later, in 1969, the strummed chords of Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster float across the lobby floor. Now you're in 1975, the disco era, and Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are lounging poolside, soaking in their fans' adoration.

Fast forward to today: it's 2026, and the Cabana Design District has a new look and a new purpose. While the trappings of the hotel's golden era are gone, there are still plenty of nods to its storied past to keep those wistful memories alive.

"I think nostalgia is the feeling we hear about most when we talk to people about this development," said Zach Krochtengel, principal of Sycamore Development. "During our work on the project, we have heard from countless Dallas residents who remember visiting the building when it was a hotel, swimming with rock stars at its pool or eating at restaurants with glamorous cocktail waitresses, and it has been deeply rewarding to take a shell of a building and bring life back into it."

Today, Cabana Design District serves as a vital piece of Dallas' affordable housing puzzle. The property now boasts 70 income- and rent-restricted units alongside 105 market rate units.

"You couldn’t take the mid-century modern roots out of this building if you tried, but we dove in headfirst and embraced it," explained Krochtengel.

Sycamore Development purchased the property in 2023, and secured financing to rehabilitate the Cabana through the City of Dallas, TDHCA for federal low-income housing tax credits (a 2023 9% HTC awardee), and state and federal historic tax credits. Hunt Capital Partners helped arrange financing for the project and syndicated its tax credits.

"Hunt Capital Partners is proud to have partnered with Sycamore to bring a Dallas icon back to life. By supporting the financing and syndication of the federal and state tax credits, we were able to ensure affordable housing is provided for 70 families," said Jeff Weiss, President, Hunt Capital Partners.

The property, a 10-story main tower with two outward wings, provides affordable housing units as unique as the Cabana's history. A 30% AMI unit on the 10th floor features a wall of windows overlooking downtown Dallas; something one may find in a luxury apartment. Similarly, a row of two-story townhome affordable units overlook the pool area and its historic sun shades.

Scattered throughout are thoughtful gathering areas, including in the soaring main lobby with its sweeping staircase.

"The entire project was approached with deep care for the building's history. Though many original features had been lost over time, we were able to restore elements like the terrazzo flooring, tiles, and the iconic sun shades around the pool deck, while also modernizing the building's design and converting it into an apartment community that can serve Dallas for decades to come," said Krochtengel.

Located at 899 Stemmons Freeway, the Cabana Design District features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with affordable units serving families making 30 to 80% of the area median income (AMI; annual income starting at $35,190 for a four-member household).

If you would like to inquire about making the Cabana Design District your home, please contact management at (945) 222-4090 or cabanadesigndistrict@rpmliving.com. If you would like to search for affordable housing in another area, please visit TDHCA's Help for Texans at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/help-for-texans and use our Vacancy Clearinghouse to search for properties around the state.