Construction Begins on University Hills Development in Southern Dallas
Hoque Global has begun construction on its billion-dollar University Hills development in southern Dallas.
The Dallas developer held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, marking the start of infrastructure work for the commercial and residential portions of a 270-acre project near the University of North Texas at Dallas campus.
At full build-out, the development may hold hundreds of single-family homes, 1,500 apartments, 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, a town center and more than 50 acres of open green space on undeveloped land near the intersection of Interstate 20 and Lancaster Road.
Project Details and Goals
“We owe a big deal to southern Dallas to dream big,” Hoque Global CEO Mike Hoque said during the ceremony.
“We started looking at this deal (as) how can we create a project (so) that southern Dallas can become the next Frisco. Today, I will start with my team.”
At the event, Hoque also announced new details surrounding the project. University Hills will be home to the second location of Hotel Local, the firm’s new hotel brand. The first community-centric hotel launched last month in Dubai, in partnership with hotelier Dave Johnson under the Marriott International system.
Partnerships and Developments
Partnering with developer Mike Ablon’s PegasusAblon to handle retail, Hoque is aiming to bring a major grocer to the project.
Real estate developer KDC will handle build-to-suit office developments at the site. Hoque also plans a stadium and multipurpose facility at the development, with hopes of attracting a professional sports team.
Those in attendance at Monday’s ceremony included Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert, state Sen. Royce West, Dallas City Council members Tennell Atkins and Jesse Moreno, and University of North Texas at Dallas president Warren von Eschenbach.
Project Timeline and Incentives
Monday’s announcement comes after Hoque Global says it hit a key deadline set by city leaders last year.
The developer first secured city incentives in 2022. City council members approved amended plans in late 2024, giving Hoque Global up to nearly $36 million in city subsidies — up $1.75 million from the original agreement.
Under the agreement, Hoque was required to purchase the land by Monday. In an interview following Monday’s event, Hoque said his business now owns the property.
Community Impact
“This is the legacy of us and our company and the city of Dallas,” Hoque said. “We’re going to do what’s good for the community. It’s not going to be driven by when we break ground. We’re going to do things that are needed for this city.”
“We know that southern Dallas is a beacon of hope for our city,” Tolbert said.
“We cannot stop and we cannot celebrate too early. The residents in this part of our city definitely deserve more. … We will continue to be champions for a brighter future in southern Dallas.”
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Lambda, a cloud computing/AI firm, will operate in the facility.
Conclusion
The University Hills development is a significant project for southern Dallas, with the potential to bring new homes, businesses, and community amenities to the area. With the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of infrastructure work, the project is one step closer to becoming a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the University Hills development?
A: The University Hills development is a 270-acre project in southern Dallas that will include hundreds of single-family homes, 1,500 apartments, 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, a town center, and more than 50 acres of open green space.
Q: Who is behind the University Hills development?
A: The University Hills development is being led by Hoque Global, a Dallas-based developer.
Q: What is the timeline for the project?
A: The project is expected to be completed in several phases, with the first phase starting with infrastructure work. The exact timeline has not been announced, but the developer has hit a key deadline set by city leaders.
