Agency hears consultant, councilors back RFQ and incentives talk for 791 Main Street

A consultant recommended the Dallas Urban Renewal Agency seek developer interest this spring for redevelopment of 791 Main Street, and several councilors said they support moving forward with a two-step request-for-qualifications and request-for-proposals process while reserving judgment on any specific incentives.

The recommendation came Tuesday when Brian Vaneman of Forum Placemaking presented survey results, design options and a preliminary fiscal analysis for the site. Vaneman said the city could expect “$150,000 if a hotel and a $139,000 if a housing project per year” in property taxes to the urban renewal area and city under a five‑story scenario, but added that a funding gap remains and that incentives could be necessary to make the project feasible for many developers.

Vaneman told agency members the city had collected 184 online survey responses in August–September 2024 and that respondents most often favored lodging on the upper floors. He said option 1A, a four‑story hotel with ground‑floor commercial space and a rooftop deck, was the single most preferred option in the survey; he…