A $250 million proposal for a 25-story mixed-use tower in South Dallas was denied by the city’s planning commission on Thursday. The project, known as Winners Tower, was proposed by Raphael Adebayo, pastor of Winners Assembly Christian Church, which owns the property at 1709 Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The plan called for a high-rise that would include condominiums, a hotel, retail space, and parking. Adebayo described the development as a potential landmark for an area that has seen little investment over the years. However, concerns about the building’s scale and its alignment with community needs led to opposition from members of the planning commission.
Supporters of Winners Tower included Christopher Walker of Abounding Prosperity, a nonprofit tenant on the site. “When we talk about the revitalization of the South Dallas community, we want to do things from the ground up,” Walker said.
Despite this support, some commissioners expressed doubts about whether the project would benefit local residents. Board member Tabitha Wheeler-Reagan introduced the motion to reject the rezoning request and stated that it “does not serve the South Dallas community, but rather other communities,” without providing further details. Commissioner Darrell Herbert said the proposed tower was “out of scale and out of step” with South Dallas’ historic character.
City staff had recommended approval for a smaller version of the project—allowing up to five stories instead of 25. In response, Adebayo’s team indicated willingness to reduce height to 15 stories and referenced a nearby 13-story apartment building as precedent. Nonetheless, opponents argued that such a large development could represent gentrification more than neighborhood growth.
The financing for Winners Tower was expected to include funds from EB-5 visa investors working with Okpa Company, led by commercial appraiser and former Dallas mayoral candidate Edward Okpa. Adebayo began acquiring land for this effort in 2007 and reported interest from various tenants and retailers.
The planning commission’s decision was made “with prejudice,” meaning similar plans cannot be resubmitted for at least two years. The developer may appeal to City Council; however, overturning this denial would require approval by three-fourths of council members.
