Dallas Council Denied Winners Tower Zoning Change
The 25-story project for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is now stalled by a two-year development moratorium.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Dallas City Council officially rejected a zoning change on September 23, 2026, for the proposed 25-story Winners Tower. The move effectively bans new development applications for the site at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Colonial Avenue for the next two years.
Why it matters
The denial follows a recommendation from the city plan commission and aligns with concerns about neighborhood compatibility and building scale. This outcome highlights the risks developers face when proposed projects diverge from established, community-led zoning plans.
The proposed $250 million project sought height allowances for buildings up to 270 feet, but the city council ultimately rejected the request after multiple deferrals. The site is now subject to a two-year freeze on all new development applications.
The players
Adam Bazaldua
Dallas City Council member who introduced the motion to reject the zoning application.
Raphael Adebayo
The developer who has been acquiring land for the proposed project site since 2007.
The details
Council member Adam Bazaldua introduced the motion to deny the request, citing inadequate community engagement and height concerns. Opponents successfully argued that the tower, which included hotel, retail, and residential space, conflicted with a community-crafted zoning plan. The city plan commission had previously signaled the likely outcome by unanimously recommending denial in 2025.
Timeline
Raphael Adebayo began acquiring land in the area in 2007.
The city plan commission recommended denying the zoning change in 2025.
The City Council began deferring the zoning decision in January 2026.
The City Council officially denied the zoning change on September 23, 2026.
New zoning applications for the site are prohibited for the next two years.
Market Landscape
The denial of the Winners Tower follows a clear pattern of cities prioritizing existing neighborhood master plans over high-density, large-scale luxury developments. This decision reinforces the primacy of the Dallas community-crafted zoning plan for the area near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Developers and operators should audit their projects against local neighborhood master plans early in the entitlement phase to avoid costly multi-year delays. Expect municipal bodies to continue prioritizing neighborhood-backed zoning constraints over standalone project height requests.
The takeaway
Large-scale urban projects that bypass neighborhood-level consensus face increasingly high hurdles in the current regulatory environment. Operators should track the specific zoning board meeting minutes to identify shifts in density requirements that could impact project viability in future cycles.
Further reading
For more on development trends in the city, visit Dallas Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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