Cabana Design District: 70 Income-Restricted Apartments in the Former Cabana Hotel at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, With State Rent Caps From $636
Quick answerAs of October 6, 2026, Cabana Design District at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway in the Dallas Design District is open and leasing. Of its 175 apartments, 70 are income-restricted for households at 30% to 80% of the area median income. There is no lottery: you apply at the leasing office, 945-222-4090. The building has not published the income-restricted rents; the state's 2026 caps run from $636 for a studio at 30% to $2,519 for a three-bedroom at 80%. Its City agreement bars discrimination against voucher holders.
Last checked: October 6, 2026, against the building's attainable housing page and floor plans, Dallas City Council file 23-2506 and its resolution 23-1370, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) feature on the building, tax-credit property inventory (record 23100) and Income and Rent Tool, DHA's 2026 payment standards, Texas Government Code section 2306.269, and the developers' announcement of May 14, 2026. The leasing office sets what is available and what it rents for; confirm there before you apply.
- 70income-restricted apartments, out of 175
- 30% to 80%of area median income, the levels the 70 apartments are set at
- $636the state's 2026 cap for a studio at 30%, utilities included
- $50,880the most one person can earn for a 60% apartment in 2026
- $1,818DHA's 2026 payment standard for a one-bedroom in ZIP code 75207
- 945-222-4090the leasing office, which takes applications
What Cabana Design District Is and Who Built It
Cabana Design District is the former Cabana Motor Hotel at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway, converted into 175 apartments with federal housing tax credits, historic tax credits and a City subsidy, and it held its grand opening on April 23, 2026.
- Names: Cabana Design District on the leasing site and in the state's records. The City's 2023 resolution of support calls it Cabana Design District Apartment Homes. Older records call the building the Cabana Hotel and the Cabana Motor Hotel, where TDHCA's feature and the leasing site both say the Beatles stayed in 1964.
- Developer and owner: Sycamore Development of Dallas, the trade name of Sycamore Strategies LLC. The City's file lists the owner as Cabana Design District LP. Hunt Capital Partners arranged the tax-credit financing.
- Design and construction: CandysDirt's report on the construction start names ANDRES Construction, Gensler, Pape-Dawson Engineers and the landscape architects StudioOutside. The state's accessibility filing lists Urban Design Group of Baltimore as the design firm.
- Manager: RPM Living; the leasing office's email address is at rpmliving.com.
- Money: $116 million in all. The City agreed to pay up to $41 million from the Design District tax increment district, and TDHCA awarded 9% housing tax credits worth $2 million a year.
- How long the limits last: 45 years under the tax-credit agreement. The City's own requirement is at least 15 years.
- 1962the Cabana Motor Hotel is built by the Las Vegas hotelier Jay Sarno, according to the City's file. The leasing site dates the opening to 1963.
- 1984Dallas County buys the building for use as a jail. It stands vacant from 2013.
- February 22, 2023the City Council adopts a resolution of support for the tax-credit application (resolution 23-0279).
- July 27, 2023TDHCA awards the credits, application 23100.
- September 27, 2023the Council authorizes up to $41 million from the Design District tax increment district (resolution 23-1370).
- October 29, 2024construction starts, as CandysDirt reported the next day.
- April 23, 2026grand opening.
- October 6, 2026the leasing site reads "6-Weeks Free on Select Homes!"
What it means: this is a finished building you can tour, three years after the City first backed the plan.
Source: City Council files 23-417 and 23-2506; TDHCA property inventory; CandysDirt, October 30, 2024; the developers' announcement of May 14, 2026; the leasing site.
- How tall: the City's file describes an 11-story building plus a basement and a two-story building. TDHCA and the developers' announcement call the tower 10 stories.
- How many buildings: the leasing site says three. CandysDirt describes a tower with 153 apartments and a four-story building with 22.
- Listed as historic: the property is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where 899 N. Stemmons Freeway Is
The building fronts Stemmons Freeway, which is Interstate 35E, in the Design District near Downtown Dallas, in ZIP code 75207 and City Council District 6.
| What | For 899 N. Stemmons Freeway |
|---|---|
| Area | Design District |
| ZIP code | 75207 |
| City Council district | 6 |
| Site | 3.27 acres |
| Tax district | Design District TIF District |
| Nearest rail | Victory Station, about 0.3 miles |
What it means: DHA sets voucher amounts by ZIP code, so 75207 is the number that decides what a voucher pays here.
Source: City Council file 23-2506 for the district, the acreage and the tax district; U.S. Census geocoder for the city and ZIP code; DART schedule data for the station.
How Many Apartments Are Income-Restricted, and at What Levels
TDHCA's May 2026 feature counts 70 income- and rent-restricted apartments and 105 at market rent, and no record gives the current split of the 70 by income level.
View the data table
| Income level | Apartments |
|---|---|
| 30% of area median income | 27 |
| 60% | 9 |
| 70% | 14 |
| 80% | 14 |
What it means: in that plan, 27 of the 64 were at the lowest level and 28 at the two highest. The building opened with 70 of 175, and the split of those 70 is not published.
Source: Dallas City Council file 23-2506, September 27, 2023, which describes 64 income-restricted apartments out of 160.
| Date and source | Apartments | Income-restricted |
|---|---|---|
| February 2023, City resolution of support | 200 | 66, at 30%, 50% and 60% |
| September 2023, City agreement; TDHCA inventory | 160 | 64, at 30%, 60%, 70% and 80% |
| May 2026, TDHCA feature; developers' announcement | 175 | 70, at 30% to 80% |
What it means: the share stayed at 40% from 2023 on, and the 2026 figures are the ones to use.
Source: City Council files 23-417 and 23-2506; TDHCA property inventory, record 23100; TDHCA, "A rock-solid makeover", May 21, 2026.
- Spread through the building: the City's resolution says the income-restricted apartments "shall be identical in finish-out and materials as market rate units" and "shall not be segregated or concentrated in any one floor or area".
- What that looks like: TDHCA's feature describes a 30% apartment on the tenth floor with "a wall of windows overlooking downtown Dallas" and a row of two-story income-restricted townhomes facing the pool.
What the Apartments Rent For in October 2026
Cabana Design District has not published a rent for any income-restricted apartment, so the firm numbers are the state's caps for each income level and apartment size.
| Level | Studio | 1 bed | 2 beds | 3 beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $636 | $681 | $817 | $944 |
| 60% | $1,272 | $1,362 | $1,635 | $1,889 |
| 70% | $1,484 | $1,589 | $1,907 | $2,204 |
| 80% | $1,696 | $1,817 | $2,180 | $2,519 |
What it means: these are ceilings on rent plus tenant-paid utilities, so the rent on a lease has to come in lower by a utility allowance.
Source: TDHCA Income and Rent Tool, Dallas County, 9% housing tax credits, run October 6, 2026; effective May 1, 2026.
- What the building's data shows: its floor plan list carries 20 plans labeled "Affordable": two studios, six one-bedrooms, nine two-bedrooms and three three-bedrooms. On October 6, 2026, every one showed no rent and no open apartment.
- What that does not prove: that none is open. The list may simply leave income-restricted apartments out. Ask the leasing office.
- Utilities: the leasing site does not say which the tenant pays. The 2023 plan described all-electric kitchens.
Market-rate apartments in the same building are priced well above every cap.
| Apartment | Open | Listed rent | "Starting at" on the home page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 11 | $1,895 to $2,525 | $2,425 |
| 1 bedroom | 18 | $2,125 to $2,725 | $2,525 |
| 2 bedrooms | 34 | $2,525 to $3,975 | $2,963 |
| 3 bedrooms | 2 | $3,754 and $4,025 | $3,725 |
What it means: the site disagrees with itself. Its data lists studios from $1,895 and one-bedrooms from $2,125, below the "starting at" prices on its home page.
Source: the apartment data behind the building's floor plans page and the leasing site's home page, both read October 6, 2026.
Who Qualifies: 2026 Income Limits
Your household's gross yearly income has to be at or under the limit for the apartment's level and your household size.
| Household | 30% | 60% | 70% | 80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $25,440 | $50,880 | $59,360 | $67,840 |
| 2 people | $29,070 | $58,140 | $67,830 | $77,520 |
| 3 people | $32,700 | $65,400 | $76,300 | $87,200 |
| 4 people | $36,330 | $72,660 | $84,770 | $96,880 |
| 5 people | $39,240 | $78,480 | $91,560 | $104,640 |
| 6 people | $42,150 | $84,300 | $98,350 | $112,400 |
What it means: three people earning $70,000 are over the 60% limit and under the 70% limit, so the 70% and 80% apartments are the ones to ask about.
Source: the building's attainable housing page, read October 6, 2026; the figures match TDHCA's Income and Rent Tool for Dallas County, effective May 1, 2026.
- A figure that differs: TDHCA's May feature gives "$35,190 for a four-member household" as the starting income. TDHCA's own tool puts the 2026 limit for four people at 30% at $36,330.
- The income floor: the building asks for "4 consecutive pay stubs representing 2.5x rent monthly", so there is a minimum income as well as a maximum.
| Apartment | Rent at the cap | Income needed | Limit it runs into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed at 30% | $588 | $17,640 | $25,440 for one person |
| 1 bed at 60% | $1,269 | $38,070 | $50,880 for one person |
| 1 bed at 80% | $1,724 | $51,720 | $67,840 for one person |
| 2 beds at 60% | $1,513 | $45,390 | $65,400 for three people |
| 2 beds at 80% | $2,058 | $61,740 | $87,200 for three people |
What it means: these are the highest floors possible. If the building charges less than the cap, or pays some utilities, the income needed drops.
Source: calculated by VoucherMatch. "Rent at the cap" is the state maximum less DHA's 2026 allowance for an apartment where the tenant pays for electric heat, cooking, lights, air conditioning and hot water ($93 for one bedroom, $122 for two). "Income needed" is that rent times 2.5 times 12.
Does Cabana Design District Take Section 8 Vouchers?
Cabana Design District may not turn a household away for holding a voucher: its City agreement says so, and so does the state law for tax-credit buildings.
- The City's condition: resolution 23-1370 states that the "Developer shall not discriminate against holders of any housing vouchers", and that this requirement "shall be impressed upon the property by deed restriction."
- A target as well as a ban: the same resolution requires "best efforts to lease up to ten percent (10%) of the Project's residential units to voucher holders".
- State law: Texas Government Code section 2306.269(b) prohibits a tax-credit development from "excluding an individual or family from admission to the development because the individual or family participates in the housing choice voucher program".
- The income test for voucher holders: the same section bars a test that requires "a monthly income of more than 2-1/2 times the individual's or family's share of the total monthly rent".
- Not on the building's site: any mention of vouchers. Its page states the 2.5 times rule without the voucher exception.
View the data table
| Apartment and level | State maximum | DHA payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| Studio, 60% | $1,272 | $1,746 |
| Studio, 80% | $1,696 | $1,746 |
| 1 bedroom, 60% | $1,362 | $1,818 |
| 1 bedroom, 70% | $1,589 | $1,818 |
| 1 bedroom, 80% | $1,817 | $1,818 |
| 2 bedrooms, 60% | $1,635 | $2,133 |
| 2 bedrooms, 70% | $1,907 | $2,133 |
| 2 bedrooms, 80% | $2,180 | $2,133 |
| 3 bedrooms, 60% | $1,889 | $2,682 |
| 3 bedrooms, 80% | $2,519 | $2,682 |
What it means: every cap but one is under DHA's standard for the same size. The 80% one-bedroom cap is $1 under it, and the 80% two-bedroom cap is $47 over it.
Source: TDHCA Income and Rent Tool; DHA's Housing Choice Voucher payment standards effective January 1, 2026. Both columns include utilities.
- Market apartments are out of reach at the standard. The cheapest listed market one-bedroom, $2,125, is $307 over the one-bedroom standard before utilities.
- Your income still has a ceiling. A voucher does not lift the limit for the apartment's level.
- The 2027 figures are not out. DHA had not posted a 2027 schedule as of October 6, 2026.
For how the standard becomes your share of the rent, see how much Section 8 pays in Dallas and how the utility allowance works. DHA's contact details are on the DHA page; the wider rules are in the Dallas Section 8 guide.
How the Rents Compare With Typical Rents in ZIP Code 75207
The caps at 80% sit close to what HUD estimates an ordinary apartment costs in ZIP code 75207, and the building's own market apartments cost more than both.
View the data table
| Apartment | State maximum at 80% | HUD fair market rent | Lowest market rent listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,696 | $1,750 | $1,895 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,817 | $1,820 | $2,125 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,180 | $2,140 | $2,525 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,519 | $2,690 | $3,754 |
What it means: an 80% apartment at its cap costs about what HUD says is typical for the area. The saving is against this building's own market rents, which start $199 to $1,235 above the 80% caps.
Source: TDHCA Income and Rent Tool; HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents for fiscal year 2027, in effect since October 1, 2026, HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile rent in the ZIP code; the building's floor plan data of October 6, 2026. The first two columns include utilities and the third does not.
- Where the larger savings are: the 60% caps are $458 to $801 under HUD's figure, and the 30% caps are $1,114 to $1,746 under it.
- HUD's figure dropped. The one-bedroom figure for this ZIP code was $2,020 for fiscal year 2026 and is $1,820 for 2027.
- Rent data: Section 8 rent limits for 75207, voucher apartments in 75207 and the 2026 limits for Texas counties.
Selection Rules, Building Features and Transit
The City's agreement sets how applicants are chosen: it requires the developer to follow the tenant selection section of the Dallas fair housing code.
- Voucher holders firstselection policies must "prioritize holders of housing vouchers" for the reserved apartments.
- Then by datetenants are chosen "from a written waiting list in the chronological order of their application, insofar as is practicable".
- A reason in writinga rejected applicant gets "prompt written notification" of the grounds.
- Not foundany preference for local residents, veterans or other groups.
What it means: at this building, the date you apply can matter.
Source: resolution 23-1370, which requires compliance with section 20A-28 of the Dallas City Code; the quotations are from the City's own copy of Chapter 20A, dated December 2023.
- In the buildingpool with the hotel's three original sunshades, fitness room with a yoga space, coworking room, conference room, lounges, outdoor grill, package lockers and a parking garage.
- In the apartmentsa full-size washer and dryer, stainless-steel appliances and quartz countertops. Balconies, kitchen islands, two-level plans and walk-in closets are in select apartments.
- Petsa dog wash and a gated outdoor dog run. Fees and limits are not posted.
- Listed as availabletenant storage and a private media room, with no price.
- Not postedparking charges, the application fee and deposits.
Source: the leasing site's amenities and residences pages, October 6, 2026.
DART's Victory Station is about 0.3 miles away in a straight line; the building fronts a freeway, so the walk is longer.
| Stop or station | Service | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental at Dragon | Bus routes 106 and 128 | about 0.1 miles |
| Riverfront at Continental | Bus route 230 | about 0.2 miles |
| Victory Station | Green and Orange lines, TRE | about 0.3 miles |
| West End Station | Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines | about 0.6 miles |
| EBJ Union Station | Red and Blue lines, TRE | about 0.7 miles |
What it means: all four DART rail lines and the Trinity Railway Express are within about three quarters of a mile.
Source: DART's schedule data of October 4, 2026; straight-line distances calculated by VoucherMatch, so the walk is longer.
How to Apply at Cabana Design District
You apply to the leasing office, which checks your income against the limit for the apartment; there is no lottery and no City or state application.
- 1Call or write945-222-4090 or cabanadesigndistrict@rpmliving.com. Say you are asking about attainable housing and give your household size and income.
- 2Ask what is openwhich income levels and sizes are available, the rent for each, and which utilities you would pay.
- 3Visitthe office at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
- 4Apply for every adultthe building asks for a "Completed application for every household member 18 years of age and older". The online application is linked from "Apply Now" on its site.
- 5If you have a vouchersay so at the start and bring DHA's paperwork for a new apartment.
- 6If nothing is openask to be put on the written waiting list and note the date.
- When you applythe fee can only be the screening company's actual cost, plus up to $5.50.
- If no apartment is openthe owner must keep a written waitlist policy and may not charge a deposit or fee, other than an application fee, to put you on the list.
- If you are turned downwithin seven days the owner must give you written notice of the specific reason.
- People per apartmenta limit must allow at least two people per bedroom plus one more.
What it means: the building has not posted its fee or waitlist policy, but the state limits both.
Source: Texas Administrative Code, title 10, sections 10.622 and 10.802.
- Application. one for every household member 18 or older
- Pay stubs. four in a row, for every job
- Other income. benefit letters, tax return and bank statements, since the building says more documents may be required "depending on each person's individual income and assets"
- Photo ID. for every adult
- Voucher. your voucher and DHA's forms, if you have one
Source: the building's attainable housing page for the first three; photo ID and voucher paperwork are VoucherMatch's additions.
Watch outthe "6-Weeks Free" offer says "Restrictions may apply". Ask whether it covers income-restricted apartments before you count on it.
What Is Known and What Is Not Yet Published
City and state records settle how many apartments are restricted and what rules the owner must follow; the building has not published the rents.
- Known70 income-restricted apartments of 175, for households at 30% to 80% of area median income; the 2026 income limits and rent caps; and that the building may not discriminate against voucher holders.
- Not publishedthe rent of any income-restricted apartment, and how many are open.
- Not publishedhow the 70 apartments divide among the four income levels and the four sizes.
- Not publishedwhich utilities the tenant pays, the application fee, deposits, and parking and pet charges.
If You Need an Apartment Sooner
Income-restricted apartments here depend on what is open the week you ask, so keep other options moving.
- Voucher in hand: browse Section 8 apartments in Dallas, or by size: studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms.
- Nearby: the Design District and Downtown Dallas.
- Income-based buildings where you apply directly: see low-income apartments in Dallas.
- No voucher yet: check which Section 8 waiting lists are open.
- Other tax-credit buildings: TDHCA's Vacancy Clearinghouse lists state-funded properties with a phone number for each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cabana Design District take Section 8?
It cannot refuse you for having a voucher. Its City agreement bars discrimination against voucher holders, and Texas law says the same of tax-credit buildings. DHA's 2026 payment standard for ZIP code 75207 is $1,818 for a one-bedroom.
How much is rent for an affordable apartment at Cabana Design District?
The building has not published it. The state's 2026 caps, utilities included, run from $636 for a studio at 30% to $2,519 for a three-bedroom at 80%. At 60% the cap is $1,362 for a one-bedroom.
How much can you earn and still qualify?
In 2026, one person can earn up to $25,440 for a 30% apartment, $50,880 for a 60% apartment and $67,840 for an 80% apartment. For four people the limits are $36,330, $72,660 and $96,880.
Is there a lottery or a waiting list?
There is no lottery. You apply at the leasing office, 945-222-4090. The City's agreement requires a written waiting list in order of application, with voucher holders prioritized.
Is Cabana Design District the old Cabana Hotel?
Yes. It is the former Cabana Motor Hotel at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207, built in 1962, where the Beatles stayed in 1964. It was later a Dallas County jail and stood vacant from 2013.
Are the income-restricted rents below market?
Against this building's market apartments, yes: the cheapest listed market one-bedroom is $2,125, and the 80% cap is $1,817 with utilities. Against HUD's figure for ZIP code 75207, the 80% caps are about the same and the 60% caps are $458 to $801 lower.
How many apartments at Cabana Design District are affordable?
Seventy of 175, according to TDHCA's May 2026 feature. The City's 2023 agreement required at least 64 of 160, or 40%, and the building opened larger.
Sources for this article (14)
- attainable housing page (cabanadesigndistrict.com)
- floor plans (cabanadesigndistrict.com)
- file 23-2506 (cityofdallas.legistar.com)
- feature on the building (tdhca.texas.gov)
- tax-credit property inventory (tdhca.texas.gov)
- Income and Rent Tool (hrc-ic.tdhca.state.tx.us)
- 2026 payment standards (dhantx.com)
- Texas Government Code section 2306.269 (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
- announcement of May 14, 2026 (businesswire.com)
- CandysDirt, October 30, 2024 (candysdirt.com)
- Small Area Fair Market Rents (huduser.gov)
- 10.622 (law.cornell.edu)
- 10.802 (law.cornell.edu)
- Vacancy Clearinghouse (hrc-ic.tdhca.state.tx.us)
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