The Finch in Oak Cliff: 76 Income-Restricted Apartments at 1710 Morrell Avenue, With Studios From $999 and Vouchers Welcome
Quick answerAs of October 7, 2026, The Finch at 1710 Morrell Avenue in Dallas's Oak Cliff is leasing. The City's 2023 approval reserves at least 76 of its 153 apartments for households under 60% or 80% of the area median income. Its site lists studios at $999 and $1,014 a month, one-bedrooms from $1,261 and two-bedrooms from $1,832, before utilities. There is no lottery: you apply in person at the leasing office, 844-908-4080. Every page of the building's site says "Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) Welcome".
Last checked: October 7, 2026, against the building's leasing site, its floor plans page, its Essential Housing Program page and its page on all-inclusive rent, Dallas City Council file 23-1449 and its resolution 23-0728, the Dallas Public Facility Corporation's record and list of leasing properties, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Income and Rent Tool, DHA's 2026 payment standards, and HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rents. The leasing office sets what is available and at what rent; confirm there before you apply.
- 76apartments, at least, reserved by income in the City's 2023 resolution, out of 153
- $999the lowest studio rent on the site on October 7, 2026
- $1,080DHA's 2026 payment standard for a studio in ZIP code 75203
- 2.5 times the rentthe monthly income the building requires of every household
- 0.35 milesstraight-line distance to DART's Morrell Station
- 844-908-4080the leasing office
What The Finch Is and Who Built It
The Finch is a 153-apartment garden-style complex at 1710 Morrell Avenue, owned by the Dallas Public Facility Corporation, a City-created body, and leased to its developer, which exempts it from property tax in exchange for income-restricted apartments.
- Names and addresses: it leases as The Finch, 1710 Morrell Avenue, Dallas, TX 75203. The City Council approved it as The Elms. A committee agenda for the same project lists 1710, 1714, 1718 and 1802 Morrell Avenue and 833 Hutchins Road.
- Developer: 1710 Morrell Avenue, LLC, owned by Smart Living Residential, which the City's file calls "a Texas-based real estate development and construction company".
- Owner of the land and buildings: the Dallas Public Facility Corporation, under a 75-year lease.
- Size: 20 studios, 109 one-bedrooms and 24 two-bedrooms, with surface parking.
- Next door: the Cedar Crest Community Center, which residents may use free of charge according to the leasing site.
- Cost: $24,523,617 in the City's 2023 file.
- May 22, 2023a City Council committee is briefed on the project by memorandum.
- May 24, 2023the City Council approves the corporation's ownership and the 75-year lease, as amended (resolution 23-0728).
- June 18, 2023the state's new rules for Public Facility Corporation buildings take effect, 25 days after this approval.
- November 2024the corporation's website holds photographs of the finished buildings in a folder dated that month.
- July 9, 2026the corporation's record for the building is last updated.
- October 7, 2026the floor plans page shows rents for four of its eight plans.
What it means: the buildings were standing by late 2024. No source read gives an opening date.
Source: Dallas City Council file 23-1449; Texas Local Government Code section 303.0425; the Dallas Public Facility Corporation's record and the dates on its image files; the leasing site.
Where 1710 Morrell Avenue Is
The complex is on Morrell Avenue in Oak Cliff, beside the Cedar Crest Community Center, in ZIP code 75203 and City Council District 4.
| What | For 1710 Morrell Avenue |
|---|---|
| Area | Oak Cliff, the leasing site's term; next to the Cedar Crest Community Center |
| ZIP code | 75203 |
| City Council district | 4 |
| Nearest bus | Routes 215 and 217 on Corinth at Morrell, about 0.1 miles |
| Nearest rail | Morrell Station, Blue Line, about 0.35 miles |
| The City's measure | "walking distance (.3 miles) to the Morrell Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Rail Station" |
What it means: DHA sets voucher amounts by ZIP code, so 75203 decides what a voucher pays here.
Source: City Council file 23-1449 for the district and the quotation; U.S. Census geocoder for the city and ZIP code; DART schedule data for the stops.
How Many Apartments Are Income-Restricted, and at What Level
The City Council's resolution reserves at least 61 apartments for households under 80% of the area median income and 15 for households under 60%. The records do not agree on the totals.
View the data table
| Size | At 60% of median income | At 80% of median income | Market rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| 1 bedroom | 10 | 44 | 55 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 | 9 | 12 |
What it means: four in five restricted apartments are at 80%, and only three two-bedrooms are at 60%.
Source: unit table in Dallas City Council file 23-1449, May 24, 2023, which adds up to 15 apartments at 60%, 61 at 80% and 77 at market rent.
- Three counts: the file's table gives 15, 61 and 77. The resolution says 15, "at least 61" and 76 market, which is one short of 153. The corporation's list of leasing properties says "63 Units at 60% AMI" and "15 Units at 80% AMI".
- Which to trust: the resolution is the approval, and it puts the 15 at the lower level. Ask the office how many apartments it holds at each level.
- The building's name for them: the Essential Housing Program, "for households earning below 80% of the area median income".
What the Apartments Rent For in October 2026
On October 7, 2026 the site showed rents for four floor plans, from $999 for a studio to $2,069 for a two-bedroom, and it says program households pay "the same all-inclusive pricing" as everyone else.
| Plan | Size | Rent shown |
|---|---|---|
| S2, studio | 384 sq ft | $999 |
| S1, studio | 418 sq ft | $1,014 |
| A1.1, 1 bed, 1 bath | 644 sq ft | $1,261 to $1,319 |
| A1.2, A2 and A1.3, 1 bed | 642 to 656 sq ft | "Contact Us" |
| B1, 2 beds, 1 bath | 924 sq ft | "Contact Us" |
| B2, 2 beds, 2 baths | 924 sq ft | $1,832 to $2,069 |
What it means: the site lists one price per plan and does not show a separate price for income-restricted apartments.
Source: the building's floor plans page, read October 7, 2026, where every plan is tagged "All-Inclusive, No Fees".
- No monthly extras"NO monthly pet rent. NO monthly package locker fee. NO recurring technology fee. NO monthly fee for trash pickup. NO fee to park your car."
- Utilities are not includedthe site says electricity, water and internet are billed separately because use varies by household.
- Same for everyoneprogram households get "the same high-quality, well-designed apartment, at the same all-inclusive pricing".
| Size | Listed, October 2026 | 2026 maximum at 60% | 2026 maximum at 80% | Planned at 60% in 2023 | Planned at 80% in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $999 and $1,014 | $1,272 | $1,696 | $1,023 | $1,363 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,261 to $1,319 | $1,362 | $1,817 | $1,096 | $1,461 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,832 to $2,069 | $1,635 | $2,180 | $1,315 | $1,753 |
What it means: the listed studio and one-bedroom rents are under the 60% maximum before utilities. The listed two-bedroom rents are over the 60% maximum and under the 80% maximum.
Source: the floor plans page; TDHCA Income and Rent Tool, Dallas County, effective May 1, 2026 (maximums include utilities); Dallas City Council file 23-1449, which also planned market rents of $1,450, $1,700 and $2,400.
- Under the 2023 plan: the $999 studio is $24 under the 60% rent planned in 2023, and every listed rent is under the market rent the City's file expected.
- Two-bedrooms at 60%: the three planned at 60% cannot rent for more than $1,635 with utilities under the 2026 table. Ask for that rent; it is not on the site.
Watch out"all-inclusive" does not mean utilities. Ask for an estimate of electricity and water for the apartment before you compare this rent with one that includes them.
Who Qualifies: Income Limits and the 2.5-Times Rule
Two tests apply: household income under the program's ceiling, and monthly income of at least 2.5 times the rent.
| Household | At 60% | At 80% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $50,880 | $67,840 |
| 2 people | $58,140 | $77,520 |
| 3 people | $65,400 | $87,200 |
| 4 people | $72,660 | $96,880 |
What it means: bonuses, second jobs and freelance income count, in the site's words.
Source: TDHCA Income and Rent Tool, Dallas County, effective May 1, 2026. The building's site does not print its limits; it says eligible households "have total income from all sources that do not exceed limits based on household size".
| Apartment | Listed rent | Monthly income needed | Yearly income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $999 | $2,497.50 | $29,970 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,261 | $3,152.50 | $37,830 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,832 | $4,580 | $54,960 |
What it means: one person renting the $999 studio needs at least $29,970 a year and, for the program, no more than $67,840.
Source: the Essential Housing Program page: "all households must meet our minimum income requirement, which is 2.5 times the monthly rent." Arithmetic by VoucherMatch.
- Confidential: the site says participation in the program "is strictly confidential".
- Rental history: "If applicable, provide two years of resident or rental verification."
Does The Finch Take Section 8 Vouchers?
Yes, by its own statement: every page of the building's site ends with "Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) Welcome", in English and Spanish.
- The building's statement"Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) Welcome".
- The owner's requirementthe Dallas Public Facility Corporation says its partners must "Ensure there is no source of income discrimination at the property".
- State lawsince June 18, 2023 Texas has barred Public Facility Corporation buildings approved under its new rules from refusing voucher holders. The City approved this project 25 days earlier, so the building's own statement is what a renter can point to.
- Ask about the income testthe site applies 2.5 times the monthly rent to "all households". Ask whether a voucher holder is measured against the full rent or only the tenant's share.
- Ask DHAwhether the rent fits your voucher at this address, before you sign.
View the data table
| Apartment | Lowest listed rent | Highest listed rent | DHA payment standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $999 | $1,014 | $1,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,261 | $1,319 | $1,125 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,832 | $2,069 | $1,314 |
What it means: the studios are $66 and $81 under the standard before utilities. The one-bedrooms are $136 to $194 over it and the two-bedrooms $518 to $755 over.
Source: the building's floor plans page, October 7, 2026; DHA's Housing Choice Voucher payment standards effective January 1, 2026. The standard includes utilities; the listed rents do not.
- With utilities added: DHA's all-electric allowance for a one-bedroom is $93, before water. That puts the $1,261 one-bedroom at $1,354, which is $229 over the standard.
- Over the standard is not a refusal: the household pays the difference, but at a first lease "the family share must not exceed 40 percent of the family's adjusted monthly income" (24 CFR 982.508).
- The studios are the voucher fit: they are the only listed apartments under DHA's standard, and there are 20 in the complex.
See how much Section 8 pays in Dallas, how the utility allowance works, the DHA page and the Dallas Section 8 guide.
How the Rents Compare With Typical Rents in ZIP Code 75203
The listed studios are under HUD's fair market rent for ZIP code 75203; the listed one- and two-bedrooms are over it.
View the data table
| Apartment | Lowest listed rent | Highest listed rent | HUD fair market rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $999 | $1,014 | $1,160 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,261 | $1,319 | $1,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,832 | $2,069 | $1,410 |
What it means: the studios are $146 and $161 under HUD's figure. The one-bedrooms are $61 to $119 over it and the two-bedrooms $422 to $659 over.
Source: the building's floor plans page, October 7, 2026; 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 with utilities.
- HUD's figure dropped. The one-bedroom figure for this ZIP code was $1,250 for fiscal year 2026 and is $1,200 for 2027.
- Why a restricted rent can top the area figure: the maximums are set from the Dallas-area median income, $121,100 in 2026, not from rents in the ZIP code.
- Rent data: Section 8 rent limits for 75203, voucher apartments in 75203 and the 2026 limits for Texas counties.
Preferences, Building Features and Transit
No source read names a preference for any group of applicants. The site says the program was designed "with essential workers in mind" and names fields from law enforcement to grocery work; the tests it publishes are income tests.
- In the complexa pool, a resident lounge with a kitchen, a fenced dog park, grills and back-porch seating, package lockers open at all hours and Wi-Fi in common areas.
- In the apartmentsa full-size stackable washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, stone kitchen countertops, wood-style flooring and smart door locks.
- Petstwo per apartment, all breeds and sizes, after a pet interview. There is no monthly pet rent; a one-time $400 fee is due at signing.
- Parkingno fee, according to the site.
- Extraelectricity, water and internet.
- Not postedthe application fee, the deposit and the lease terms.
Source: the leasing site's amenities page, pet policy and page on all-inclusive rent, October 7, 2026.
DART buses stop about a tenth of a mile away, and the Blue Line's Morrell Station is about a third of a mile off.
| Stop or station | Service | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|---|
| Corinth at Morrell | Bus routes 215 and 217 | about 0.1 miles |
| Morrell Station | Blue Line | about 0.35 miles |
| 8th and Corinth Station | Blue and Red lines | about 0.7 miles |
| Illinois Station | Blue Line | about 1.2 miles |
What it means: this is a rail location. The City's file names downtown, the VA Medical Center and UNT Dallas as Blue Line destinations.
Source: DART's schedule data of October 4, 2026; straight-line distances calculated by VoucherMatch, so the walk is longer.
How to Apply at The Finch
You apply in person at the leasing office; there is no lottery and no City application.
- 1Call or visit844-908-4080, or the office at 1710 Morrell Avenue, open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 2Ask three thingswhether the apartment is held at 60% or 80%, what utilities run for it, and the application fee and deposit.
- 3Apply in personthe site says to "Complete the in-person application for all household members aged 18 and older."
- 4Bring income documents"the necessary income verification documents, along with any additional paperwork that may be required based on each person's income and assets."
- 5Rental historytwo years of resident or rental verification, if it applies to you.
- 6If you have a vouchersay so at the start, and bring DHA's paperwork for a new apartment.
- Income ceilingthe office checks total household income against the limit for your household size.
- Income floorit checks monthly income against 2.5 times the rent.
- Lease signingthe $400 pet fee is due then, if you have a pet.
- Each monthrent, plus electricity, water and internet billed separately.
- Photo ID. for every adult
- Proof of income. pay stubs, and records of bonuses, second jobs, freelance work and investments
- Asset records. the site says paperwork may depend on "each person's income and assets"
- Rental history. two years of addresses and landlord contacts
- Household list. everyone who will live in the apartment
- Voucher. your voucher and DHA's forms, if you have one
What it means: the building has not published a full document list, so ask for one when you call.
Source: the building's Essential Housing Program page, October 7, 2026; the ID, household and voucher items are VoucherMatch's additions.
What Is Known and What Is Not Yet Published
City records settle that about half the building is reserved by income; the building does not publish its income limits or a separate rent for restricted apartments.
- Known153 apartments, at least 76 reserved by income; the rents listed today; the 2.5-times income rule; what the rent covers; the voucher statement.
- Not publishedthe building's own income limits, and whether a restricted apartment rents for less than the listed price.
- Not publishedthe application fee, deposit, lease terms, typical utility costs and the opening date.
- Sources disagree15 apartments at 60% and 61 at 80% in the City's resolution; 63 at 60% and 15 at 80% on the corporation's site.
- Sources disagree76 market apartments in the resolution and 77 in the file's table.
If You Need an Apartment Sooner
Most restricted apartments here are at 80% of median income and the one-bedrooms run over DHA's standard, so a household with a lower income or a voucher should keep other options moving.
- Voucher in hand: browse Section 8 apartments in Dallas, in Cedar Crest, or by size: studios and one-bedrooms.
- Lower rents, where you apply directly: see low-income apartments in Dallas.
- No voucher yet: check which Section 8 waiting lists are open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Finch take Section 8?
Yes, by its own statement. Every page of its site says "Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) Welcome". DHA's 2026 payment standard for ZIP code 75203 is $1,080 for a studio and $1,125 for a one-bedroom.
How much is rent at The Finch?
On October 7, 2026 the site listed studios at $999 and $1,014, one-bedrooms at $1,261 to $1,319 and two-bedrooms at $1,832 to $2,069 a month. Electricity, water and internet are extra.
How much do you have to earn for The Finch?
Monthly income of 2.5 times the rent: $29,970 a year for the $999 studio and $37,830 for a $1,261 one-bedroom. For the Essential Housing Program, one person may earn up to $67,840 in 2026.
Is there a lottery or a waiting list?
There is no lottery. You apply in person at the leasing office, 844-908-4080. The site does not mention a waiting list.
Is The Finch the same as The Elms?
Yes. The City Council approved the project in May 2023 as The Elms, at 1710 Morrell Avenue. It leases as The Finch, 1710 Morrell Avenue, Dallas, TX 75203.
What is the Essential Housing Program at The Finch?
It is the building's name for its income-restricted apartments, at least 76 of 153, for households under 80% of the area median income. The site says program households pay the same price as other residents.
Are the rents at The Finch below market?
The studios are: $146 and $161 under HUD's fair market rent of $1,160 for ZIP code 75203. The listed one-bedrooms are $61 to $119 over HUD's $1,200, before utilities.
Sources for this article (11)
- leasing site (thefinchapts.com)
- floor plans page (thefinchapts.com)
- Essential Housing Program page (thefinchapts.com)
- page on all-inclusive rent (thefinchapts.com)
- file 23-1449 (cityofdallas.legistar.com)
- record (dallaspfc.com)
- list of leasing properties (dallaspfc.com)
- Income and Rent Tool (hrc-ic.tdhca.state.tx.us)
- 2026 payment standards (dhantx.com)
- Small Area Fair Market Rents (huduser.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.508 (law.cornell.edu)
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