Thirty21 in South Dallas: 47 Income-Restricted Apartments Approved at 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Rents Expected From $1,050
Quick answerAs of October 7, 2026, Thirty21 is approved and not yet built, and it is not taking applications. On June 24, 2026 the Dallas City Council approved the 86-apartment building for the former Save A Lot site at 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in South Dallas. Eleven apartments are for households at or under 60% of the area median income and 36 at or under 80%; 39 rent at market rates. The City's file expects rents from $1,050 for an efficiency at 60%. The developer has said construction would start in late 2026 and finish in 2028.
Last checked: October 7, 2026, against Dallas City Council file 26-1693A with its resolution 26-1036, the City's May 26, 2026 memo, the Dallas Public Facility Corporation's list of upcoming properties, Dallas Free Press, DHA's 2026 payment standards, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rents and Texas Local Government Code chapter 303. No leasing office exists yet; the developer will set what is offered.
- 86apartments in the building the Council approved
- 47income-restricted apartments, 11 at 60% of area median income and 36 at 80%
- $1,050the lowest rent the City's file expects, for an efficiency at 60%
- $50,880 and $67,840the most one person can earn in 2026 at the 60% and 80% levels
- About 750 feetfrom the address to DART's MLK Jr. station, in a straight line
- Not publishedan application, a leasing phone number or an opening date
What Thirty21 Is and Who Is Building It
Thirty21 is a planned 86-apartment building on the site of a closed Save A Lot grocery store, on land the Dallas Public Facility Corporation will own and lease to the developer for 75 years.
- Developer in the City's file: Phoenician Development Group, LLC, which the file says bought the property in 2023.
- Developer in the press: Dallas Free Press interviewed Scottie Smith II, chief executive of Shekinah Legacy Holdings, about the project; Dallas Weekly names Courtney Hemsley as his partner.
- Owner of the land: the Dallas Public Facility Corporation, a City-created body. Its ownership exempts the property from property tax, and the income limits are the condition.
- Height: five stories, according to Dallas Free Press. The City's file does not give a height.
- Size of the site: 0.91 acres at the northeast corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Meadow Street.
- Cost: about $20 million; $20,006,387 in the City's file.
- 2023the developer buys the property, with the grocery store on it, according to the City's file.
- April 28, 2026the Dallas Public Facility Corporation's board authorizes a term sheet with the developer.
- May 6, 2026Dallas Weekly publishes the plans and the developer's renderings.
- June 24, 2026the City Council approves the corporation's ownership and the 75-year lease (resolution 26-1036).
- Late 2026construction start, in the developer's statements: the fourth quarter in Dallas Weekly, the third or fourth in Dallas Free Press.
- 2028completion, in Dallas Weekly.
What it means: the first move-in is about two years away if the schedule holds. No record read for this guide shows that construction has started.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A; Dallas Weekly, May 6, 2026; Dallas Free Press, June 18, 2026.
Where 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Is
The site is on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Meadow Street in South Dallas, in ZIP code 75215 and City Council District 7.
| What | For 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard |
|---|---|
| Area | South Dallas, on the MLK corridor near Fair Park |
| Corner | northeast corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Meadow Street |
| ZIP code | 75215 |
| City Council district | 7 |
| Census tract | 203, with a poverty rate of 22.5% in the City's file |
| Special district | Grand Park South Tax Increment Financing District |
| On the site now | "a vacant Save A Lot grocery store" |
What it means: DHA sets voucher amounts by ZIP code, and 75215 is the number to use here.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A and the May 26, 2026 memo; U.S. Census geocoder for the tract.
Watch outthe Council file calls the store vacant, and the resolution attached to it describes "an improved property that is currently occupied". Neither says who occupies it. The developer must secure the site within 60 days of closing.
How Many Apartments Are Income-Restricted, and at What Levels
The Council's resolution counts 47 income-restricted apartments, 11 at 60% of the area median income and 36 at 80%, and 39 at market rent.
View the data table
| Size | At 60% | At 80% | Market rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 4 | 13 | 14 |
| 1 bedroom | 3 | 10 | 11 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 | 10 | 11 |
| 3 bedrooms | 1 | 3 | 3 |
What it means: 31 of the 86 apartments are efficiencies, and only seven of the 11 apartments at 60% have a bedroom.
Source: unit table in Dallas City Council file 26-1693A, June 24, 2026.
- A different count in the press: Dallas Free Press reported "9 of those affordable units" at 60% and 34 at 80%. The Council's resolution, adopted six days later, says 11 and 36.
- What state law requires: the City's file says a Public Facility Corporation building must reserve at least 10% of its apartments at 60% and at least 40% at 80%. Eleven and 36 of 86 are 13% and 42%.
- How long the limits last: the lease runs 75 years. The file states no separate term; state law sets a floor of 10 years.
What the Apartments Are Expected to Rent For
No rent has been advertised. The City's file lists "anticipated" rents from $1,050 for an efficiency at 60% to $2,308 for a three-bedroom at 80%.
| Size | At 60% | At 80% | Market rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,050 | $1,450 | $1,450 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,231 | $1,671 | $1,861 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,471 | $2,000 | $2,378 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,698 | $2,308 | $2,571 |
What it means: an efficiency at 80% is expected to rent for the same $1,450 as a market efficiency. The 80% discount appears only in the larger sizes, $190 to $378 under the market apartment.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A, June 24, 2026; the May 26 memo has the same figures.
- Anticipated, not offered: these are the figures the City used to weigh the deal. The file does not say whether they include utilities.
- A different starting figure in the press: Dallas Free Press reported that "Apartments will start at $1,400 a month". The City's table starts at $1,050.
- At 60%: the expected rents are $400 to $907 under the market apartment of the same size.
| Level | Efficiency | 1 bed | 2 beds | 3 beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60% | $1,272 | $1,362 | $1,635 | $1,889 |
| 80% | $1,696 | $1,817 | $2,180 | $2,519 |
What it means: every expected rent is under its cap, by $131 to $222 at 60% and by $146 to $246 at 80%. The limits change each year, and the building would open under later ones.
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Income and Rent Tool for Dallas County, run October 6, 2026, effective May 1, 2026.
Who Qualifies: 2026 Income Limits
For an income-restricted apartment, your household's gross yearly income would have to be at or under the limit for its level and your household size.
| Household | 60% | 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 |
| 5 people | $78,480 | $104,640 |
What it means: one person earning $55,000 is over the 60% limit and under the 80% limit, so the 80% apartments are the ones to ask about.
Source: TDHCA Income and Rent Tool, Dallas County, effective May 1, 2026.
- The City's file uses older figures: "approximately $49,320.00 to $65,700.00 for an individual" for 60% to 80%, against $50,880 and $67,840 in TDHCA's 2026 tool.
- How income is counted: state law requires the federal definition of annual income, 24 CFR 5.609, for these apartments.
- A floor is not published: no minimum income, credit standard or document list exists yet.
Will Thirty21 Take Section 8 Vouchers?
State law bars the operator of a Public Facility Corporation building from turning a renter away for holding a voucher; it does not say the voucher will cover the rent.
- The rule: Texas Local Government Code section 303.0425(e), in force since June 18, 2023, says the operator "may not: (1) refuse to rent a residential unit to an individual or family because the individual or family participates in the housing choice voucher program".
- The income test: it also bars a standard that requires a voucher household "to have a monthly income of more than 250 percent of the individual's or family's share of the total monthly rent payable for a unit".
- You can owe the gap: subsection (f) lets the operator require a voucher household "to pay the difference between the monthly rent for the applicable unit and the amount of the monthly voucher".
- Outreach: subsection (h) requires the operator to "affirmatively market available residential units directly to" voucher households.
- Not published: anything from the developer about vouchers.
View the data table
| Apartment | Expected rent at 60% | Expected rent at 80% | DHA payment standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,050 | $1,450 | $1,134 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,231 | $1,671 | $1,179 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,471 | $2,000 | $1,386 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,698 | $2,308 | $1,746 |
What it means: at 60%, the efficiency and the three-bedroom are $84 and $48 under DHA's standard, and the one- and two-bedrooms are $52 and $85 over it. Every 80% rent is $316 to $614 over.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A; DHA's Housing Choice Voucher payment standards effective January 1, 2026. The standard includes utilities; the file does not say whether its rents do.
- 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's payment standards page still opened the 2026 schedule on October 7, 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 Expected Rents Compare With Typical Rents in ZIP Code 75215
Eight of the 86 apartments have an expected rent below what HUD estimates an ordinary apartment costs in ZIP code 75215, and the 80% apartments are expected to rent $240 to $530 above it.
View the data table
| Apartment | Expected rent at 60% | Expected rent at 80% | HUD fair market rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,050 | $1,450 | $1,210 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,231 | $1,671 | $1,250 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,471 | $2,000 | $1,470 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,698 | $2,308 | $1,850 |
What it means: in this ZIP code the 80% level limits who can rent, and the expected rent is above the area's typical one.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A; 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, utilities included.
- Which eight are below it: the four efficiencies, three one-bedrooms and one three-bedroom at 60%. The three two-bedrooms at 60% are $1 above.
- The City measures it differently. Its file compares the restricted rents with the market rents the developer projects, and estimates "$26,157,776.00 in rent savings directly to residents" over 60 years.
- Rent data: Section 8 rent limits for 75215, voucher apartments in 75215 and the 2026 limits for Texas counties.
Set-Asides, Planned Features and Transit
The file reserves apartments by income only; it names no group with a preference.
- 11 apartmentsfor households at or under 60% of area median income.
- 36 apartmentsat or under 80%.
- 39 apartmentsmarket rent, with no income limit.
- Not foundany preference for South Dallas residents, veterans or other groups.
- In the City's file"a fitness center, business and technology center, community park space".
- In the developer's renderingsa brick building with balconies and ground-floor storefronts, an interior courtyard and a covered rooftop terrace.
- Not postedfloor plans, apartment sizes, parking, pet rules, fees and which utilities the tenant pays.
Source: Dallas City Council file 26-1693A; renderings credited to Shekinah Legacy Holdings by Dallas Weekly.
A DART rail station and a transit center are each within about 800 feet of the address.
| Stop or station | Service | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|---|
| MLK at Meadow | Bus route 104 | under 0.1 miles |
| MLK Jr. station | DART Green and Orange lines | about 750 feet |
| J.B. Jackson Jr. Transit Center | Bus routes 13, 23, 104 and 216 | about 800 feet |
| Malcolm X at MLK | Bus route 1 | about 0.25 miles |
| Fair Park station | DART light rail | about 0.7 miles |
What it means: two rail lines and five bus routes are within a quarter mile of the address.
Source: DART's schedule data of October 4, 2026; straight-line distances calculated by VoucherMatch from the address as placed by Esri's geocoder, so they are approximate.
How to Apply at Thirty21
There is nothing to apply to yet: no leasing site, phone number, application or waiting list has been published.
- 1Find your levelcompare your household's gross income with the 2026 table above.
- 2Watch the corporation's listthe Dallas Public Facility Corporation's upcoming properties page did not list Thirty21 on October 7, 2026.
- 3Ask the corporationits contact page is the one public channel tied to the building today. Ask whether an interest list exists.
- 4Ask by level and sizehow many apartments at your level are in each size, the rent of each and which utilities you would pay.
- 5If you have a vouchersay so at the start. State law bars the operator from refusing you for it.
- 6Keep another search goingcompletion is planned for 2028.
- Photo ID. for every adult
- Proof of income. recent pay stubs, benefit letters and your latest tax return
- Household list. everyone who will live in the apartment, since the limit depends on household size
- Your numbers. the income limit for your household and the expected rents in this article
- Voucher. your voucher and DHA's forms, if you have one
What it means: the developer has not published the documents it will require, so ask for its list when an application opens.
Source: VoucherMatch's list.
What Is Known and What Is Not Yet Published
City records settle the count, the income levels and the ownership; no construction start or leasing date is on record.
- Known86 apartments; 11 at 60% and 36 at 80% of area median income; 39 at market rent; the rents the City expects.
- Not publishedwhether construction has started, the leasing start and the application.
- Sources disagreethe restricted count, 11 and 36 in the Council's resolution against 9 and 34 in Dallas Free Press.
- Sources disagreethe lowest rent, $1,050 in the City's table against "$1,400 a month" in Dallas Free Press.
- Sources disagreethe developer's name, Phoenician Development Group in the City's file and Shekinah Legacy Holdings in the press.
If You Need an Apartment Sooner
Thirty21 will not house anyone before 2028 on the developer's schedule, so a household that needs to move sooner should search elsewhere now.
- Voucher in hand: browse Section 8 apartments in Dallas, or by size: one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms.
- Nearby: South Dallas and Fair Park.
- 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
Is Thirty21 open?
No. As of October 7, 2026 it is an approved plan for 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215. The developer has said construction would start in late 2026 and finish in 2028.
How many affordable apartments will Thirty21 have?
The City Council's resolution counts 47 of 86: 11 for households at or under 60% of the area median income and 36 at or under 80%. The other 39 rent at market rates.
How much will rent be at Thirty21?
The City's June 2026 file expects $1,050 to $1,698 at the 60% level and $1,450 to $2,308 at the 80% level, depending on size. No rent has been advertised.
How much can you earn and still qualify?
In 2026, one person can earn up to $50,880 for a 60% apartment and $67,840 for an 80% apartment. For four people the limits are $72,660 and $96,880.
Will Thirty21 take Section 8?
State law bars the operator of a Public Facility Corporation building from refusing a renter for holding a voucher. DHA's 2026 payment standard for ZIP code 75215 is $1,179 for a one-bedroom, $52 under the expected 60% rent.
How do I apply for Thirty21?
There is no application yet. Dallas has no citywide lottery; buildings take applications at their own leasing offices, and this one has not opened a leasing site or phone line.
What was at 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard before?
A Save A Lot grocery store. The City's file describes it as vacant, and the building planned for the site is new construction.
Sources for this article (8)
- file 26-1693A (cityofdallas.legistar.com)
- May 26, 2026 memo (cityofdallas.legistar.com)
- list of upcoming properties (dallaspfc.com)
- Dallas Free Press (dallasfreepress.com)
- 2026 payment standards (dhantx.com)
- Small Area Fair Market Rents (huduser.gov)
- Texas Local Government Code chapter 303 (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
- contact page (dallaspfc.com)
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Every rule, date and dollar amount in this article is checked against the agency document it comes from, and the sources are listed above. How VoucherMatch articles are researched and corrected
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