Hudson Henley, District 1 Council member Chad West, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Maxie Johnson and Sam Susser (left to right). Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The vacant City Inn & Suites motel will be demolished for redevelopment near Halperin Park.
The 26-acre property seeks to address the needs of the community by providing parking and a future mixed-use community that could incorporate retail, multifamily housing, and other uses. City leaders, Henley Capital and Susser Bank gathered Thursday, Aug. 13, to celebrate the demolition.
“This park is beautiful. It’s been a great asset for the community,” said Hudson Henley, founder and CEO of Henley Capital. “If you come out here on the weekend, it’s just covered with people, and they need somewhere to park. So we’re gonna help with that solution.”
Sam Susser, the chairman and CEO of the bank, said that the project was not a normal request, but once put in perspective, “it made all the sense in the world” to support.
“It’s about people, and it’s about community,” Susser said. “And honest to gosh, this is a fantastic opportunity to join Henley Capital, join city leadership, join with April and her team (at Halperin Park), and just do a little part to help make something great and lasting happen here.”
District 1 Council member Chad West and Deputy Pro Tem Mayor Maxie Johnson, who represents District 4, both represent the surrounding area of Halperin Park. West said that there is a renewed focus on the southern side of Dallas.
“Having a visionary like Hudson bring together and do the hard work on the ground to assemble the property is really a game changer,” West said.
Johnson echoed the importance of the opportunity for the community.
“We should continue to work together and show that synergy is real, collaboration is real and when you want to grow the city, you grow each other,” Johnson said.
