Preservation, possible redevelopment, on tap for Belmont Hotel

A long-abandoned hotel in West Dallas could be gearing up for a new chapter as its owners push for historic status to help it revive and modernize the beloved property.

The Belmont Hotel, designed by renowned architect Charles Dilbeck, is pursuing historic landmark status from the City of Dallas to preserve its architecture and cultural significance, Dallas Morning News reported. While it could receive protections from future demolition, language the ownership has used regarding updating the property’s “entitlements,” indicates some type of redevelopment could also be in the works.

The 64-room hotel, at 901 Fort Worth Avenue, has faced numerous challenges over the years, including closure during the pandemic and significant damage from a 2021 winter storm. The ownership has requested a historic overlay as a crucial step in bringing the Belmont back to full operation.

The Belmont opened in 1947 as the Belmont Motor Hotel but had become derelict decades later. In 2005, it was purchased and renovated by developer Monte Anderson of Options Real Estate. Anderson sold the hotel in 2015 to Behringer Lodging Group, a hospitality firm led by Matt Comfort and Jeff Burns.

Jordan Ford, a member of a prominent Texan banking family, was a key financial partner in that purchase, and the Behringer group later backed out. After acquiring full ownership in the property, the Ford family’s Diamond Belmont Properties began planning renovations. 

Diamond Belmont said it aims to update entitlements in the property, but it didn’t elaborate on what that means. It could entail more lenient zoning that will open it up to development of more hotel rooms or housing.

The owners previously tapped Dallas-based Todd Interests as a partner in the hotel’s restoration, but that deal fell apart.

The ownership has hired Jake Milner and Scott Lake of Davidson Bogel Real Estate to market the hotel to potential investment partners.

— Andrew Terrell

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