The Davis Building

The 20-story Davis Building was Hamilton’s first venture in Dallas. Having seen the success of downtown Denver’s transformation, the Hamiltons were pleasantly surprised to find the availability of historic trophy buildings, albeit unoccupied and vacant, that had the potential for repurposing. The theory was that a national movement back to city centers had not yet reached Dallas, but was inevitable. At the time, downtown was a forlorn district with a mere 400 residents and little after-hours activity. But the elegant 1926 classic revival Davis Building, designed by Charles D. Hill and the original headquarters for Republic National Bank, was ready for a new lease on life. An adjoining 12-story parking garage was separately acquired. The combined properties were converted into a $41 million mixed-use complex of 183 loft apartments with 607 parking stalls and 50,000 SF of retail. The building was linked to the Dallas tunnel system, which Hamilton deemphasized by causing its management offices and other service uses to be located at the lower level while bringing the retail uses up to embrace and energize the street. This was a turning point for downtown’s revitalization and started Main Street’s ground level ascendance and the retail tunnel’s slow demise.