A historic North Texas hotel once known for welcoming rock royalty—and later prisoners—is beginning a new chapter as affordable housing.
The Cabana Motor Hotel, at 899 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, opened in 1963 and became a popular stop for touring musicians, including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. Two decades later, the landmark took an unlikely turn, serving as a jail for more than 20 years.
Dallas-based Sycamore Development, in partnership with Citi Bank, Hunt Capital Partners and Affordable Housing Partners, converted the 10-story landmark into a 175-unit apartment community known as the Cabana Design District, with 40 percent of the apartments rent-restricted…