Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity looks to construct home on empty Richardson lot

Richardson plans to sell a vacant lot to nonprofit Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, which will construct a new affordable home on the site.

Riley Thomason, assistant to the city manager, presented plans for the city’s sale of the property, located at 604 Vernet St., to City Council on July 20.

The big picture

Richardson demolished the existing structure on the Northrich neighborhood site in August 2023 after over a decade of regular code enforcement action, Thomason said.

Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity identified an opportunity to develop a new home on the property as part of their work to improve access to stable and affordable housing for low-to-medium-income families.

This goal aligns with findings from Richardson’s 2025 housing needs assessment, Thomason said, which identified a need for more reasonably priced for-sale housing units that can accommodate families with children and multi-generational families.

The project will “hopefully set the stage for future reinvestment when opportunities like this arise,” City Manager Don Magner said.

A closer look

Following the city’s demolition of the site’s existing structure, a tax foreclosure judgment was entered in April 2024 after over 20 years of unpaid taxes and liens, Thomason said. Although the property was included in a public sheriff sale that August, it did not receive any bids as the outstanding costs exceeded the property’s value after demolition.

Since May 2025, the city has held the property in trust on behalf of the taxing entities. These include Dallas County, Richardson ISD, Parkland Hospital and Dallas College, which all have a legal interest in the property due to unpaid taxes.

After Dallas Habitat identified an opportunity to develop a home on the property, the city received community feedback on the sale in a May open house at the Richardson Senior Center.

What’s next

The city must first acquire the interests held by each taxing entity, which will agree to forgive all outstanding taxes. Thomason said Richardson will need to pay roughly $15,000 in court costs.

Dallas Habitat will pay Richardson $25,000 for the property, which will allow the city to recoup those court costs and a portion of the $60,000 demolition.

Council is set to approve a resolution on the sale of the property July 27, with plans to finalize the sale agreement and transfer the property to Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity this fall.

Thomason said Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity expects construction to take approximately four to six months.