DALLAS - After the controversial Convention Center hotel deal, the Dallas City Council is now involved with another one regarding two motels.

However, this plan looks like it will improve a southern Dallas neighborhood while helping open up development near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The neighborhood zoning fight that closed the crime-infested Southern Comfort motel and Sunset Motel on Lancaster Road may mean a new day for the area.

“It's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together," said Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway. "Now we are beginning to see that we got a pretty good looking puzzle here.”

Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved an $850,000 loan to the Urban League next door and a non-profit corporation to buy and demolish the motels and redevelop the site. They plan to build an office building and a job training center.

The VA Medical Center across the street already expressed interest in the office space.

Unlike the convention center hotel, the debate over the deal with these motels went much smoother. The appraised value is close to the purchase price.

However, council member Mitchell Rasansky questioned why the city didn't just buy the land.

“Why is it that we don't do this ourself and then put it out and get it out in the real estate community that this is available?” she said.

The council decided a deal attracting private developers is better.

With the DART rail line, the plan is to develop something like Mockingbird Station, which is sorely lacking along the Lancaster Road line.

“They need to have somewhere to shop," Caraway said. "They need to have somewhere to eat, and there is a need for businesses, thriving businesses in this area.”

If the new buildings are up in two years, the city will forgive the loan.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com