What is this place?
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Hi there. We’re Proxy Properties — a development firm focused on adaptive reuse and historic preservation, with community and culture at the center of our work. We don’t tear anything down, and we don’t build anything new!
Founded in 2013 by AJ Ramler and Keith Aldis, Proxy has grown into a team of nine, all based in Oak Cliff. We are committed to creating thoughtful spaces where the community can gather, connect, and grow together.
We love this City and we love restoring old buildings!
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Our work is grounded in staying local. By living and working in Oak Cliff, we build authentic relationships with entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders who shape the neighborhood’s future. Through collaboration with neighbors, the City, and arts organizations, we create spaces and programming that strengthen the local economy and foster connection.
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We love working with local creatives, organizations, and businesses!
If you’re interested in hosting an event at East Dock, please reach out to haley@proxypropertymgmt.com to see what parts of the property are available for activation!
Originally built in 1915, East Dock is a historic 62,000 sq. ft. property with a fascinating past. Once serving as an ice factory, a book manufacturing site, and even a producer of airplane parts, it has been a cornerstone of industry over the decades. After sitting vacant for over seven years, Proxy stepped in with a vision: to restore this remarkable building into a vibrant hub for a diverse range of industries.
We want to create environments where businesses and communities can thrive.
The Location
Located just steps from the Dallas Zoo, DART Zoo Station, Tenth Street Historic District, and the future Southern Gateway Park, this site is perfect for a mix of uses that enhance these vibrant assets and serve local neighborhoods. AJ Ramler and the Proxy Properties team see great potential in East Oak Cliff, having successfully renovated the nearby Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, now known as Oak Cliff Assembly. This former church, built in 1942, has been transformed into an arts and theater space with offices and co-working studios, fostering community engagement and collaboration.
The History
EAST DOCK is a unique adaptive use project being developed in East Oak Cliff by Proxy Properties, LLC. The property is located at 900 E. Clarendon, within the original farming community of Hord’s Ridge, settled in the early 1800’s along Cedar Creek. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad was chartered in 1873, adjacent to the east side of the property, and the location has been used as an industrial site since the 1890’s. A 42’ tall, 3,330 SF concrete ice vault was built in the early 1900’s, and Oak Cliff Ice & Cold Storage Co. occupied the site and operated an ice factory with artesian water. Refrigeration eliminated the need for ice storage. Guiberson Corporation purchased the property and added metal warehouse buildings for their aircraft engine and parts factory, leaving the current remaining 62,000 SF footprint as outlined on the 1951 Sanborn map. DART developed the light rail system along the railway route in the mid-1990’s, and the Red Line now passes behind the site.
The Timeline
Design development plans have passed an energy efficiency audit, and the project is on track for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. The project team made a presentation to the City of Dallas Urban Design Peer Review Panel in April and will be seeking funding to assist with public spaces, infrastructure, and site amenities. Annilee Waterman 3d modeled and rendered the visuals, creating the ice vault murals with assistance from AI. Since the buildings have an interesting history, Jay Firsching is preparing applications for State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit. The first phase of construction should begin later this year and the redevelopment promises to contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of District 4 in the southern section of Dallas.
OUR MISSION
