About Us

1964

Jim Lake Sr. constructed the first building.

1977

Jim Lake Sr. and Mike Morgan developed projects in Plano and the area formerly known as the Trinity Industrial District.

1985

Jim Lake Sr. and Mike Morgan, along with broker Jim Lake Jr., purchased boarded-up buildings and transformed them into what is now known as the Bishop Arts District.

1986-1992

Jim Lake Sr. partnered with Trammell Crow Sr. to fund and construct Pioneer Plaza in Downtown Dallas.

1990

Jim Lake Sr. began acquiring office and warehouse properties in what would later become the Dallas Design District.

2005

The redevelopment of a three-story office building marked the Design District's first residential property.

2006

Jim Lake Sr. redeveloped a 200,000 SF warehouse into a Design Center, now known as International at Turtle Creek.

2013-2014

Jim Lake Jr. acquired and redeveloped the historic block on Jefferson Blvd into a mixed-use property known as Jefferson Tower.

Jim Lake Jr. and Amanda Moreno-Lake purchased and began redeveloping historic buildings in the squares of Waxahachie and Ennis.

2016

Jim Lake Jr. was named one of Dallas' Top 500 CEOs by D Magazine.

2017

Jim Lake Jr. and Mike Morgan created and unveiled the Dallas Circle of Heroes memorial to honor and celebrate the lives of the five police officers who bravely lost their lives in July 2016.

Jefferson Tower received a 2017 Preservation Achievement Award from Preservation Dallas.

2019-2020

The construction of the Mayor's House was completed in 2019, and in 2020, it received the Preservation Achievement Award from Preservation Dallas.

2020

Amanda Moreno-Lake was named one of Dallas' Top 500 CEOs by D Magazine.

In 1964, after a successful sales career with IBM and as an acquiring agent for Trammell Crow, Jim Lake, Sr. founded Jim Lake Companies, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. His mission was to develop industrial buildings in key areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region, starting with his first speculative office/warehouse building at 521 J Place in Plano, Texas—a property that remains under the company’s ownership today.
In the 1970s, Jim Lake Companies expanded its development portfolio by adding speculative projects in Brownsville and diversifying into office, retail, and residential developments in Austin and San Antonio. Following the real estate slump of the early 1970s, the company refocused on a narrower market in Dallas’s old Trinity Industrial District, now known as the Dallas Design District.
During the 1980s, Jim Lake Companies continued its growth by constructing several additional buildings in the Dallas Design District and developing over 250,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in the Plano area. The company also increased its focus on incubator spaces in suburban DFW markets, building and leasing over eleven buildings in the Plano/Richardson area.
In 1964, after a successful sales career with IBM and as an acquiring agent for Trammell Crow, Jim Lake, Sr. founded Jim Lake Companies, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. His mission was to develop industrial buildings in key areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region, starting with his first speculative office/warehouse building at 521 J Place in Plano, Texas—a property that remains under the company’s ownership today.
In the 1970s, Jim Lake Companies expanded its development portfolio by adding speculative projects in Brownsville and diversifying into office, retail, and residential developments in Austin and San Antonio. Following the real estate slump of the early 1970s, the company refocused on a narrower market in Dallas’s old Trinity Industrial District, now known as the Dallas Design District.
During the 1980s, Jim Lake Companies continued its growth by constructing several additional buildings in the Dallas Design District and developing over 250,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in the Plano area. The company also increased its focus on incubator spaces in suburban DFW markets, building and leasing over eleven buildings in the Plano/Richardson area.
As opportunities for development in the Trinity Market area dwindled, Jim Lake Companies began purchasing, renovating, and leasing quasi-retail buildings in North Oak Cliff in 1983. The company played a pivotal role in establishing what is now known as the Bishop Arts District. Our long-term investment in the area is reflected in our continued stewardship of these historic buildings, which are home to over 30 unique shops and restaurants.
The vision behind Jim Lake Companies has always been to provide full-service property management and light maintenance for all owned properties. Jim Lake, Jr. joined the company in 1985, bringing a brokerage background and a passion for development. He began acquiring, renovating, and redeveloping properties in the Trinity Industrial District, strategically expanding the company’s portfolio with a wider range of offerings.
In the late 1980s, Jim Lake Companies concentrated on effective management, leasing, and property dispositions to navigate the longest real estate recession in history. The company emerged with a solid team of developers, brokers, and managers who had weathered the storm, positioning itself for future expansion. In 1991, a brokerage division was formed by Jim Lake, Jr., Mike Morgan, and Doug Molny, complemented by a staff of four brokers to enhance Jim Lake Companies’ services to external clients.
During the first decade of the 21st century, Jim Lake Companies developed expertise in Adaptive Urban Redevelopment, building on the ongoing success of the Bishop Arts District and advancing new visionary projects. In the Dallas Design District, Jim Lake, Jr. and Mike Morgan partnered with Alpha Barnes to redevelop Trinity Loft, the first mixed-use project in the District, which initiated a wave of redevelopment. Additionally, Jim Lake, Jr. converted an abandoned warehouse into the award-winning Design Center, known as International on Turtle Creek (IOTC).
In 2014, Jim Lake, Jr. and his wife Amanda Moreno-Lake—often referred to as the “Queen of Oak Cliff”—began collaborating to focus on properties south of Dallas, while continuing to expand their investments in Oak Cliff. To date, this visionary couple has acquired historic buildings in Waxahachie, Ennis, and Corsicana.

Dallas Design District

In the late 1980s, Jim Lake Companies concentrated on effective management, leasing, and property dispositions to navigate the longest real estate recession in history. The company emerged with a solid team of developers, brokers, and managers who had weathered the storm, positioning itself for future expansion. In 1991, a brokerage division was formed by Jim Lake, Jr., Mike Morgan, and Doug Molny, complemented by a staff of four brokers to enhance Jim Lake Companies’ services to external clients.

Dallas Design District

During the first decade of the 21st century, Jim Lake Companies developed expertise in Adaptive Urban Redevelopment, building on the ongoing success of the Bishop Arts District and advancing new visionary projects. In the Dallas Design District, Jim Lake, Jr. and Mike Morgan partnered with Alpha Barnes to redevelop Trinity Loft, the first mixed-use project in the District, which initiated a wave of redevelopment. Additionally, Jim Lake, Jr. converted an abandoned warehouse into the award-winning Design Center, known as International on Turtle Creek (IOTC).
In 2014, Jim Lake, Jr. and his wife Amanda Moreno-Lake—often referred to as the “Queen of Oak Cliff”—began collaborating to focus on properties south of Dallas, while continuing to expand their investments in Oak Cliff. To date, this visionary couple has acquired historic buildings in Waxahachie, Ennis, and Corsicana.
As with all compelling narratives, chapters conclude before new ones begin. Mike Morgan and Douglas Molny have retired after many years of partnership with Jim Lake, Sr. and Jim Lake, Jr. Though Jim Lake, Sr. is no longer with us, his legacy endures. Jim Lake, Jr. and Amanda Moreno-Lake now own, manage, and oversee all aspects of Jim Lake Companies, which has grown significantly over the years. Beyond managing and owning over 1.5 million square feet of real estate, Jim and Amanda have dedicated themselves to the City of Dallas, serving on numerous committees as board members or chairs, and are frequently featured in various publications as leading voices in commercial real estate in the DFW area.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Jim Lake, Jr.

CEO

jimlake@jimlakeco.com

A native of Dallas, Jim Lake, Jr. graduated from Baylor University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate. He began his career that same year as a Commercial Real Estate Broker and joined Jim Lake Companies in 1985, marking his entry into the real estate development sector.

After navigating the commercial real estate recession of the late 1980s, he co-founded Jim Lake, Inc. and Jim Lake Partners, LLC, focusing on the acquisition and redevelopment of existing buildings. This initiative built upon the company’s success in creating the Bishop Arts District in North Oak Cliff. As his acquisition portfolio expanded and the Dallas Design District evolved, Jim Lake Companies emerged as a leader in Adaptive Urban Redevelopment. Notable projects include Trinity Loft, the first residential and mixed-use development in the Design District; International on Turtle Creek, a 158,000-square-foot design center repurposed from a parts warehouse; and Jefferson Tower, which encompasses an entire city block of historic buildings completed in 2015. Additional projects include the Waxahachie Town Square redevelopment, as well as developments in Downtown Ennis and Cedar Hill.

Jim is a former Chairman of the Board of the Stemmons Corridor Business Association and was recognized as one of Dallas’ Top 500 CEOs by D Magazine in 2016. He has received multiple accolades, including the Business of the Year award from the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, a Preservation Achievement Award for Jefferson Tower in 2017, and the Mayor’s House award in 2020. He currently serves as Chairman of the Oak Cliff Commerce Board of Directors.

Amanda Moreno-Lake

PRESIDENT OF REDEVELOPMENT, PARTNER

amlake@jimlakeco.com

Amanda Moreno-Lake brings over twenty years of experience in the construction and real estate industries. As the President of Redevelopment at Jim Lake Companies, she plays a pivotal role in various investment partnerships. Notably, Amanda successfully completed the redevelopment of the downtown square in Waxahachie and is currently focusing on the Oak Cliff Tower, along with redevelopment projects in Ennis and Cedar Hill. She also owns Ocho, a Latin-inspired restaurant, and has previously operated a hair salon, a western-wear store, and a trucking company.

Beyond her business endeavors, Amanda is deeply engaged in community service and holds several prominent board positions. She has been a member of the DART Board of Directors since 2013, where she chairs the Planning Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Dallas Arboretum Board of Directors, is a Bishop Dunne Ambassador, and is the co-founder of Mammogram Poster Girls. Amanda has also held leadership roles as Chairwoman of the Board for both the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and the Fair Park Texas Foundation.

Recognized for her contributions and leadership, Amanda has been featured in D Magazine's Dallas 500 list of Most Influential Leaders for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, underscoring her impact in the industry and her commitment to the community.

OUR TEAM

Veronica Cross

OFFICE MANAGER | LEASING AGENT

Cameron Short

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Suzy Featherston

LEASING AGENT

Connor Leach

PROPERTY MANAGER

Brennan Folse

PROPERTY MANAGER | LEASING AGENT

Kevin Cross

PROPERTY MANAGER

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