Knox-Henderson residents recently packed a local church to demand accountability from the real estate developer behind a luxury housing project that neighbors claim has upended their community.

Around 25 local residents gathered at The Chapel of the Cross church on June 22 to voice grievances regarding the ongoing construction at 4423 Cole Ave. The site, managed by Kairoi Residential, is slated to become Knox Villas—a high-end community featuring 12 custom, multimillion-dollar homes priced from $4.5 million. However, neighbors say the prolonged development timeline and poor site maintenance have severely impacted their quality of life.

John Paul Kosub, a development manager for Kairoi Residential, attended the meeting to face the frustrated crowd.

“I appreciate the turnout, even though I knew I was coming here to catch some heat,” Kosub noted, acknowledging the community’s dedication to the neighborhood.

Delays, Debris, and Code Violations

The custom homes are replacing Somerset II, a former condominium complex. Kairoi acquired the property in July 2025, spending several months on asbestos abatement and demolition before launching utility work in October 2025.

Kosub explained that the current standstill is due to the project awaiting a certificate of acceptance from the city of Dallas, which is required to release the final building permits. Once permits are secured, each individual home is expected to take 10 to 12 months to construct. Currently, three properties are under contract, with plans underway for a model home and a speculative build.

While the developer waits on paperwork, residents say the physical site has been poorly managed. Neighbors who had never met prior to the gathering quickly found common ground over shared disruptions, including:

• After-hours labor: Contractors operating outside of Dallas’ legally permitted construction hours.
• Excessive litter: Trash and construction debris left scattered across the property.
• Runoff issues: Mud and sediment washing onto neighboring properties, exacerbated by recent heavy rainstorms.

Kosub conceded that a subcontractor had violated city work-hour ordinances and confirmed the worker had been reprimanded. He promised that Kairoi would implement regular street sweeping and stricter site maintenance moving forward.

Unauthorized Utility Use and Financial Restitution

The complaints extended beyond noise and clutter. One resident alleged that construction crews had been surreptitiously tapping into neighboring water and power supplies to mix concrete. Kosub stated he had reviewed data regarding spikes in residents’ utility bills and pledged that Kairoi would financially compensate affected homeowners.

Soren Lindstrom, a resident at the meeting, expressed frustration over the project’s appearance, noting it harms both the neighborhood and the developer’s bottom line.

“I don’t understand how you expect to sell a $5 million home with the site looking the way it does,” Lindstrom said. “It’s no surprise only three have sold, because it has looked like a total dump for a year. Other developers in this area have been much more considerate.”

Seeking a Better Partnership

The relationship between Kairoi and the neighborhood has a complex history. Meeting organizer Shelley Potter noted that residents previously organized to oppose Kairoi’s initial plan to build a high-rise on the land. The community was highly supportive when the developer pivoted to a lower-density, single-family layout, but the reality of the construction phase has tested their patience. Potter emphasized that the meeting was designed to establish solutions rather than pure opposition.

Kairoi also owns an adjacent lot on Travis Street, though Kosub indicated that the firm has not yet finalized development plans for that specific parcel.

Moving forward, Kosub maintained that the feedback session was invaluable and committed to ensuring Kairoi acts as a more responsible neighbor as the Knox Villas project advances.