News

HP DEVELOPER FACING MORE SEX CRIME ACCUSATIONS

Lawsuit, California charges follow Hutchinson’s Dallas County arrest

William Hutchinson was arrested on July 6. (PHOTO: HIGHLAND PARK DEPARTMENT

OF PUBLIC SAFETY)

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

Highland Park developer William Hutchinson faces sex-crime charges in Dallas County and California and a lawsuit in Dallas County detailing additional allegations.

Authorities in Highland Park arrested Hutchinson, 63, the founder of commercial real estate firm Dunhill Partners, which developed Virgin Hotels Dallas, July 6 after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at his Highland Park home.

The Dallas County arrest warrant for Hutchinson was signed on June 29, and Hutchinson was released from jail on a $30,000 bond.

Orange County, California, authorities filed one felony count of rape of an unconscious person and five misdemeanor counts of sexual battery against him on July 9. Hutchinson pleaded not guilty to the California charges during a court appearance on July 13. He’s due back in court in California on Oct. 22 for a pretrial hearing.

In his arrest affidavit from Highland Park, authorities say they spoke with another minor who alleged similar behavior by Hutchinson at his home in Laguna Beach, California.

Dan Hagood, an attorney representing Hutchinson in the criminal cases, told the Dallas Morning News that his client “absolutely denies the charges that have been leveled against him.”

Also, on July 9, a lawsuit filed against him in Dallas County detailed additional allegations.

In the lawsuit filed in Dallas County, a university student alleges she began conversing with Hutchinson on social media. She asked him for career advice and forwarded him her resume at his request.

In June 2020, Hutchinson arranged to meet the student in Dallas, gave her alcoholic drinks without confirming whether she was of legal drinking age, then took her to an apartment where he attempted to “force himself onto her,” according to the lawsuit.

“Hutchinson assaulted our client while she was intoxicated, although she clearly rejected Hutchinson’s advances both in messages and in person,” attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegel said.

Dunhill Partners and Virgin Hotels Dallas are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Hutchinson told the Dallas Morning News that he was “stepping aside” from his professional roles, including at Virgin Hotels Dallas and W Hotel, amid the allegations against him.

“Virgin Hotels takes any allegations of this type extremely seriously,” Virgin Hotels Dallas told People Newspapers. “Mr. Hutchinson is one of several investors in Virgin Hotels Dallas and has now agreed to step away from his role in the hotel ownership group. He will no longer be involved in any capacity with Virgin Hotels Dallas.”

The company declined to comment further, citing the active investigation.

People Newspapers also reached out to Hutchinson and Dunhill Partners for comment, but we had not heard back by press time.

FOLLOW THE CASE

Visit peoplenewspapers.com for continuing coverage.

Plan Would Level Peggy Sue, Lane Florist, Logos Sites

Snider Plaza would add three-story building, two levels of underground parking

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

The existing structures at 6600-6606 Snider Plaza — including where Peggy Sue BBQ used to be, Lane Florist is, and where Aman Jewelry, Logos Bookstore, and a tailor used to be before moving to new locations in the plaza — would come down to make way for a new three-story building if developer Jim Strode’s plan wins city council approval.

The existing structures there were built in 1941 and 1947. Longtime Snider Plaza tenants Lane Florist is moving near Nekter Juice Bar around Sept. 1, and Logos Bookstore is moving near Gemma Collection by the end of July. Arman Jewelry moved near The Toy Store, and the tailor moved near Food From Galilee.

The proposed building would house retail, restaurant, and office space. The plan also calls for a two-level underground parking garage with 48 spaces accessed from Daniel Avenue.

The plan unanimously passed the University Park planning and zoning commission on July 13 but still needs city council approval.

“As you know, I’m partners across the street in that office building. We live and breathe what we think this market is every day,” Strode said during the commission meeting. “We know there is additional need for some more office space, retail, and restaurant, and this is what we’ve come up with.”

Julie Broad, who owns JD’s Chippery in the plaza, said she’s not necessarily opposed to the building but remains concerned about traffic flow.

She also wants the new building to be compatible with the existing Park Plaza project and the infrastructure and streetscape plan in the works for Snider Plaza, “so we don’t tear up the streets three and four times.”

“I’d like to just request to you that you have a traffic study done before you approve this building,” Broad said. “I have an open mind to the building because, like I said, somebody’s going to build one sometime, and he (Strode) did a great job with the other one.”

Utility construction work is already underway around Snider Plaza. Workers will replace water and wastewater lines in the alleys to the east and west of Snider Plaza and install new alley pavement between Westminster Avenue to the north and Daniel Avenue to the south.

The city council awarded a nearly $6.1

The University Park Planning and Zoning Commission supports a site plan from Jim Strode for

6600-6606 Snider Plaza. (RENDERINGS: OMNIPLAN, STRODE PROPERTY COMPANY)

million contract to SYB Construction Co. for utility work in March, and construction began in May.

The utility construction work is part of the city’s more extensive Snider Plaza plans, including new paving, landscaping, and additional beautification work.

Not all nearby property owners are on board with the plan for the new building, though.

“I am not for this building at all. I think it’s going to ruin what Snider Plaza has been for years,” Jane Rejebian, who owns the building that houses For Heaven Sake, said. “It’s always been small shops and not big buildings.”

The best of Dallas real estate is at daveperrymiller.com

2300wolfph20ab.daveperrymiller.com

Stoneleigh Residences Penthouse 20AB

3 BEDROOMS | 3.3 BATHS | 2 OFFICES | 7,517 SQ. FT. | $6,975,000

Sharon S. Quist

214.695.9595 sharonquist@daveperrymilller.com

4011turtlecreek.daveperrymiller.com

4011 Turtle Creek Boulevard

5 BEDROOMS | 5.3 BATHS | 7,238 SQ. FT. | $3,995,000

Sally Jillson

214.236.6515 sallyjillson@daveperrymiller.com

SOLD, Represented Buyer

3901 Turtle Creek Boulevard

3 BEDROOMS | 4.2 BATHS | 6,261 SQ. FT. | LISTED FOR $3,795,000

Marti Voorheis

214.870.6864 marti@daveperrymiller.com

4045glenwick.daveperrymiller.com

4045 Glenwick Lane

3 BEDROOMS | 3.1 BATHS | 4,040 SQ. FT. | $3,325,000

Shannon Morse

917.449.6471 shannonmorse@daveperrymiller.com

SOLD, Represented Buyer

5807 Elderwood Drive

5 BEDROOMS | 4.2 BATHS | 6,321 SQ. FT. | LISTED FOR $1,950,000

Pryor + Zelley Group

469.387.0272 stephen@daveperrymiller.com 214.668.0503 carolann@daveperrymiller.com

SOLD, Represented Buyer

3413 Bryn Mawr Drive

5 BEDROOMS | 6.2 BATHS | 7,019 SQ. FT. | LISTED FOR $3,195,000

Stacy Baucum

203.829.9052 stacybaucum@daveperrymiller.com

6467orchid.daveperrymiller.com

6467 Orchid Lane

5 BEDROOMS | 5.2 BATHS | 6,390 SQ. FT. | $2,250,000

Karen Fry

214.288.1391 kfry@daveperrymiller.com

SOLD, Represented Seller

5038 Airline Road

4 BEDROOMS | 3.1 BATHS | 3,247 SQ. FT. | LISTED FOR $1,425,000

Pryor + Zelley Group

469.387.0272 stephen@daveperrymiller.com 214.668.0503 carolann@daveperrymiller.com

7524masondells.daveperrymiller.com

7524 Mason Dells Drive

4 BEDROOMS | 5 BATHS | 3,687 SQ. FT. | $895,000

Lori Kircher

214.789.4060 lori@daveperrymiller.com