Preservationists Win First Steps to Saving Oak Cliff United Methodist Church

Saving historic buildings like the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church requires a head for business, a depth of experience, and a tenacity to persevere in the face of great adversity. But what it requires, more than anything, is heart. 

You must have a heart for preservation because, to put it plainly, it’s hard. Fortunately, Dallas has a handful of dedicated preservationists who see potential and opportunity in some of the city’s most distressed properties. One of those visionaries is A.J. Ramler and his team at Proxy Properties, whose recent restoration and revival of the Madison Hotel in Oak Cliff is a perfect example of what is possible. Now, they are on the path to bringing new life to the neglected and fire-damaged Oak Cliff United Methodist Church.  

The City of Dallas just made it a bit easier for Proxy Properties to transform one of our most historic properties from literal ashes into a plan that will benefit the entire community. The City approved their application to change the zoning from Regional Retail to Mixed Use with Historic District Overlay for the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church, located at Jefferson and Marsalis.

This zoning change will allow for a mix of residential and commercial use, a crucial step in the growth and development of this area of North Oak Cliff. It’s a promising sign for the future of the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church and the entire community.

The Oak Cliff United Methodist Church was built in 1915 in the Classical Revival style by Sanguinet and Staats, who also designed the 1903 Wilson Building. It was the first church in Oak Cliff and has already been designated a city and state historical landmark. 

“Former Preservation Dallas Executive Director David Preziosi and Landmark Commissioner Diane Sherman brought this particular property to my attention. They were concerned that it would fall into such a state of disrepair that it would be demolished. Finding an owner who wants to preserve it and adaptively reuse it is a win for the whole district. It’s a labor of love. I’m thankful Proxy Properties figured out a way to preserve it.”

Councilman Chad West

Although the first hurdle has been passed, this process could still take some time. Proxy is working with Architexas, a firm with a stellar reputation for restoring historic Texas courthouses. Their expertise in preservation and adaptive reuse makes them the perfect partner for this project.

Architexas Principal Mike Karnowski is working on the next steps, which begin with a presentation to the City of Dallas’ Economic Development’s Tax Increment Financing program (TIF).  

The City’s tax increment financing (TIF) program identifies under-performing real estate in the City, develops redevelopment plans, works with private developers to implement these plans, and reinvests a portion of property tax revenues generated from new real estate development into the area to encourage the implementation of the redevelopment plan.

City of Dallas

“We are also working to get the property on the National Register of Historic Places,” Karnowski said. “Once the property is on the federal registry, that designation allows the developer to recover tax credits for construction costs.”

“This is like planting a seed,” preservation consultant Jim Anderson said. “It’s a great beginning to a revitalization effort in North Oak Cliff. ” 

Like any seed, the process of coming to fruition takes patience and perseverance. We wish Ramler and Proxy Properties the best of luck and are eager to see what unfolds in North Oak Cliff in the next couple of years.