Dallas City Hall Assessment Sets Up Showdown Over Building’s Fate

The next couple of weeks could be pivotal to the fate of Dallas City Hall, with council members poised to be on the receiving end of dueling pressure campaigns as they decide whether it is worth paying to restore the iconic Brutalist edifice designed by the renowned I.M. Pei.

On Friday, the city released the much-anticipated property condition assessment report it commissioned last fall. Sure enough, the report pegged major repair costs at $329.4 million — more or less lining up with what staff have been claiming the past few months. However, that only covers bringing major building systems and infrastructure deficiencies up to snuff.

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“The estimate does not include modernization, space redesign, technology upgrades, temporary relocation costs, or other enhancements beyond the corrective repair scope identified in the assessment,” the report reads.

Additionally, all that was conducted for the assessment was a “walk-through survey of the facility” consisting of “non-intrusive observations of readily accessible spaces, components, and systems.” Pretty standard, but that means there could be significant additional costs related to critical systems. And the extent of asbestos removal and abatement remains unknown.

Full costs to taxpayers could range from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion across 20 years, assuming the project is financed without hiking property taxes and fees. That includes relocating and leasing temporary space, interior renovations, and borrowing costs, according to a staff presentation that the Finance Committee will be briefed on Monday (February 23).

The week after that, the Economic Development Committee will hold a special meeting (March 2) where members of the public will be allowed to weigh in. Then, the full city council will get a public briefing (March 4).

It’s another rapid-fire set of meetings, which is sure to add to the existing suspicion that the city is working on an undisclosed timeline and there’s already a predetermined outcome. Some of those who oppose decommissioning City Hall and selling it off have claimed officials are exaggerating repair costs to offload the property to the Dallas Mavericks for a new arena.

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Unsurprisingly, the report spurred further accusations of backroom deals as well as insinuations that staff colluded with the various firms and engineers who conducted the property assessment. Companies involved in the assessment include AECOM, Corgan, CBRE, Schmidt & Stacy, and Urban Structure, among others.

Now, everyone’s an expert. I really don’t mean that in a derogatory way, but there has been an outpouring of social media activity, with plenty of folks claiming there’s no way it would cost that much to restore the building. A $200 million figure is floating around. We’ll find out what some uninterested experts say in the coming days.

Perhaps more importantly, though, it appears that the public trust is once again at stake in Dallas — not just a piece of valuable real estate. It’s not so much that the I.M. Pei-designed building is beloved by a vocal segment of the community (even though it is), but rather a purported lack of transparency and the seeming rush to reach a decision has left detractors crying foul.

Some council members have been more outspoken than others about how they are leaning. At previous meetings, Council Members Paula Blackmon (District 9), Bill Roth (District 11), Cara Mendelsohn (District 12), and Paul Ridley (District 14) have signaled deep skepticism about the estimates given by staff. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Johnson and Council Member Chad West (District 1) have suggested on multiple occasions that they would be in favor of selling.

In fact, Johnson got the whole ball rolling last year when he created the Finance Committee and charged it with determining “whether Dallas City Hall and other municipal facilities effectively support City operations and best serve the citizens of Dallas.” He appointed West as the committee’s chair.

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Others, like Council Member Jesse Moreno (District 2), have been a little more cautious in their remarks. But all the talk about the importance of revitalizing downtown does leave one to wonder. No one is against giving the central business district a jumpstart, but in this context, it’s hard to ignore.

More recently, Council Member Maxie Johnson (District 4) wrote an op-ed published by The Dallas Morning News arguing for keeping the Mavericks downtown. Make of that what you will.

For his part, Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7) responded to the assessment report’s release on Facebook:

“I have not gotten to dive in fully, but from what I see, it’s b******t. Looks like an attempt to frame the worst case scenario, to entice council to vote for giving some billionaires a land grab. This is insulting to our taxpayers!!”

Maybe it’ll be a closer decision than anticipated. When that decision will be actioned remains unclear.