Downtown Dallas, Inc. Endorses City Hall Relocation Ahead of Critical Vote
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The stage is being set to move City Hall functions from 1500 Marilla St. and potentially offload the site, with a city council vote teed up next week on Wednesday. And now, the push for relocation has a new ally: Downtown Dallas, Inc.
On Friday, DDI president and CEO Jennifer Scripps announced that the organization’s board decided to endorse the Dallas City Council Finance Committee’s recommendation to pursue relocation and redevelopment options.
“We believe Dallas City Hall is no longer serving its intended purpose,” Scripps said, speaking at the nonprofit’s annual meeting and luncheon. “The important functions that happen and must continue to be evolved and innovative within our city government are inefficient and truly stymied in that space. And with the potential to cost taxpayers well over $1 billion for the next 20 years for necessary renovations, we believe that our mayor and our city council members will be acting as responsible stewards of our tax dollars by approving a relocation.”
The roughly $1 billion figure stems from a property condition assessment commissioned by the city. Necessary repairs were pegged at $329 million. Getting the building move-in ready was projected to cost $165-264 million. Staff assumed City Hall would be completely vacated for five years (opting not to model a phased rehabilitation), adding $113-185 million in lease expenses for a temporary relocation. Throw in $299-360 million for borrowing costs, and you get in the billion-dollar ballpark. Staff said they did not think seeking a second opinion on the facility was necessary.
Preservationists and industry professionals are calling foul on facts and process, with some claiming officials are inflating cost estimates and exaggerating the facility’s deficiencies to clear the way for a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, who are interested in the site for a new arena and need to make a decision relatively soon on where to build. Some council members are skeptical as well.
“Selling and relocating City Hall is a monumental decision that will impact Dallas for generations. This decision should not be rushed or influenced by limited information,” Council Member Paula Blackmon (District 9) said in a post on Facebook. “City Hall is the people’s building, and the public deserves a complete, honest assessment of all available options before any final action is taken. As such, I do not believe that we as a Council have the adequate information to move forward on any decision at this time.”
Council Member Paul Ridley (District 14) issued similar remarks in a statement on Friday, saying next week’s vote “reflects what I believe has been a rushed and externally pressured process from the very beginning.”
“Let me be clear, when we move this quickly on an issue this significant, without a clear understanding of the facts and motives, it erodes public trust. Unfortunately, the process surrounding Dallas City Hall has done that,” he said.
Residents in the Save City Hall camp are mobilizing to attend the special called meeting this coming Wednesday, which was called for by Mayor Eric Johnson in response to the resolution recommended unanimously by the Finance Committee earlier this week. At the meeting, council members will consider whether to direct City Manager Kimberly Tolbert to move emergency operations and 911 and 311 dispatch out of 1500 Marilla St. “as quickly as possible” and explore relocation and redevelopment options.
A spokesperson from the mayor’s office cited the “as quickly as possible” language of the Finance Committee’s resolution as the reason for Wednesday’s special called meeting, noting that the next regular city council agenda meeting isn’t scheduled until March 25 because of spring recess.
CandysDirt.com reached out to Council Members Chad West (District 1) and Kathy Stewart (District 10), chair and vice chair of the Finance Committee, respectively, for comment regarding the language of the resolution but did not receive a response by publication. This article will be updated if we hear back.
The prospect of selling off City Hall has proven unthinkable for those who believe the iconic Brutalist structure designed by I.M. Pei is an architectural treasure that’s structurally sound and an important part of Dallas history. Meanwhile, a number of developers and former officials have been making the hard sell across local media, arguing that the potential to both secure the Dallas Mavericks and jumpstart downtown revitalization is better than spending $1 billion to fix 1500 Marilla St.
Scripps said DDI has a long history as a champion of historic preservation, but that a “bold and economically healthy vision” for the area was necessary to leverage critical investments like the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment and other projects and infrastructure upgrades in the southern part of downtown.
“We can’t do it with one building here and one little project there, but a potential redevelopment of this critical site into a truly mixed-use district that integrates all of the other loci of investment will make the difference and help us breathe life into the long-dormant southern side of downtown and finally re-stitch downtown to southern Dallas,” she said. “This will further grow our residential population and bring activity to re-energize downtown for years to come.”
That vision of an integrated, live-work-play central business district is shared by preservationists, they just don’t see that at odds with saving City Hall.
Wednesday’s city council meeting will be preceded by an Economic Development Committee briefing on Monday, which will focus on gauging market interest in 1500 Marilla St. and devising an open call for concepts and ideas for how to leverage the property.
