Mavericks Say It’s Too Early to Submit City Hall Redevelopment Concept
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More than 400 responses poured into Dallas City Hall as part of the city’s open call for redevelopment concepts released on Thursday, but the Dallas Mavericks stopped short of submitting a detailed proposal of their own, saying they don’t have enough clarity to put something to paper.
The NBA franchise has been eyeing a site for a new arena with a sports and entertainment district comprising 50 acres. Amenities would include a hotel, retail, restaurants, office space, a secondary venue, and a training facility for the team.
City officials have been in talks with the Mavericks about what it would take to keep them playing within the city limits after their lease at American Airlines Center runs out in 2031. Team CEO Rick Welts previously said their preference would be downtown — versus a North Dallas site at the former Valley View Mall — but a potential deal has yet to take shape since there isn’t a contiguous 50 acres available to build on.
“We appreciate the level of engagement the City continues to show and look forward to furthering our discussions to see if downtown could be the home for this project,” reads the team’s submission, which was apparently submitted by Theo Hodges, chief venue officer for the Mavericks. “Because those discussions have not reached the level of detail required to support a responsible and credible submission, it is premature to submit a draft concept at this time.”
“Our focus remains unchanged: continuing to work collaboratively with the City of Dallas to identify the best long-term solution in Dallas for the Mavericks, the City and its residents,” the team added.
A total of 418 responses were submitted to the city’s open call for concepts, which was meant to gather “preliminary perspectives from the market and the community regarding potential adaptive reuse of the existing building as well as redevelopment opportunities for the broader City Hall site and adjacent acreage,” according to City Manager Kimberly Tolbert.
Respondents were asked to clearly communicate their concept, with the city noting that detailed engineering or financial models are not necessary at present. While a number of respondents submitted substantive proposals with images and high-level conceptual plans, the vast majority of submissions were brief responses either registering support or opposition to repairing City Hall.
The overwhelming majority of respondents signaled support for the I.M. Pei-designed structure, with 321 responses filed under the proposal category “Repair/restore the existing building.” Some called for preserving the historic property but converting or expanding its use to include commercial and residential components. Others pitched a sweeping transformation of the area while keeping the building and finding room for a new Mavericks arena.
Only 85 responses were filed under the proposal category “Demolish the existing building and reimagine the site.” A number directly advocated for replacing the seat of government with a Mavericks arena. Others still floated entirely different visions for an entertainment district.
About a dozen responses didn’t have a category selected. There were also multiple duplicate submissions in that some individual proposals spanned multiple responses, but those were few and far between.
We’ll take a look at some of the more fleshed out proposals in the coming days, but for now, here are some select responses that give a sense of where people who took the time to give their two cents are coming from.
Save City Hall Answers the Open Call
“Keep the landmark. It’s been in movies, it was created by a great artist. Its a beautiful location. Our guests are interested by it. People gather here when necessary. It could be a place of community if it was invested in the same way the at&t district is AS IS.”
“Someone PLEASE use your brain and common sense and SAVE CITY HALL. Why tear down something as historical as this building when it could be saved. Why take away a gathering place for the people of Dallas in a perfect area of downtown. Why not respect the opinion of a majority of people in Dallas and leave there building alone. Greed and corruption are the ruler of many in our government. For once DO THE RIGHT THING AND LEAVE CITY HALL ALONE. I’ve lived here all my life and it’s a disgrace to see so many horrific decisions made by those in power. The people should have a say in this. KEEP CITY HALL.”
“Given its historical and architectural significance, I believe it is important to save city hall. Infusing life in that area does not mean erecting another arena (Victory Park, for example, is not buzzing with people outside of game days). What city hall needs is more green space like klyde Warren. Klyde Warren and its surrounding area is consistently crowded because people crave open space, trees, and community.”
“Develop a 10-year plan to repair/restore City Hall, limited to essential repairs plus those that pass a cost-benefit analysis. Fund this plan from the General Fund and from the next bond issue. Apply the same approach to all other city buildings; end the practice of routinely deferring maintenance, budgeting an amount for building maintenance each year that conforms to industry best practices.”
Keep Calm and Just Move On
“The city should redevelop the site and build a new city hall. The land belongs to the city and should NOT be used for anything other than city hall, a plaza or park for gathering, and other city amenities.”
“Let the Mavs take the City Hall site and completely remake it to their liking. If the City loses AT&T, the Mavs and the Stars, this will really end any goals of downtown Dallas becoming a livable downtown. It would be a major loss. Cities have a responsibility to generate livable space and revenue for their citizens and the upkeep of their city. I hate to be blunt, but a City Hall building does neither. Dallas will continue to have city employees housed whether we have the IM Pei building or not. Let’s not make another massive mistake the same way we did with Jerry Jones/Fair Park/Cowboys. Dallas deserves better for its citizens. Make our downtown be on par with other great downtowns in the US. An old, remodeled City Hall building provides no value to the city. It’s just something to look at, is all I understand the argument to be for keeping it.”
“The best of both worlds…preserve a portion of the building and incorporate it into a new arena for the Mavericks…..similar to Petco Park or Camden Yards. I am not a designer or architect, but I have this vision of the sloped side of City Hall remaining and incorporated as a part of a new arena. Tear down 75%, while preserving the most notable part of the design and modernizing the area.”
“Would love for this to become a sports and events area with restaurants living etc. This would bring energy and life back to down town. We need a spark and this is our moment to do that. As a city we can’t let this slip us by. If we do down town will continue to dwindle into a place no one wants to go. Let’s make an impact that will benefit the city for years to come.”
