The fate of Dallas City Hall could hinge on fresh analysis expected this week.
Starting Monday, specialists will deliver reports evaluating the nearly 50-year-old building’s condition and repair costs that could determine whether the City Council orders Dallas’ government hub to stay put or move elsewhere.
No decision has been made on whether to preserve, sell or demolish the I.M. Pei-designed structure. But the City Council, seeking to shift the debate from rhetoric to receipts, turned to a city-affiliated nonprofit in December to independently assess the building.
What comes next could influence the pace and scale of possible redevelopment around it at 1500 Marilla St. and even whether the site could attract major sports investments downtown.
Political Points
“The city is evolving fast, and we deserve to review all options as it evolves,” said council member Zarin Gracey.
The Economic Development Corp. served as the project manager, coordinating engineers, infrastructure consultants and construction experts to analyze City Hall’s overall state and what it would take to fix it.
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Linda McMahon, the corporation’s CEO, said its role is limited to assembling information, not recommending whether the city should stay, relocate or redevelop the site.
“We are only there to present them with comprehensive information so they can make an informed decision,” she said of the council. “What happens with that decision is totally their responsibility.”
‘It could be 1,000 pages’
How much information was compiled remains unclear until the reports arrive.
“It could be 1,000 pages for all I know,” she said. “I don’t really have any idea how big these reports will be from the various professionals that have been involved, but I do feel that it’s been comprehensive.”
(From left) Shawn Todd, founder of Todd Interests, Linda McMahon, CEO of the Dallas Economic Development Corporation, District 14 council member Paul Ridley and Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert share a laugh as Jennifer Scripps, CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc., speaks during a Downtown Dallas Inc. press conference at the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. A group of officials, including those in the city, economic development and real estate, are sending a letter to Saks Global and other key parties to work on a solution to keep the store open.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Once in hand, she plans to review them with city staff and engineers to make sure key questions are answered. If gaps remain, she said, more data will be gathered.
As of Friday, McMahon said she did not know where the first review meeting would be held, how many groups would submit reports or which city officials would attend.
She said she did not expect City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert to attend the initial meeting but said Tolbert would review the materials before they go to the City Council. The EDC is expected to brief the council’s finance committee Feb. 23.
Costs vs. legacy
Council members voted in November to explore alternatives for City Hall. Long admired, it has become increasingly expensive to maintain. Years of deferred upkeep have pushed city repair estimates between $152 million and $345 million, including up to $145 million to upgrade its garage alone.
The estimates have split opinion, with relocation backers citing the heavy costs and preservation questioning how the numbers have surged from earlier projections.
For now, business interests are eyeing the prime downtown site for redevelopment while City Hall supporters see pressure to clear land for a possible arena tied to keeping the Dallas Mavericks.
Mayor Eric Johnson’s office did not respond to requests for comment Friday. He told KTVT-TV (Channel 11) in November the city cannot rule out leaving City Hall, saying it has “serious issues,” including recurring leaks and flooding that routinely make parts of it unusable.
“We can’t just take off the table the possibility of moving from City Hall because a famous architect designed the building,” Johnson said.
He said the decision comes down to whether it makes sense to invest heavily in repairs and maintenance – which he estimated at as much as $600 million over the next decade – or to move.
McMahon said the EDC’s 15-member board of directors will not review the reports before they are made public.
“The board will not see anything until the report has been made public,” she said, adding that likely would be just days before the committee meeting next month.
Looking for answers
Several City Council members said they are looking for clarity.
Council member Paul Ridley, who represents parts of downtown, said he expects the review to answer key questions, including whether the experts’ repair estimates match what city staff has projected.
Gracey, who worked in City Hall for almost 16 years in its economic development and related offices before being elected, said the aging building does not work well for residents, employees or others.
“If the estimates come back and show it makes sense for us to stay, then it is what it is,” he said. “But if it doesn’t, then that’s another conversation.”
Gracey said he is open to leasing or buying another downtown building, such as the soon-to-be-vacated AT&T tower, if it proves more affordable. He said costs should drive the decision.
Council member Paula Blackmon said she wants audit-level findings, with professionals prepared to stand behind their work.
She said the city’s recent troubled real estate record makes credible, defensible information essential before any decision is made.
“Otherwise, this is just Monopoly with fictitious numbers if nobody is willing to put their professional expertise and name and stamp on it,” she said.
Inside the City Hall review
Who’s overseeing it: Dallas Economic Development Corp., picked by the City Council.Engineering review: Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM is updating its 2018 report on City Hall.Independent check: Engineers and construction experts are reviewing cost estimates.Space analysis: Design firm Corgan and Downtown Dallas Inc. are evaluating office space needs and comparing repair costs with leasing, buying or building new space.What it won’t do: The EDC will not make recommendations on whether to repair, relocate or demolish City Hall.
Stay-or-go?
Arguments over Dallas City Hall’s future have focused on:
Repair:
Saves an I.M. Pei landmark Keeps symbol of civic identityCosts uncertain but manageable
Relocate:
Avoids rising maintenance expensesFrees land for redevelopment downtownLowers short-term outlay