The Dallas Landmark Commission has moved closer to protecting City Hall as a historic local landmark, but a final decision on the fate of the I.M. Pei-designed building could come months from now and rests with the City Council.
The commission’s Designation Committee discussed draft rules Wednesday, aimed at preserving the iconic building. The group plans to continue finalizing those at a meeting next month.
Last November, the City Council voted to explore other options for City Hall, including moving or redeveloping the site. Specialists have been evaluating the nearly 50-year-old building’s condition and repair costs, preparing reports that could determine whether the council orders the government hub to stay put or move elsewhere.
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Separately, the landmark effort has drawn support from preservation advocates who say the building’s architectural significance warrants protection. Prominent business interests support relocation, seeing a chance to jump start redevelopment downtown.
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Daron Tapscott, the Designation Committee’s chair, acknowledged after the meeting that “there is a slight urgency with this building.”
“For me, the idea that we could possibly lose this building is abhorrent,” Tapscott told The Dallas Morning News. “Dallas has always claimed to be a world-class city. We have a building that represents that, and to lose it would be unforgivable.”
Some former mayors and other city leaders have argued for moving City Hall, citing high repair costs and the chance to unlock prime downtown land for revitalization, creating jobs and boosting the tax base.
If the committee recommends the designation, it moves to the full Landmark Commission for review and consideration. The case then goes to the City Plan Commission for a recommendation before finally going to the City Council for a final decision.
If approved, the property would be officially designated as a Dallas landmark, which protects it from demolition or significant alterations without review and approval from the Landmark Commission.
In his 25 years on the committee, Tapscott said, he has never seen a proposed designation recommended for approval get rejected by the Landmark Commission or the City Plan Commission.
During the meeting Wednesday, Designation Committee members went over a draft of maintenance rules to consider if the building receives the label.
Major changes, like replacing the outdoor plaza, would require Landmark Commission approval. But emergency fixes like broken glass or damaged concrete could be made immediately, with only a 30-day notification required for record-keeping.
Most interior spaces, including the council chambers, could be updated without review, except for a few historically significant areas.
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