Residents, developers, architects and preservationists will make their voices heard Monday on whether Dallas City Hall should be saved.
The City Council’s Economic Development Committee is holding a public hearing to discuss the future of the 48-year-old building. Committee members will also be briefed by city staffers on the proposed redevelopment.
The committee meeting is likely to draw a packed house. Many residents have widely shared the meeting agenda online and urged others to attend the 1 p.m. hearing.
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The findings have deepened divisions between downtown business leaders, who see the site as a redevelopment opportunity, and preservation advocates, who argue the I.M. Pei-designed landmark is worth saving.
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The consultants’ report, compiled by the Dallas Economic Development Corp., estimates roughly $329 million for urgent repairs and between about $900 million and $1.1 billion to fully modernize the building, including financing over 20 years.
Here is what has happened since the report’s release:
Wednesday, Feb. 26: Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called for a special meeting on March 4. Council members will vote on a resolution directing City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert to seek new sites for Dallas’ emergency operations and explore redevelopment options for City Hall.
Monday, Feb. 23: The resolution was recommended Monday by the council’s seven-member Finance Committee. The recommendation came after a seven-hour meeting, during which more than 150 people packed the council chambers, many wearing “Save Dallas City Hall” pins or “Connect the Core” buttons.
Friday, Feb. 20: The Economic Development Corp., a city-affiliated nonprofit, released its findings, estimating that repairing the building’s most urgent problems, including its failing roof, outdated electrical systems and plumbing, would cost $329 million. But if the city wants to fully modernize the building and make it functional for employees, the total cost range jumps between $906 million and $1.1 billion, including financing over 20 years.
Dallas City Council member Chad West (left) talks with City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert during a Dallas City Council Committee on Finance special called meeting at Dallas City Hall, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.
Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer
On Wednesday, City Council will be briefed by members of the Economic Development Corp., along with firms such as CBRE and AECOM, on their findings of City Hall’s condition.
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