A coalition of Dallas residents has launched a petition drive seeking to put a proposed amendment to the Dallas City Charter on the May 2027 ballot that would preserve the current Dallas City Hall as the seat of city government.
The group filed a notice of intent to circulate the petition with the Dallas City Secretary’s Office on October 2 and began immediately gathering signatures. Present and former government officials, including state Rep. John Bryant (D-Dallas), Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, and former city council members, were among the first to sign the petition.
Current City Council Members Paul Ridley, Paula Blackmon, Adam Bazaldua, and Cara Mendelsohn are supporting the “Save Dallas City Hall” coalition’s petition.
“Dallas City Hall is an internationally recognized work of architecture and an important part of our city’s history,” Ridley was quoted in a press release. “Once a landmark like this is demolished or abandoned, we can never get it back. Dallas should protect this important piece of our architectural and civic heritage for future generations.”
“This is equally about transparency and priorities,” Blackmon said. “While it seems the city manager and a majority of my colleagues are determined to abandon the building, there is no plan for replacing it and no price tag for demolishing it. Our residents are constantly reminded that there is no money for libraries, arts programs, streets, potholes, and many other basic city services. The destruction of this building would be just another expensive mistake we can’t afford to make.”
The coalition believes that the voters of Dallas ought to have “the final say over whether city government leaves the landmark I.M. Pei-designed building that has served as the center of Dallas government since 1978.”
The referendum would be an amendment to the Dallas City Charter to name the current building as the seat of city government unless and until voters decide otherwise.
According to a survey conducted by AMM Political Strategies, a large majority of Dallas registered voters who participated in municipal elections — 88 percent — favor keeping the current city hall.
Not only does the coalition believe the building should be saved because of its architectural value, but they argue it is a decision about fiscal planning and responsibility.
In July, the City of Dallas implemented cost-saving measures, including employee furloughs, to mitigate the budget shortfall facing the city government.
Mayor Eric Johnson asked the city manager to shrink the budget by reducing spending for non-core services.
In the midst of these budgetary challenges, Save Dallas City Hall argues that the city council is considering “options that could commit taxpayers to hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate, demolish, replace or relocate Dallas City Hall.”
In June, the city council voted to use up to $2 million from its reserves to conduct due diligence for as many as four alternate locations within the central business district for city operations and a possible move away from the current city hall at 1500 Marilla Street.
“Before Dallas spends hundreds of millions of dollars giving City Hall a new address, let’s adequately fund public safety salaries, fix the potholes, repair our streets and take care of the basic services taxpayers already pay for,” Mendelsohn said in the press release.
“The existing City Hall can be refreshed and repaired and continue doing the job it was built to do. The council members who are backing this petition effort are tired of city hall’s poor fiscal decisions, and we are determined to let our constituents have their voice heard on this decision.”
In August, Save Dallas City Hall sued the city for “demolition by neglect” for failing to conduct mandatory inspections of the historic building and needed repairs. The group is seeking injunctive relief compelling the city to make necessary repairs.
“The City expects private citizens to maintain their properties, but refuses to take responsibility for maintaining our historic City Hall and Plaza,” Bruce Richardson, president of the Save Dallas City Hall Coalition, said in a press release.
“Dallas City Hall has at least one failed generator, active parking garage leaks, and is due for roof maintenance. Instead of tackling these problems with millions in available funds, the City halted repairs, wasting money and time to explore a move.”
A petition to amend the city charter is governed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 9, which requires the petition to be supported by 20,000 signatures or 5 percent of the qualified voters in Dallas, whichever is less. Save Dallas City Hall is aiming for 20,000 signatures.
The group has a goal of collecting all of the needed signatures within 60 days using its “army of volunteers” hosting events and parties across the city.
A current list of in-person signing events can be found on the Save Dallas City Hall website.