More than 200 residents packed Dallas’ City Council chambers to defend their cause: bulldoze or buff City Hall.
The council’s Economic Development Committee held the first formal public hearing Monday since a consultants’ report put refurbishing City Hall at a $1 billion price tag, with financing over 20 years.
Residents, ranging from civic leaders to architects and consultants, arrived bearing pins and stickers, voicing their concerns around the use of taxpayer dollars to resuscitate downtown to all 14 council members.
Several wore light blue “Save Dallas City Hall” pins and stickers, part of a monthslong campaign to keep the building in the city’s greater plan for the region. Others wore a “Connect the Core” pin, a newer group advocating to relocate operations out of the 48-year-old building and spur development that could branch out to southern Dallas.
Political Points
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The fault lines of the ongoing stay or go debate sharpened at the meeting. Several speakers questioned if analysts had enough time to conduct a thorough analysis. What was apparent in their comments was the growing public mistrust over the figures and whether council members would have enough information to make an informed decision.
Saving the structure
Some speakers questioned the independence of the cost analysis and the benefits of unlocking prime real estate for a new arena for NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
“It is a complete betrayal to the taxpayers and residents of this city,” said Cydney Walker, a South Dallas resident and former City Council candidate. “You’re going to ask the taxpayers to help fund yet another stadium in this city.”
Members of the public, including Cydney Walker, and civic officials spoke to the Economic Development Committee of the City Council about the future of Dallas City Hall. It’s the first meeting where residents were allowed to weigh in on the new Dallas City Hall assessment report at City Hall, March 2, 2026.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
Matthew Bach, a resident, said city officials were “squandering public goodwill by not having a transparent, robust public discussion and rushing this along.”
Several spoke against the possibility of housing a basketball stadium at the City Hall site, deriding it as a move that would benefit sports teams owned by wealthy owners.
The Mavericks have said they are looking for a new home once their American Airlines Center lease ends in 2031. The two sites they’ve narrowed their search to include the Valley View site and an undisclosed site downtown.
Eric Donaldson, a navy veteran, said he didn’t want southern Dallas to be neglected in the debate. He wore a “Connect the Core” pin in support of relocating the government complex.
Dallas City Council members (from left) Jaime Resendez, Chad West, City Secretary Bilierae Johnson, Jesse Moreno, Zarin Gracey, Maxie Johnson and William Roth listen to Matthew Bach (at podium) speak to them, the Economic Development Committee, about the future of Dallas City Hall. It’s the first meeting where residents were allowed to weigh in on the new Dallas City Hall assessment report at City Hall, March 2, 2026.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
“With plans for City Hall, we think there could be a distribution of the money to also help southside Dallas,” Donaldson said, adding that he was not aware of the repair estimates circulating.
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He arrived at City Hall after he heard his pastor at Concord Church mention the consequential decision in front of council members. Concord Church is frequented by several southern Dallas leaders, including council members Zarin Gracey, Lorie Blair and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert.
Backing the leave
Other speakers supported the Dallas Economic Development Corp.’s analysis, saying it offered a “compelling and overwhelming case” that the building needs major rehabilitation and taxpayer dollars would be better spent on other services that resolve City Hall’s ailments.
“We recognize that we are in an era in which every public dollar must work harder as we balance investments in libraries, parks, sanitation, public safety, streets, flood control and more,” said Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., a group that oversees the welfare of the central business district.
Last week, the nonprofit Scripps leads came out in support of relocating City Hall to another building downtown. Downtown Dallas Inc. was involved in research shepherded by the Economic Development Corp., often participating in meetings with commercial firm CBRE that involved scoping alternative sites for the government complex.
Developer Lucy Billingsley said downtown had several buildings that were losing office tenants, arguing the central business district had been deteriorating for several decades.
“We have a moment now to make a big change in the movement of downtown,” she said.
Behind the report
The Economic Development Corp. estimated in its findings 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 range jumps between $906 million and $1.1 billion, including financing over 20 years.
The findings have deepened the divide between downtown business leaders and developers, who view the site as an opportunity for redevelopment, and preservationists and architects, who argue that the I.M. Pei–designed landmark is worth saving.
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In previous meetings, some council members questioned the credibility of the analysis, suggesting the firms involved could benefit financially from a move or redevelopment of the prime downtown site. Others argued the reports justified the need for action.
What’s next?
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.
After that, Dallas City Council members will vote on a resolution directing Tolbert to seek new sites for Dallas’ emergency operations and to explore redevelopment options for City Hall at a special-called meeting.
Letters to the Editor – Primary voting, Dallas City Hall, rural Texas, Big Bend, AtmosTearing down Dallas City Hall isn’t what we’re debating