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Recognizing the need to formally protect and preserve our city’s historic landmarks, concerned citizens founded the Historic Preservation League (later to become Preservation Dallas) in 1972. It’s mission: to preserve and revitalize Dallas’ buildings, neighborhoods, and other historical, architectural, and cultural resources.
Shortly after its founding, the Historic Preservation League (HPL) began accomplishing monumental feats in its effort to educate the public, influence legislation and galvanize volunteers and citizens’ groups into effective advocates.
1970s - 1980s - 1990s - Present
Only a year after its founding, the HPL succeeded in urging the City Council to adopt the Dallas Preservation Ordinance. A year later, the HPL published Buying a Home in Old East Dallas, part of a major marketing program to interest potential residents in purchasing and preserving homes in East Dallas. The first major preservation achievement also occurred in 1974, when the HPL campaigned and succeeded in saving Old Lakewood Library and Trinity Methodist Church. The church was designated as Dallas' first Landmark building.
In 1976, the HPL was instrumental in the establishment of the Munger Place Historic District Revolving Fund. Between 1976 and 1979, 27 homes were purchased and sold with restoration covenants, and Munger Place attracted approximately $5 million in private reinvestment. During that time, HPL also focused on other historic areas. The HPL purchased and rehabilitated a craftsman bungalow in Junius Heights to demonstrate the potential of the underrated neighborhood. By 1977, a Fannie Mae lending program was extended to Junius Heights. In that same year, the HPL financed a restoration study of the Magnolia Building, and persuaded the City of Dallas not to demolish the landmark, but to sell it for restoration.
In 1980, the HPL purchased the Wilson Block from Fox & Jacobs, which it would later sell to the Meadows Foundation for their award-winning preservation project. The HPL restored the Arnold House, set up headquarters in the beautiful Swiss Avenue mansion, and continued to expand its preservation efforts. Between 1982 and 1984, the HPL identified the Harwood Street Historic District and structures such as Hart Furniture and the Santa Fe buildings as significant historic centers.
Also in 1982, the HPL funded a study that convinced the Dallas Independent School District to abandon plans to demolish Crockett School. The following year, the HPL surveyed Fair Park and successfully lobbied for landmark designation status. And, in 1986, HPL published A Guide to the Older Neighborhoods of East Dallas to highlight neighborhoods throughout the city.
The HPL moved its headquarters to the Wilson House in 1993 and established the Preservation Center with the help of the Meadows Foundation. In 1994 the HPL recognized a new threat to preservation — this time in the West End. In partnership with the West End Association, the HPL appealed the issuance of a surface parking lot use permit for four important West End buildings. With the support of the West End Association, the HPL's advocacy led to the sale of the Awalt Buildings for adaptive reuse. The same year, HPL changed its name to Preservation Dallas.
Preservation Dallas accomplished a number of significant achievements in 1995. It began the Intown Outing Program [links to events], featuring regular trips to significant locations to encourage public support for their protection. The Preservation Center [links to About Preservation Dallas: Programs: Preservation Center], which houses the Intown Living Center, the Resource Library and the Publications Center, also opened. In addition, Preservation Dallas established the Neighborhood Assistance Program [links to About Preservation Dallas: Programs: Neighborhood Assistance] to provide organizational and developmental assistance to intown neighborhoods. Next, Preservation Dallas established the Historic House Specialist Realtor Seminar Program [links to Resources for Realtors] a two-day class for real estate professionals featuring local preservation experts. Finally, Preservation Dallas partnered with four other organizations to hold Dallas' first Neighborhood Fair, headed by the Greater Dallas Planning Council.
In 1996, Preservation Dallas conducted the O'Neil Ford and Clifford Hutsell Architectural Tours, featuring authorities on both subjects and focusing public attention on the buildings of Ford and Hutsell. That same year, community support reached its highest since 1983. Membership grew to 700, and more than 2000 people visited the Preservation Center. Also in 1996, Preservation Dallas began developing relationships with groups working at the neighborhood level to make Dallas a better place to live: Greater Dallas Healthy Communities, Community Information System and Empowering Neighborhoods Initiatives, the 1996 Neighborhood Fair headed by The Dallas Plan, and the Enterprise Foundation Neighborhood Revitalization Committee.
Preservation Dallas conducted the first Lofty Spaces tour of downtown-area living spaces in 1997. Other programs that year included tours of buildings designed by Charles Dilbeck and Howard Meyer, as well as four Historic House Specialist seminars for real estate agents. After receiving national recognition for the Intown Living Center programs, Preservation Dallas also began providing assistance to other cities creating similar programs.
In 1998, Preservation Dallas advocated for — and saved — local historic preservation incentives by co-sponsoring a Rutgers study of economic benefits of historic preservation in Texas. Numerous programs were held, including the 2nd Lofty Spaces Tour, Hal Thomson Tour, Historic Interiors Tour, and the Listening to Your House seminar for rehabbers. At the 10th Historic House Specialist seminar, Preservation Dallas certified the 223rd Realtor. Also in 1998, Preservation Dallas published Preservation Dallas Neighborhood Handbook: A Resource for Neighborhood Associations [do we want this to link anywhere] and distributed it to neighborhood groups throughout Dallas and the rest of the country. The following year, Preservation Dallas co-published Historic Preservation at Work for the Texas Economy, a report on the economic impact of historic preservation on Texas. Programs conducted in 1999 included the 3rd Annual Lofty Spaces Tour, the Fall Architectural Tour: Texas Regionalism, and the First Annual Dallas History Conference.
The 21st century has already heralded many important accomplishments for preservation. In 2000, the Dallas City Council unanimously passed into law the first sweeping changes in the City's historic preservation ordinance in 26 years. After three years of work, a coalition consisting of City councilmembers, Preservation Dallas, the Dallas Landmark Commission, developers and others successfully crafted a new ordinance that will better protect the city's historic landmarks and districts for future generations. In addition, Mayor Ron Kirk declared May 14 through 20 as Preservation Week in Dallas. Also during 2000, Preservation Dallas held the First Annual Preservation Achievement Awards at the historic Lakewood Theatre. Programs for the year included the fourth Annual Loft Tour 2000, Fall Architectural Tour, tours of Charles Stevens Dilbeck houses, a booksigning with Philip Johnson, and the second annual Dallas History Conference.
In February of 2001, W. Dwayne Jones, an urban planner and long-time preservationist in Texas, joined Preservation Dallas as its new executive director. Preservation Dallas held the Second Annual Preservation Achievement Awards on February 23 at the historic Southside on Lamar. Also in 2001, the Preservation Dallas Historic House Specialist program certified its 344th realtor. Programs in 2001 included the Fifth Annual Lofty Spaces V, the Mid-Century Modern Home Tour, and a first-time event, Dallas Antiques Appraisal Day. Also in 2001, the Property Tax Incentive Program was extended, revised and renamed as The Neighborhood Revitalization and Historic Preservation Program. In addition, the Neighborhood Network was established for Conservation and Historic Districts. Finally, in August, Katherine Dyll joined Preservation Dallas to launch Discover Dallas! , a survey of the city's architectural, cultural and historical resources.
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