| One Year
Later!
W. Dwayne Jones - Executive Director
In February 2004, Preservation Dallas released its first 11 Most
Endangered List. This list became the roadmap for a year of
advocacy. Here is an update on each endangered property on
that list:
Ross Avenue Baptist Church (right above).
The congregation requested a demolition permit from the Dallas Landmark
Commission, which approved it in a close vote. It was demolished
in June (right below).
6015 Bryan Parkway, Swiss Avenue Historic District.
A T.R.O. halted the demolition of this house in January, 2004.
District Judge David Kelton issued an opinion that granted a permanent
injunction on demolition. An appeal to this decision by the
City of Dallas and property owners was heard in November.
A further decision is expected after the first of the year.
2426 Pine Street. Owners of this National
Register listed house requested approval from the Dallas Landmark
Commission for relocation to the Peak's Suburban Historic District.
The Texas Historical Commission and National Park Service approved
the request. The owners never relocated the house, and its
new site is now resold for another development. We are looking
for ways to preserve the house on its original site.
Mercantile Bank Building. The oldest building
in the Mercantile complex is now under contract for redevelopment;
however, it would depend on the ability of the developer to remove
parts of the complex to allow new construction and provide parking.
Negotiations are underway with the Texas Historical Commission and
National Park Service to settle this issue.
311 N. Ervay. The "last old blue" building
in downtown now has different owners who are adapting it for storage
lease. This may be a temporary solution as efforts continue
to convert the site for one of the downtown parks.
Statler Hilton. This award-winning building
from the 1950s still sits vacant. A number of prospective
buyers have come forward, but none has made a deal work. Most
bets are on the developers of the Mercantile Bank Building also
taking on this property in a major revitalization effort around
the Main Street Gardens downtown park.
Thomas Building. This building, caught at
the last minute, seems to be safe for now. Preservation Dallas
and other preservationists reached an agreement with the owners
to "mothball" the building and conduct a study for reusing it.
Meantime, an adjacent complex is scheduled to be constructed that
will house federal offices.
Casa Linda Theater. This once proud theater
appeared to be slated for demolition or possible alteration beyond
recognition. New owners purchased the building and have plans
for redeveloping it into a suitable neighborhood facility or theater.
Tenth Street Historic District. Lack of
owner-occupied housing, oppressive crime and problematic land titles
make this highly endangered neighborhood a full-time effort.
Preservation Dallas and representatives of the Dallas Landmark Commission
are exploring alternatives for reinvestment.
Crozier Tech High School. The city's longest
preservation challenge continues. The owners appealed their
case to the Texas Supreme Court with a hearing scheduled for 2005.
Crozier Tech was added to the state's endangered list in early 2004.
Meantime, the school is vandalized and neglected as prospective
buyers are mostly rebuffed.
Historic Dallas Public Schools. The departure
of Superintendent Mike Moses left the status of the city's historic
schools in abeyance. Recent efforts to designate J.L. Long
Middle School and an upcoming designation of Stephen J. Hay Middle
School adds two more to the protected list. In spite of these
accomplishments, many historic schools are receiving unsympathetic
treatment from a large bond package passed by voters several years
ago. We need help to identify these endangered schools!
Tell us about your endangered properties. This is an important
platform for Preservation Dallas.
W. Dwayne Jones,
Executive Director
November 1, 2004
|
