May is Preservation Month! In 2005, the National Trust
for Historic Preservation made the annual preservation week even longer.
The theme is Restore America: Communities at the Crossroads. You could
say that Dallas is at a crossroads in many ways this May, but for the
preservation community our issues may be even more noteworthy.
These are some of the pending
preservation issues in Dallas:
 The
National Park Service declined the initial effort to certify the rehabilitation
of the Mercantile Tower without the other buildings on the block. This
decision will influence other preservation projects in Downtown and is
a serious step backward for the most challenging properties in the Central
Business District.
The
new Neighborhood Stabilization Overlay Zone proposal now before the City
Plan Commission is gearing up for some tough opposition. This is an important
concept that needs support from all of our neighborhoods and appointed
and elected officials. Neighborhoods need an alternative to conservation
and historic districts that stabilize the investments of property owners.
Our
2005 Endangered Historic Properties list will be released in May. This
year’s list will contain some significant buildings and properties
in the path of development or in places of abandonment.
On
May 18 at 9:30 a.m., the Dallas City Council will recognize Preservation
Month with a proclamation at City Hall. This marks our annual trek down
to City Hall to build momentum and awareness among our elected officials.
Join us!
Celebrate
Downtown! on May 21st marks an effort to bring more attention to downtown
Dallas by conducting an evening event that highlights some of the city’s
newest rehabilitations. The Dallas Power & Light rehabilitation is
terrific and you will not want to miss the special sites throughout downtown.
Preservation
is important year round, and so is our commitment to ongoing issues regarding
historic buildings. Preservation Month is one annual point to stop and
recommit to our goals for a better Dallas.
W. Dwayne Jones,
Executive Director |
