KLIF Building (Central & Commerce)

[vman]

Anyone know what's up with this building? I know it was built as a gas station and used to house KLIF. Anway, I've noticed furniture and blinds on the inside east end of the building and there's been some exterior painting done. Plus a cool lighting scheme at night.

Has the building recently been converted to residential or has it been been residential for a while?? I've never really noticed much activity there and it seemed empty most of the time. I've always loved the building and feel it's one of DTD's' overlooked historical gems. I always thought it would make an awesome restaurant. Like maybe a 24-hour Katz Deli like the one in Houston.

Anway, any info would be appreciated.

[Hannibal Lecter]

Anyone know what's up with this building? I know it was built as a gas station and used to house KLIF. Anway, I've noticed furniture and blinds on the inside east end of the building and there's been some exterior painting done. Plus a cool lighting scheme at night.

Has the building recently been converted to residential or has it been been residential for a while?? I've never really noticed much activity there and it seemed empty most of the time. I've always loved the building and feel it's one of DTD's' overlooked historical gems. I always thought it would make an awesome restaurant. Like maybe a 24-hour Katz Deli like the one in Houston.

Anway, any info would be appreciated.The Dallas Observer was located there until a couple years ago.

[vman]

That's right, I totally forgot that. There is some kind of activity going on there. In the morning, you can clearly see furniture and a floor lamp near a window, and there were people painting the exterior metal stairs this weekend. I ocassionally see a white pickup there as well. I pass the building often and have never seen the type of activity that would make me think a residential conversion was being done, but you never know. Maybe someone is just temporarily living there.

[clipper]

That was originally the main Magnolia Oil Co. service station in downtown Dallas. If you look in the stonework you'll see magnolia flowers. There were originally pumps in the space below the building. The Magnolia HQ was down on Commerce and the supply depot there next to Victory.

[clipper]

During the early 20th century that area of downtown was the automotive center. The car companies had showrooms in the area. The Ford plant was in the Adam Hat Building. Garages were in Deep Ellum. Before that, carriage shops and livery stables were over there. Across from the Magnolia station in a traffic island on Commerce there used to be a huge horse watering trough. It was about eight feet across and four feet deep. There were four bronze lion's faces on it and water streamed down to fill the big bowl for the horses. Below that were four small bowls at ground level for the dogs to drink from. It was there until the mid-1980s when a road widening did it in. City crews chopped it up and hauled it away. I still look over there expecting to see it.

[TexasStar]

^ Clipper, how old are you? :bday:

[clipper]

In dog years I'm dead.

[tamtagon]

I thought you were, like, a hundred or something.

[vman]

Great info Clipper!!! But does anyone know if there's anything going on with the building NOW.

[txsmokey]

I happen to office across the street from this building and we share the same landlord. The building is still owned by the same owner who owns the majority of the buildings in the area of Commerce and Central. Since the Observer moved out to their Maple Street offices the building has been vacant, except for a small company leasing part of the first floor. The current activity is due to a company leasing the second floor of the building. I know the company on the ground floor but I don't have any idea who has leased the second floor. Hope this answers your questions.

[vman]

I happen to office across the street from this building and we share the same landlord. The building is still owned by the same owner who owns the majority of the buildings in the area of Commerce and Central. Since the Observer moved out to their Maple Street offices the building has been vacant, except for a small company leasing part of the first floor. The current activity is due to a company leasing the second floor of the building. I know the company on the ground floor but I don't have any idea who has leased the second floor. Hope this answers your questions.
Thanks smokey!! I'm glad the building isn't totally emtpy. There's too many empty or underutilized historical gems in that area.