Vacant Buildings in Downtown Dallas

[dfwcre8tive]

Here's the list of current vacant buildings downtown, which have been identified as "roadblocks to development". Some owners, it states, are seeking demolition.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9306/vacantbuildingit7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/vacantbuildingit7.jpg/1/w1224.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img145/vacantbuildingit7.jpg/1/)

[Mballar]

I saw construction workers going in and out of Euphoria, yesterday.

[DalLove444]

Its a shame the owner wants to demolish 1604 Main. Without even thinking what will replace it in the future. Same for 1503 Commerce and others.

[monogodo]

Its a shame the owner wants to demolish 1604 Main. Without even thinking what will replace it in the future. Same for 1503 Commerce and others.
Where does it say on that list that the owners who want to demolish a building don't have plans for the land in the future?

[dizzy]

I saw construction workers going in and out of Euphoria, yesterday.
The sign on the window says it will be a Restaurant/Club called Plush. It's supposed to have a rooftop patio/lounge.

[DalLove444]

Where does it say on that list that the owners who want to demolish a building don't have plans for the land in the future?
Im just sayin thats all.

[dfwcre8tive]

Its a shame the owner wants to demolish 1604 Main. Without even thinking what will replace it in the future. Same for 1503 Commerce and others.

Westmount Properties had a plan to redevelop 1604 and create parking/retail replacing those buildings on Commerce... but that was some time ago.

[monogodo]

Im just sayin thats all.
And I'm just saying that you don't know if the current owner of the property has plans for it or not.

[UrbanHope]

The sign on the window says it will be a Restaurant/Club called Plush. It's supposed to have a rooftop patio/lounge.

This got approved by CPC and city council a little while back.

[SDORN]

Well For what it is worth I have the Unik, purse, thomas, Lane Byant and Most of the others in photos. If all this get torn down Downtown Woulld never be the same I huge chuck of history would go.

[dfwcre8tive]

Today, Mayor Tom to Deal With Downtown's Empty Buildings
Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 10:23:23 AM
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/10/tomorrow_mayor_tom_to_present.php

Two weeks ago, we posted to Unfair Park a list of some three dozen vacant buildings downtown, as identified by city economic development staffers. Mayor Tom Leppert told us in mid-September he was going to use every means available -- including City Attorney Tom Perkins -- to do something about those empty buildings, among them the endangered Statler Hilton Hotel and Crozier Tech, a city-designated landmark. Because if those buildings aren't rehabbed or torn down, he said, "It will stop momentum downtown, and we need movement. Something needs to happen, one way or another."

We're so close to finding out what that something is: Late yesterday we received a notice from Chris Heinbaugh that at 2:30 p.m. today, Leppert will be joined by other city officials to announce "details of the City's Downtown Vacant Building Initiative [which is] critical to both public safety and economic development Downtown."

...

[Spjz]

I'm no huge fan of the Mayor, but I'm in at least 51% agreement with him on this. Of course, I'd like for him to be more specific on when a building goes from being salvageable to becoming a candidate for the wrecking ball.

[Lakewooder]

New, with a question about the Statler Hilton (we aren't mentioned this time):

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/10/_what_the_hell_asked.php

[ancientshoes]

YES! Go mayor Tom! This is EXACTLY the kind initiative we need. Why wasn't this done a long time ago?

[cowboyeagle05]

I think everybody was hoping the incentives and attractiveness of a new active Downtown Dallas would work out these kinks and they wouldn't need to take legal action if things were moving a lot faster in terms of redevelopment. Main Street is attractive now so you might expect someone would want to buy the various abandoned properties and make some kind of project but sadly even with Neiman Marcus still kicking downtown and many neighboring projects like the Joule Hotel now established, there are still property owners that are either holding out for a better price or the building to collapse so they can build something newer easier on the property.

Question does the Lone Star Parking garage in the Arts District count in some way?
I mean the owner won't build a tower till its economically viable nor should he have to but it sure needs some TLC cause it looks like crap in a juicer. I just wish he would add some fake roof on that Arts District Stonehenge that looked something like how the Green Grass Studios renderings have disguised it. Just giving it another manila paint job won't due. If only the Performing Arts group could afford to sue the owner for "lowering property values" or discuss how to make it look more presentable for now.

[dfwcre8tive]

Slideshow of the inside of vacant buildings:

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/10/the_downtown_dallas_reality_to.php

[Double Wide]

It is time to demolish the un salvageable buildings.

[FoUTASportscaster]

People thought the Merc was unsalvageable. What, in your opinion, makes a building unsalavageable?

[Columbus Civil]

If it's ugly, like the Grand.

[portyhead]

This is just sad to me, thinking about the possibilites for these buildings and what could have been for them. Well, I guess a solution is trying to be reconciled so that's at least something.

[ancientshoes]

If it's ugly, like the Grand.

I agree, the more and more I think about it, the Grand is ugly and needs to go.

[Double Wide]

bye bye grand

[ancientshoes]

the more and more I think about it, the more I think the grand is ugly and just not worth saving. kind of ironic mayor leper wants to demolish the grand and build and updated one next to the convention center.

[SDORN]

I hope I can get a tour of the seven buildings before they get deep sixed I will have the cams ready to go

[aygriffith]

bye bye grand

Hello Parking Lot? How creative!

[Double Wide]

Hello Parking Lot? How creative!

Better then a decrepit un-used rat, pigeon or bum hotel. Demo it, and on the next building boom in 20 years they can put in something new. Only way we can get new buildings downtown is to demo the towers and buildings no one wants to fix up and turn around. I want the big Lion outside the Grand if they demo it.

[cowboyeagle05]

bye bye grand
I'm just glad your not the only person making architectural decisions in this city cause depending on who you talk to the Grand Hotel building is architecturally significant, iconic, decade defining, even more so than the planned "iconic" convention hotel. Leaving out the obvious negatives of birds, rot, and decay. I hope you realize your not the last word on what makes any building architecturally attractive. With that said the negatives do have to be taken into account when deciding what to do with the building.

[Double Wide]

I realize the grand is historic, but dont see why it is historic.

[dfwcre8tive]

You can't redevelop what you've demolished
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, October 31, 2008
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/sbrown/stories/DN-recol_31bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ab048a.html

Back in the 1980s, one of Dallas' biggest landlords quipped that he'd never seen a pretty empty building or, for that matter, an ugly full one.

Dallas city officials must be reading from the same playbook.

They've declared war on empty buildings in the downtown area and are waving around a combination of carrots and sticks to make owners spruce up their vacant properties.

...

So what's the answer? Do you knock these old eyesores down?

If you'd used that approach a few years ago, downtown wouldn't be enjoying the new wave of development. Most of the loft apartments attracting new residents to the center city are in formerly vacant office buildings.

...

To mow down derelict downtown buildings just because they aren't currently contributing to the central business district's rebirth and tax base reduces the opportunity for redevelopment.

...

[vman]

Although it may not count as a building, maybe as a "begun but never finished structure"...is Stonehenge in the Arts District on the Mayor's radar? The district will never be fully realized until that eyesore is gone. I hope he's pushing to get that developer to do something with that property.

[ancientshoes]

Although it may not count as a building, maybe as a "begun but never finished structure"...is Stonehenge in the Arts District on the Mayor's radar? The district will never be fully realized until that eyesore is gone. I hope he's pushing to get that developer to do something with that property.

I think it's actually kind of cool, they could make it into a sort of "art park" if they wanted to, as the unfinished pillars almost look like sculptures. It also seems to be popular with skate boarders.

[monogodo]

There's also parking underneath it.

[dcole]

I'm from Dallas and I'm doing my PhD in Real Estate Development in Slovakia. I now live in Slovakia and the town I live in is doing the same thing Dallas did in the 1980's. I need some information about what they did at that time. Specifically the following:

1. What was the reason for the over-building
2. What was the justification for the buildings
3. How did the owners proceed through bankruptcy
4. Why did the buildings sit for so long unused.
5. What is being done about it now.

I need cited info, not just speculation

Thanks,
D. Cole
dacoleslovensko@yahoo.com

[AnotherGirl]

I'm seeing more and more commercial properties for lease and sale.....

[cowboyeagle05]

^I mean this in a total honest question Do you have a point?

I would expect that kind of result from dead US economy.

[kenc]

Woodway's restaurant in the West End has closed. Padlock on the doors and a "For Lease" sign in the widow. Victim of the economy I guess. This old building now has two empty retail spots and is used just as a parking garage.

[RedWolfe]

A few years ago I had to walk to the top of the Dallas Grand. There is a working cell site on the roof, which has pretty much the only power in the building. 21 flights in the middle of summer was NOT fun.

The inside is in REALLY bad shape. Not sure that it would salvageable just due to the way the inside is laid out.

[cowboyeagle05]

A few years ago I had to walk to the top of the Dallas Grand. There is a working cell site on the roof, which has pretty much the only power in the building. 21 flights in the middle of summer was NOT fun.

The inside is in REALLY bad shape. Not sure that it would salvageable just due to the way the inside is laid out.


How much of the inside did you see cause according to people who have toured the rest of the building only one or two floors is gross most of everything else is just as it was left with the beds made and soaps still in wrappers with a large amount of dust of course. In urban spaces you'll be amazed how space can and will be used, just because it does not have 12 foot ceilings and all the expected amenities does not mean it will not work. Lets consider 511 Akard have you seen those apartment sizes they are planning tiny to some people but reasonable to others. Diversity of the market is a good thing.

Considering the Grand will have a park side view, now available money for renovation will begin to creep up. Along with the possible Law School and Mercantile and the close by Comerica HQ which tends to float other surrounding boats and cause a project that was once not possible into the totally possible. I think the term is never say never.

[xen0blue]

I've been noticing alot of activity going on inside a few abandon buildings, most notably in the building next to citytavern and 1604 main. Anyone know whats going on? Are these buildings genuinely being renovated or is this just a result of mayor leppard's bitching to do something about the buildings' interiors? The one next to the city tavern has some kind of banner on it saying something about a partnership between the buildings owners and DOWNTOWNDALLAS?

[Double Wide]

I think Mayor Leps persisting that we dont have vacant buildings just sitting around and deteriorating.

[monogodo]

Also keep in mind that vacant does not equal abandoned.

[dfwcre8tive]

1910 Pacific built in 1982 is listed as vacant:

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=15877868&StepID=101&ItemIndex=10&PgCxtDir=Down

Property Description:
Currently vacant, Pacific Place offers a wealth of opportunities to potential investors. Positioned to accommodate office, retail and potentially residential tenants, the Property affords a rare mixed-use repositioning opportunity to the savvy investor that can visualize the live, work and play value enhancement.As a recent adaptive use study has demonstrated, the Property can potentially be converted into 198 residential units. Utilizing the existing building systems and floor plans, the 3rd through 20th floors could be converted into residential units of varying sizes and designs. In addition to the residential conversion, the Property can also host numerous residentialamenities that include: Roof top pool and sun decks, work out facility, onsite tenant services, retail shops and reserved parking.

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/4/6/E/xy_46E124D3-6909-49F7-8A62-3BE64551F724__.JPG

[maconahey]

Five vacant buildings in downtown Dallas to undergo repairs
11:06 AM Wed, Jul 01, 2009
Rudolph Bush/Reporter

It's been a few months since Mayor Tom Leppert promised to twist the arms of the owners of seven decrepit buildings that are dragging down downtown.

According to his chief of staff Chris Heinbaugh, five of the seven have cried uncle and agreed to bring their buildings up to code.

Granted "up to code" isn't exactly a deluxe remodel, but it's a start toward moving the pigeons out and the people back in.

Heinbaugh writes: The owners of five of seven dilapidated structures cited in the recent vacant building initiative have agreed to bring the structures up to code. The owners signed repair agreements with the City, which require them to repair hazardous conditions and mothball the buildings to prevent further deterioration. City leaders consider this a major step forward in the effort to reinvigorate Downtown Dallas.
"These property owners got the message," said Mayor Tom Leppert. "They understand that being a good neighbor means keeping your property in a safe and stable condition and they're stepping up to make that happen."
Last October, the City Attorney's Office sent letters to the owners of seven downtown buildings regarding numerous code and fire hazards on their properties. Four properties which have signed agreements to meet code requirements include:

1604 Main
1712 Commerce
1902 Commerce
1954 Commerce (the Statler Hilton/Dallas Grand Hotel)

Work has already begun on these buildings and the final deadline under the agreements with the City for the repairs to be completed is November 16, 2009.
The owner of 1954 Commerce is also working with the City and DOWNTOWNDALLAS to spruce up the storefront of the vacant Statler Hilton as the City's new park, Main Street Gardens (across the street) nears completion.

Another property, at 211 N. Ervay, is almost completely finished with the necessary repairs. The City anticipates that the building will be in compliance by the end of the month.

The two buildings that won't be undergoing repair anytime soon are at 1607 Main and 508 Park.

Looks like they will be sued instead.

Writes Heinbaugh: Their lack of cooperation to comply with the City's requests to fix the violations has left the City with no option but to pursue enforcement litigation. The City's lawsuits on these properties seek court orders to require the owners to repair their buildings.

The owners of 508 Park, which is located within a historic district, have threatened to demolish the building. Before that could occur, the owners would have to get approval from the City's Landmark Commission.

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/07/five-vacant-buildings-in-downt.html

[aygriffith]

1910 Pacific built in 1982 is listed as vacant:

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=15877868&StepID=101&ItemIndex=10&PgCxtDir=Down

Property Description:
Currently vacant, Pacific Place offers a wealth of opportunities to potential investors. Positioned to accommodate office, retail and potentially residential tenants, the Property affords a rare mixed-use repositioning opportunity to the savvy investor that can visualize the live, work and play value enhancement.As a recent adaptive use study has demonstrated, the Property can potentially be converted into 198 residential units. Utilizing the existing building systems and floor plans, the 3rd through 20th floors could be converted into residential units of varying sizes and designs. In addition to the residential conversion, the Property can also host numerous residentialamenities that include: Roof top pool and sun decks, work out facility, onsite tenant services, retail shops and reserved parking.


I had no idea this building was totally vacant... they actually do a good job of keeping it looking occupied by having the lobby up and running visually (i've never actually walked up to the doors)...

It would be great to get another residential building farther to the east. Sometimes I feel like Republic Tower is on the edge of the wild west because there is absolutely no signs of life east of Ervay and north of Elm on nights and the weekends.

[NThomas]

...It would be great to get another residential building farther to the east. Sometimes I feel like Republic Tower is on the edge of the wild west because there is absolutely no signs of life east of Ervay and north of Elm on nights and the weekends.
Hopefully if that new condo building at 1900 Pacific is built, it'll spur interest in developers to convert this one. Then anything past Pearl will be the frontier.

[OrangeMike]

Big Wrecking Balls: City, Yet Again, Considers How to Raze Buildings in Historic Districts (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/07/almost_one_year_ago_the.php#more)


Preservationists have long agreed that the city needs to be able to tear down "substandard" structures within historic districts -- say, a burned-out house with a negligent, out-of-town owner, or a building that presents a threat to health and safety. But several City Hall insiders with whom Unfair Park has spoken believe this new proposal, which they've read and which we'll get a copy of this morning, is aimed at getting rid of the vacant downtown buildings Mayor Tom Leppert called out last October. So perhaps that Statler shroud won't be needed after all?

[dfwcre8tive]

I noticed that the windows on the back side of the Mercantile Commerce building have been opened to the elements.

[dfwcre8tive]

I had no idea this building was totally vacant... they actually do a good job of keeping it looking occupied by having the lobby up and running visually (i've never actually walked up to the doors)...

It would be great to get another residential building farther to the east. Sometimes I feel like Republic Tower is on the edge of the wild west because there is absolutely no signs of life east of Ervay and north of Elm on nights and the weekends.

It would probably be a better use of the building to keep it office space. Why is it undesirable? Bad wiring? No parking? When Pacific Plaza park goes in I think it would be a popular place.

[UrbanHope]

The landmark committee meeting is today re: this issue.

[CTroyMathis]

Dallas City Hall targets more vacant buildings downtown
7:30 AM Tue, Dec 22, 2009 | Rudolph Bush/Reporter
Source: http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/12/dallas-city-hall-targets-more.html

City Hall plans to crack down on six more vacant downtown buildings in hopes of convincing owners to bring them up to code, and, hopefully, get them moving forward on restoration.

The program first initiated in October 2008 targeted 7 well known buildings, including the Statler Hilton, and the city did see some progress in cleaning them up. . .

More after the jump above. . .