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Demolition begins on former Dallas' Hard Rock Cafe

'A sad day' for century-old building on McKinney Avenue

10:50 PM CST on Saturday, January 19, 2008

By JOANNA CATTANACH / The Dallas Morning News
jcattanach@dallasnews.com

Although rumors had circulated for weeks that the century-old Hard Rock Cafe building could be demolished, it was still a shock for dozens of Uptown residents when wrecking crews began tearing it down Saturday morning.

Passers-by, joggers and drivers watched with a mix of confusion and disbelief as a mechanized excavator tore into the sides of the structure, shattering glass, breaking bricks and sending insulation flying onto a debris pile below.

"It's just a sad day that they're tearing this building down," said Virgil Laferney, a Hard Rock customer for 21 years who had heard about the demolition plans Friday night.

Michael Durkin, general manager of a local restaurant, had started his career on the wait staff at the Hard Rock 10 years ago.

"It's a total drag," said Mr. Durkin, who gathered with a small group of former Hard Rock service staff across the street at the Idle Rich Pub. "It's a 102-year-old building that should have been saved."

The building, which previously housed the McKinney Avenue Baptist Church, was on Preservation Dallas' list of most endangered historic places in 2007, but there was little the society could do after the building was sold to real estate investor and developer Brett Landes last year and failed to gain historic status from the Dallas Landmark Commission.

"We have to put our efforts into those things we think we can have an impact on," said Steve Whitcraft, former Preservation Dallas board president.

The building was designed by renowned church architect Charles W. Bulger and built in 1906. Controversial Baptist minister John Franklyn Norris was the first pastor, serving for two years. He later was charged with and acquitted of arson and murder.

The church's interior and exterior were completed by 1913, and in 1922 the congregation managed to pay off its debt and burned the mortgage, according to a draft report by the Dallas Landmark Commission.

Hard Rock founder Isaac Tigrett opened the club in 1986 and spent about $13 million on renovations, including a rotunda similar to the one in the Texas Capitol and The Cheese Club, a replica of a room in Who guitarist Pete Townshend's home that drew the likes of Dan Aykroyd and the Blues Brothers.

Hard Rock closed last March after disappointing sales.

Dan Carr, a bartender at the neighboring Black Friar Pub, said he learned about the history of the building only recently and expressed concern about what might take its place.

"I don't know what they're going to put up there, but I was always hoping they'd do something with it," said Mr. Carr, who had heard rumors that a pharmacy chain might build on the site.

It isn't clear what will be built on the property, but it was apparent something would be happening soon when local businesses and buyers were invited to an auction about three weeks ago.

The Black Friar Pub came away with Hard Rock's hand-carved dark wood paneling and a carved bar. The paneling is now on the pub's ceiling and walls, said Vincent Martinez, the pub's general manager.

Mr. Laferney, who earned a brass star for eating about 3,000 meals at the Hard Rock, stood outside in a black leather Hard Rock Cafe coat photographing the demolition.

"I'm a major lover of this old building," he said. "It's a shame.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...ck.2562f6e.html

FoUTASportscaster

If I am not mistaken, it has been stucco from the beginning, which is another reason this building is so historic. Stucco was very rare back then.

Another example of why I dislike Uptown. Aside from State-Thomas, this whole area lacks any character.

rantanamo

Disagree on the issue of character. There are plenty of character filled older homes throughout Uptown, as well as the Cemetary and trolley's. Not to mention some of the older buildings.

JohnMcKee

"Landes is promising not to tear down the building. That's what he told the
Landmark Commission on Monday, where the fate of the 97-year-old former
McKinney Avenue Baptist Church was to be decided, till it was pushed back to
the April 2 meeting. Landes' broker, Uptown and downtown real-estate man
Jack Gosnell, told the commission Landes would leave it standing if the city
would just back off. " -Dallas Observer

"Landes should be able
to do whatever he wants with the building, which he has promised not to
raze. " - Dallas Observer


"My instructions have been to lease the existing building," he says. "We were
not interested in flipping the real estate, we were not interested in talking to
developers about developing the site out." - Dallas Observer

Gosnell says they have nothing to worry
about, that his client will keep the building standing. - Dallas Observer


Does anyone know what the process is for addressing city council? The community has been outright lied to by him and his associates and I believe he should be forced to answer for his behavior before he gets to permission to even erect a tent in Dallas.

dzh

Guys I bet if Landes decides to build a 25 story high-rise here, you guys are all going to stop complaining and forget about that ugly building.

elmstreetdallas

Except for the fact that there are already rumors floating around that a Walgreens or CVS pharmacy is going in here.

If that happens, Brett Landes and Jack Gosnell should be thrown in jail.

slfunk

This is just my opinion, but I am not sad to see it go. The exterior had been altered, the original dome lost, building was gutted on the inside for Hard Rock, etc. I do think it would have been a good building (and would make an easy transition) to turn into another music venue, but we'll see what will come of the site. I doubt and have my fingers crossed that this site will be a drug store or another motor bank. That would be tragic, to loose a part of history to have one of those put in its place. Hopefully the city council will come together like they did with the Hole on Cole and block any proposal for a Walgreens/CVS or motor bank.

Milkman Dan

John, ElmSt, et al. - have you called Angela's office? Spoken to / emailed her about your concerns? I'm pretty sure you can call the city sec's office a few days before a council meeting to register to speak when the meeting begins.

mrowl

this is pathetic.

Tnekster

I know that's right!

Milkman Dan

Agree 100% w/ SL. This was not a historic structure anymore. Put your effort into making sure whatever will go in contributes to the neighborhood. Email / call the council and Landes.

BigD5349

I agree, too, that the problem is if it is replaced by another generic thing like a CVS or bank branch. I think it's awful when a 100 year old structure, which offers some contrast in the area, is leveled for something like that.

As for building 25 stories, what is it with you guys and the height of buildings? McKinney Ave is already choked with traffic and getting worse all the time. There's no way to fit in left turn lanes, and the trolley and increase in vehicular traffic are destined to clash. What is the status of the traffic plan for Uptown? McKinney Avenue should have been a street for walking, in combination with the trolley and the dense housing in State Thomas. It should be a unique, high quality area that contrasts anything that the suburbs can offer. McKinney Ave had the right scale for that. But, with it's narrow sidewalks, lack of pocket parks, Shafer-esque developments and traffic jams, who's gonna want to be there? It seems to me that we're heading down the path of combining all the wrong elements on McKinney Ave.

JohnMcKee

That has already been addressed:



View of Downtown from La Tour:


It doesn't matter anymore what you think the value of the structure was, what is now at issue is the community was deceived and lied to by a developer and we should not put up with that.

JohnMcKee

I am putting my effort into something that contributes to the community, not letting a developer get away with lying to the community.

JohnMcKee

I have emailed Angela Hunt along with all the major media in Dallas with quotes of what Mr. Landes told the media and community, some of which I have included above.

We deserve answers as to why he thought it was OK to tell the community one thing and do the complete opposite.

jsoto3

The site, per current zoning (PD193-LC), has a Floor Area Ratio limit of 4.5:1 (if there is at least a 1:1 component of residential) and a height limit of 240'. The FAR limit is the limiting factor here. Unless someone built a pencil-thin tower, the highest a building could go here is 13-16 stories, depending on how the gross rentable area is distributed (parking area does not count against the FAR).

FoUTASportscaster

Seeing that machine tear into this building is such a punch to the gut.

JohnMcKee

And here I sit at my desk overlooking McKinney Ave watching a excavator tear into the building with this up on my computer screen:

SDORN

Well. saw barrykooda there and Jsoto, buildings history. I watched and shot most of the whole thing. Batteries On digital ran out and film was exhausted before I could get hem riping down the front facade. They were starting on it as I left.
photos to follow in few minutes

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
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SDORN

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
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SDORN

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70886669@N00/
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http://www.myspace.com/177586541

SDORN

Here is a chunk coming down.

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70886669@N00/
http://homepage.mac.com/sdorn/dallas_shots
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SDORN

here is what I first saw at the progress when I got there at 1P.M

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
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http://homepage.mac.com/sdorn/dallas_shots
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BigD5349

thanks for the pics, Scott. I went by a little after 11AM, and nothing was going on. I figured they weren't working on Sunday, otherwise, I would have stuck around to watch it, too.

jsoto3

SDORN

Nice vantage point !!! J Soto.

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70886669@N00/
http://homepage.mac.com/sdorn/dallas_shots
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Uptown72

Pictures prove that it was originally brick and stuccoed later. Too bad...the stucco after 100 years would have ruined the brick anyway. It's a shame how it went, but its now time to move one. The "No CVS" protests should be campaigned. That would be a terrible use of a nice piece of dirt (kind of like Shafer's Uptown Plaza).

JohnMcKee

Oh, no, it doesn't prove anything to the sort. I don't think there was ever any contention that the stucco was on top of brick, but the brick was originally stuccoed over, a pretty unique architectural element for the time.

clipper

Over on the Dallas Observer site Ms. Hunt is all puffed up about this teardown. Am I the only one who is weary about this kind of feigned indignation after the fact? It happens every time a landmark gets knocked down here. Where's all the tough talk before the wrecking balls?

JohnMcKee

Mr. Landes has managed to make some serious enemies in the community and city hall and has now officially been labeled a lier by the media and a member of city council. I really hope that he finds out soon that this property wasn't worth ruining his reputation and any assumption that he is an honest person. I know I will be around for awhile to remind people of that on any future development he does on this site or any other piece of property.

I can't wait for him to ask for a rezoning, height variance or permission from city hall to do absolutely anything and let him explain why anything should be done for a lying, dishonest developer who tore down a 100 year old church.

JohnMcKee

In this case, no, I can say for an absolute fact that Ms. Hunt fought for this all along and I couldn't have asked for any more assistance than she gave in this matter. She was lied to and deceived by Mr Landes, just like all of us were.

Sky Time

This is a crime against humanity. To tear down a historic building just so we can make a parking lot that will sit there for 20 years before someone builds on it.

Uptown72

"A crime against humanity??"

Come on, Hitler's atrocities were crimes against humanity. The 911 bombings were crimes against humanity. Any genocide is considered a crime against humanity.

This can't even be considered a crime. The building is 100 years old (kind of) and has been renovated, remodeled, ransaked and stripped and redone more times than Joan Rivers has had plastic surgery.

Go spend some time in Europe and look at the history of some of the 500+ year old buildings and call this a crime! The preservation society couldn't even get this on the list and the Dallas list is small. If Dallas had built something interesting (other than a church) in the last 100 years, we would be having a different conversation. I'm all for preservation, but this one AINT it. If it were preserved over the years yes, but it was a Hard Rock! Only the R&R Hall of Fame could possibly have a "historical" blurb about this building.

100 years from now someone is going to have this same opinion about the Federal Reserve being a historical building right before the wrecking ball hits it. <Insert your building ideas here> And, it will be torn down as well.

Chevytexas

I can't say how refreshing it is to finally see some emotion (both sides) about historic preservation and its many facets, good and bad, on this site finally. I know that many on this forum view the aesthetics of urban "glister" and sometimes our history is ignored.

Many are correct: you can see the new article's commentary from neighbors --they only remember Hard Rock, not an historic building. All along McKinney Aveneu and State/Thomas, several decades ago we worked very hard to retain the original brick and buildings and residences that made it an interesting avenue. But, as happens in so many cities, urbanization made the land fit its truer value and that meant the structures were less so.

This was a good example of the challenges (and legacy) of the Landmarks Commission. The villainy, if that's really the right word, lies not with a property owner trying to generate an income but in not being given any incentive. This is not the first property --Oriental Laundry on Ross-- to suffer disappearance even after promises, once the Landmarks Commission failed to give any attention or importance.

Okay, it was a bar. For some of us, it was previously several other interesting businesses when that neighborhood was a funky Sixties and Seventies artist community and houses sold for three thousand dollars. I like what's been retained behind the Hard Rock but look for all of that to vanish as well even if it only becomes the Plano South of State/Thomas.

We appreciate the emotion; now translate it into some resistance to what will infill that tiny and constrained property. Recall that a ground lease can generate enough profit to make it into a CVS or a Wachovia without having to even sell the ground under it.

Lakewooder

Liar, Liar, LANDES Liar.

Scott you had good photos but they really made me sick and I wish I hadn't seen them.

Oh well I still won't buy a Dr Pepper nor go into the Fiesta which replaced Dahl-designed Sears Roebuck on Ross...and I doubt I shall patronize anything by Liar Landes.

hamiltonpl

It was very weird to see the rubble of this building on McKinney. They better not put a suburban pharmacy here.

And I expect big sidewalks. Angela Hunt, I'm looking at you.

__________________
DAGNABBIT!

cowboyeagle05

He's not gonna get much support for what ever he tries to get built there, even if its a Center for Kids who can't Read Good. It would be better for all of us if he does not show up around town until everybody fumed by his lying ways has had a chance to calm down, then we can deal with him in a civil way.

__________________

FoUTASportscaster

Or those who can't use grammar well.

elmstreetdallas

From http://www.lobotortillas.com

"Brett Landes is a co-founder and chairman of Lobo Tortilla Factory, Inc., a leading manufacturer of tortillas based in Dallas, Texas.

Landes brings 21 years of highly successful private investment experience to Lobo. As chairman, Landes is responsible for providing high-level managerial oversight, guidance on growth strategies and financial support.

In addition to his work with Lobo, Landes was a principal and founder of Staubach Capital Partners, an acquisition and disposition licensee of The Staubach Company, which has completed over $7 billion in transactions nationwide since 1995. He was responsible for acquiring and structuring sale-leaseback transactions with major retail and corporate clients. Landes also is president of Landes Investments, Inc. with investments including oil and gas, restaurant and pharmacy franchises, manufacturing, single-tenant assets and land development.

Prior to joining The Staubach Company in 1992, Landes operated his own company specializing in real estate finance. Previously he was associated with Lomas and Nettleton, where he focused on structuring and underwriting securitized mortgage portfolios.

Landes received a BBA from Bryan College and has been a Dallas resident since 1982."



I wonder if Roger Staubach, a man of impeccable moral character, appreciates having his name attached to such a self-serving unabashed liar as this?

JohnMcKee

I expect lot bigger concessions from him if he expects to be allowed to erect anything as much as a tent on that property than wide sidewalks.

I'm very curious and unfamiliar with how property development in the city and zoning works, won't he need permits from the city to build anything there? Is it possible to deny him any building, water service, construction or zoning permit on that property and just make him sit on it eating losses for years and years for his dishonest behavior.

I have a lot of free time and would be happy to spend a whole lot of it making sure that property is incredibly unprofitable for him and that every time he tries to change the community is reminded of his dishonesty.

JohnMcKee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO3NCAOaPME

cowboyeagle05

You ain't gonna let nothin get past you.

__________________

VagaBOND007

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum. I am a native Texan but have lived in San Francisco for years. I have been reading this forum for well over a year but only recently signed up. All I would like to say about this issue is that you really should be more concerned about what will be built and whether it will contribute to the ongoing lifestyle of those who reside there and choose to visit. Sorry but that poor church had lost all of its character years ago and quite frankly was not very attractive. Why Mr. Landes chose to mislead the citizenry is strange to me. Perhaps it has something to do with the strong neighborhood associations. Who can say? Anyway, its nice to see that Dallasites desire to protect their heritage and hopefully they can turn this negative into something great that might rise on that piece of land. Instead of fighting this "developer", convince the council and planning members to influence something you can appreciate.

SDORN

Lakewooder, I had to finish the story of This building, I was sad to see it go. My photo and others that were there tell a story that seems to repeat Builders want newer and cheaper and less time consuming way to occupy space. The city struggles getting tenents for old building, In the case of Dallas high school the owner just waits for the building to fall aprt to the point of needing to be demolished. Union bankers is landmarked but it in bad shape.

Dallas is losing too many old building because of developer not wishing to renovate but demolish.
Preservation Dallas , fights this battle with developers all the time trying to save these old buildings.
I after seeing so many building that This organization has tried to save, fall prey to the wrecking ball, I decided it was useless to protest but pick up my camera to tell the story of a building before during and after. The photo will leave a lasting memory of a building we can't or couldn't save. This has become a passion for me . Hopefully my photos of many of these will help ease the pain of losing them. I am telling a story and Photgraphically Preserving Dallas one building at a time. Is what I do it also is a chapter in history, that many take for granted.

I have said enough I love my city and the people in it. This is my way of saving this buildings.
Landis , am disappointed in he should have come out and said he was going to destroy it to begin with
Let hope for a nice development, not a Walgreens or CVS.

__________________
Scott Dorn
Hitting the streets with the cam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70886669@N00/
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JohnMcKee

Because it provides a historical context to a street that otherwise might as well have been built 20 years ago and while it has been altered represents still obviously represents a unique architectural style for the time that despite being disproved long ago not stuccoed over later, but always stucco. It was also attached to several notable figures in Dallas history, some controversial, some not.

As for why he lied, it is quite obvious, there was actually a lot of support for a historical designation that it did qualify for and had come close to receiving, had he not lied there would have been more support for a designation and a much greater chance for it receiving one. There were no neighborhood associations involved, just a community in support of saving a structure that was unquestionably of historic significance .

As for working with the community, he was given that opportunity and offered many chances for compromise including a meeting with Ms. Hunt that publicly committed to but later refused to attend, and the chance to work with the landmark board that would have provided significant say in the aspects of historic designation which could have resulted in a situation like St. Anns which preserved part of the structure but still allowed a lot of freedom in development for the developer. There is absolutely no reason to believe that he would work with the community now when he wouldn't in the past and gotten his way though dishonesty.

I don't care if I have to look at and drive by a empty field every day for the next 10 years, he has to learn that his dishonest actions have real consequences, otherwise we are basically giving him and every other developer permission to lie to the public, the city and piss all over the community needs and wants. I have to live with and look at whatever he builds there every day, he however does not.

FoUTASportscaster

Hate to say it, but this is not the first timne this has happened, and likely won't be the last. Dallas has a recent history of this.

If we are concerned about saving a historic structure and a developer told me they didn't need designation, that would raise a red flag. Yet somehow the city always seems surprised by this type of outcome.

John T Roberts

I've refrained from commenting about the demolition, but I decided to throw in my two cents. First of all, the building was still historic, mainly because of the church congregation that existed there and the use of the Hard Rock Cafe in latter years. Many of you said that you thought it had lost its architectural character, but I disagree. Granted the dome had been removed, but you could still recognize the building as a church. Even with the various alterations, the building still appeared close to its original form and shape. As for the interior, it has been significantly altered, but again they probably could have rebuilt it if someone wanted to do a restoration. The same goes true for the dome. The building was not so far gone that someone couldn't have restored it.

As for the brick being behind the stucco, that was fairly common construction practice for construction about 100 years ago, if the exterior finish was going to be stucco.

As for the developer lying and doing everything he did with the city and the Landmarks Commission, welcome to the world of preservation vs. property rights. I have seen this happen here in Fort Worth several times over the last few years. What scares me over here in Fort Worth is that many of our downtown buildings don't have any type of designation, and the ones that do, generally have Demolition Delay (DD). DD can only keep a building from being demolished for 180 days to help to provide alternatives to demolition. If nothing can be solved, then the owner has the right to demolish the building on the 181st day. If the citizens of both Fort Worth, Dallas, and other area cities want to see their historic buildings preserved, then they should request designation of the structures worthy of preservation. They should also seek tougher preservation laws. However, Texas is a big "Property Rights" state, so the chances of getting the laws changed may be a long and hard battle.

Considering all that has transpired, I would urge those who feel strongly about disgrace of the demolition and how the developer has acted, to speak up in opposition to any zoning, plan commission, development, etc. change that must go before a review board. If enough people speak up in opposition to changing existing requirements for the site, then there is a chance they changes won't be granted. On the other hand, if no zoning or development changes are required for the project, then the owner can build anything that is legally allowed. As for regular building permits and other permits for anything currently allowed, I think the city has to approve those types of developments. I don't think the applications can be rejected solely based on a developer's previous actions and statements.

FoUTA, that raises a red flag with me, as well.

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clipper

Well, he was just on Channel 11 saying he now wants to build a 15-story apartment building there. Of course, why anyone would believe anything this guys says is beyond me. I'm sure he'll be at city hall next wanting setback allowances, height variances and probably TIF money, too.