City Timeline

Next Key Date: Likely the Feb. 21 City Council meeting.

Dallas Landmark Commission:

On March 3, 2025, the Dallas Landmark Commission voted unanimously to initiate the Landmark Designation process for Dallas City Hall. Landmark Commissioner Reagan Rothenberger requested the initiation. Prior to this vote by the Landmark Commission, the Designation Committee also met to discuss Commissioner Rothenberger's request and recommended initiation. Mr. Rothenberger noted in his letter the fact the building had received no bond funding in the 2024 bond election, and that the site was not discussed in any future planning documents with the adjacent KBHCC Redevelopment.

No staff of the City of Dallas appeared before the Landmark Commission to discuss the condition of the building, nor the City of Dallas voice any concern of designation at that time. The discussion of the item may be viewed here.

Currently, the Designation Committee is drafting a Landmark Designation Report that will be provided to the Landmark Commission when completed. It will also be posted here when made public. This report will detail the history of the building in a formal manner, and will likely provide the most complete history of the building to date.

City Council & Committees (Click underlined portion for video.)

On October 21st, 2025 the City Council Finance Committee held their first meeting to discuss the future of City Hall. Chair West opened the meeting by reading the mayor’s memo defining the committee, saying the committee’s purpose is to “Determine whether Dallas City Hall and other municipal facilities effectively support city operations and best serve the citizens of Dallas.”

It was at this meeting that staff presented a presentation that showed the repair costs from the building would total between $142 and $345 million. These were at best "guestimates" and we admittedly high level per staff. Staff focused on saying that a Facility Condition Assessment could uncover more costs. Staff admitted that no recent condition assessment has been completed.

On November 3, 2025, a combined meeting of the City Council Finance Committee and Economic Development Committee was held. The only item on the agenda was City Hall. An executive session regarding its sale was held.

On November 11, 2025, Dallas City Council held its first full council session to discuss the issue. City Council ultimately voted on the following resolution.

Councilmember West moved to adopt the resolution with the following changes:

• Section 2 the scope of the evaluation is amended to include:

o 2(a) evaluate office space needs for departments currently located within city hall, Oak Cliff Municipal Center, and other major city staff facilities.

o 2(d) retain external expertise pursuant to applicable laws, to review city hall repair needs and costs.

o 2(f) present findings on the scope of evaluation to the finance committee as soon as possible, but no later than February 2026.

• Sections 3 and 4 are combined to read as follows: o the city manager is directed to evaluate economic development options for city hall in a way that is supportive of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Master Plan and Fair Park improvements that increase tax revenue to the city and that create catalytic growth in the central business district and the southern sector, including:  complete a market study of the highest and best use for the site;  based on the market study findings, an analysis of the potential economic impact of the redevelopment of the site vs. the economic impact of the current development; and  determine the value of the city hall site. o The city manager is directed to consider and determine the appropriate funding sources to support the evaluations, including the ARPA Redevelopment Fund.

CM's Mendelsohn, Ridley, and Blackmon, voted no on the motion.

In early December, the City of Dallas tapped the Dallas Economic Development Corporation to perform this evaluation that was voted upon by City Council. The EDC is separate from the city, but all members were appointed by City Council and the organization is funded by the city. The EDC has engaged with AECOM who will present a new evaluation of the facility, and the EDC will present its general economic development findings. It is to be presented to the City Manager on January 19th. This is just over a months time, an undeniably fast turnaround for such a report.