September 9th, 2024- D Magazine- by Bethany Erickson
Last month, the Dallas City Council voted to auction off the former Family Gateway building at 711 St. Paul. Still, local preservationists have pointed out that the structure, which fell into disrepair after the nonprofit transferred ownership back to the city, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (as 1722 Marilla St.) and is inside a 2008 expansion of the Downtown Dallas National Register Historic District. It was built by Walter W. Alschlager, who was also responsible for the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, the Mercantile Bank Building in Dallas, and several New York and Chicago buildings.
Preservation Dallas president Ron Siebler wrote the Council last week, saying that the organization was concerned that information about the building’s history wasn’t shared during the briefing. In a phone call, Siebler also noted that while being listed on the register wouldn’t save the building (which is valued at $2.4 million) from being demolished, a prospective buyer might be interested in the tax credits and other economic incentives preservation would bring. In a memo Friday, interim Assistant City Manager Donzell Gipson says the property will be advertised through September 22, with an auction tentatively scheduled for October 2.
Much of Council’s discussion focused on the term “highest and best use”—whether a one-story structure built in 1947 is still appropriate for an area that is set to house a great deal of vertical development. Siebler said last week that he would hope that those looking to bid—the Council voted to require two auctions, one with the building and one for the land post-demolition—would consider federal and state tax credits that could net 45 percent of the cost of expenses for rehabilitating the building.
“It should be included in the advertising for the property,” he said.
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