Lawsuit, ballooning costs stall Dallas City Hall relocation

Following a missed relocation options presentation deadline, it's beginning to look like the city of Dallas doesn't know what to do with their City Hall building, and demolition estimates are climbing. A lawsuit filed in an attempt to block the demolition of the I.M. Pei-designed building could complicate the relocation process as well. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert told the Dallas City Council in June that she wanted the debate on what to do with the City Hall building at 1500 Marilla Street wrapped up by the end of August. In the June meeting, City Council told Tolbert to have specifics on leasing options and relocation plans, but according to the Dallas Business Journal, the report still has not gone through. Dallas City Council members told the publication that the delay is reasonable: demolition estimates are coming in much higher than the city likes, with one official calling the spend 'astronomically' high. Staying in the building would cost the city more, though, with modernization and deferred maintenance cost estimates creeping over $1 billion over 20 years. Dallas is looking to follow in Fort Worth's footsteps by moving into a downtown building that's privately owned, according to the outlet, who cited an interview of Gay Donnell Willis by WFAA. Potential sites for the new City Hall location could be the Comerica Bank Tower and the Bryan Tower, according to the outlet, who cited anonymous sourcing. SIGN UP Before they get on with moving City Hall, the City Council will have to figure out what to do with a lawsuit attempting to block the demolition of the City Hall building. The Save Dallas City Hall Coalition is accusing city leaders of intentionally neglecting the building to justify relocation. The lawsuit claims officials essentially halted crucial, but expensive upkeep tasks despite having available funds. The City Council will discuss the lawsuit with a city attorney on Wednesday in a closed-door session. — Hunter Cooke