While everyone's looking back at 2010, let's glance ahead at the first meeting of the Landmark Commission in the new year, which takes place Tuesday. There you'll find the results of that so-called "courtesy review" First Presbyterian Church of Dallas asked for in advance of its decision to purchase 508 Park Avenue, as well as the properties that border the site -- 1900 Young and 1905 Canton Street. While the church plans to "restore 508 Park Avenue, the Robert Johnson Building, to usable, habitable space," per docs submitted to Landmark, it wants to raze 1900 Young to build an amphitheater, as you can see in the proposal after the jump. 1905 Canton, presently an empty lot, would be converted into greenspace.
Landmark's fine with the Canton and Park proposals. But both the task force and preservation staff have the same thoughts when it comes to 1900 Young. From the staff recommendation:
Staff recommends that the existing structure is retained for another use or portions of the Young Street and Park Avenue facades are incorporated into the amphitheater design to make it more compatible with the historic overlay district, with the finding the existing structure is a contributing structure to the Dallas Downtown National Register District with the final plans, elevations, and details submitted for Landmark Commission approval.And, per the landmark task force:
Support the church's overall concept for 1900 Young St. 508 Park & 1905 Canton, but would ask for consideration of retaining the 1900 Young building or CR 1 -2 some of its components such as the corner tower and vertical sunshade elements if possible.Of course, this is all contingent upon one thing -- that First Presby buys the property from the Glazers, who've been trying since forever to raze the property. Anyone else steps in at the last minute, all bets are off.
