Dallas preservation commission recommends adding contributing buildings to local landmarks register

The Dallas Historic Preservation Commission on a unanimous voice vote recommended that the planning commission add all contributing buildings from the National Historic District to the city’s local landmarks register.

Speaker 1, the Historic Preservation Officer, told the commission staff had identified a small number of buildings that are on the National Register but not yet on the local register and recommended aligning the two lists. The process Speaker 1 described calls for standard land-use noticing to property owners and a planning commission recommendation before final council approval. "Once before this goes to the planning commission, it'll go through the regular land use noticing so that each of the property owners will receive a notice," Speaker 1 said.

Speaker 2 moved the recommended action; Ron moved, and Dan seconded the motion. Speaker 2 announced, "Motion carries unanimously." The commission did not record individual roll-call votes; Speaker 2 indicated the motion passed by unanimous assent during the public meeting.

Why it matters: bringing the local register into alignment with the National Historic District standardizes protections and documentation for contributing properties and reduces administrative mismatch between local and federal lists. Property owners retain the right to opt out through the standard noticing process and may present objections at the planning commission stage.

Next steps: The staff will transmit the commission’s recommendation to the planning commission for formal consideration; the planning commission will make a recommendation to city council, which has final authority to amend the local landmarks register.