When Oak Cliff United Methodist suffered fire damage in January 2024, there was widespread concern that the historic building might face demolition. However, preservationists, led by A.J. Ramler and his team at Proxy Properties, have initiated the initial measures to preserve the historical landmark.
“Finding an owner who wants to preserve it and adaptively reuse it is a win for the whole district. It’s a labor of love. I’m thankful Proxy Properties figured out a way to preserve it,” said Dallas City Councilman Chad West, per Candy’sDirt.
The City of Dallas has granted the Proxy Properties application to switch the zoning from regional retail to mixed-use with a historic district overlay. This alteration in zoning will enable a combination of residential and commercial use.
Here is more information from Candy’s Dirt about the preservation effort of the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church, constructed in 1915:
Although the first hurdle has been passed, this process could still take some time. Proxy is working with Architexas, a firm with a stellar reputation for restoring historic Texas courthouses. Their expertise in preservation and adaptive reuse makes them the perfect partner for this project.
Architexas Principal Mike Karnowski is working on the next steps, which begin with a presentation to the City of Dallas’ Economic Development’s Tax Increment Financing program (TIF).
The City’s tax increment financing (TIF) program identifies under-performing real estate in the City, develops redevelopment plans, works with private developers to implement these plans, and reinvests a portion of property tax revenues generated from new real estate development into the area to encourage the implementation of the redevelopment plan.
City of Dallas
“We are also working to get the property on the National Register of Historic Places,” Karnowski said. “Once the property is on the federal registry, that designation allows the developer to recover tax credits for construction costs.”
“This is like planting a seed,” preservation consultant Jim Anderson said. “It’s a great beginning to a revitalization effort in North Oak Cliff.”
Like any seed, the process of coming to fruition takes patience and perseverance. We wish Ramler and Proxy Properties the best of luck and are eager to see what unfolds in North Oak Cliff in the next couple of years.