The City of Dallas is proceeding with the demolition of a former homeless shelter at 711 S. St. Paul, concluding that it is not the best use of the prime location.

After being auctioned in October, the new owner, likely Hoque Global, will take possession post-demolition, reported Candy’sDirt.

Despite its historic designation and potential for economic incentives, City officials, led by Downtown Councilmember Jesse Moreno, have prioritized demolition due to the building’s deterioration since a local nonprofit vacated the site.

The demolition process is expected to start in early January 2025, pending permit approvals.

Here is the rest of the story from Candy’sDirt:

After determining that a one-story former homeless shelter is not the highest and best use for a prime spot in downtown Dallas, city officials are proceeding with the demolition of 711 S. St. Paul in early January.

The property was auctioned in October and the winning bidder agreed to take ownership of the site post-demolition. According to reports, the new landowner will be Hoque Global, although the company is not mentioned in a Dec. 6 memorandum about 711 S. St. Paul.

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The City-owned property fell into disrepair after a local nonprofit left the downtown site (in pristine condition, by all accounts) for a new building in Far North Dallas. Squatters and vandals overtook 711 S. St. Paul, much to the dismay of Downtown Councilmember Jesse Moreno, who led the charge to get the building sold and has supported its pending demolition.

A curveball came when historic preservationists pointed out that the 17,646-square-foot building was constructed in 1947 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. That means 711 S. St. Paul could be eligible for economic incentives and tax credits if a new owner were to preserve and rehabilitate the building.

Council members agreed, however, that the demolition show must go on.

The Road to Demolition

According to this month’s memo, filed by Interim Assistant City Manager Donzell Gipson, the property is subject to the City Council’s 2015 Demolition Delay Ordinance, which mandates a 45-day waiting period before a demo permit can be issued.

“Once the permit is released, the City will notify the State of the intended asbestos abatement,” according to Gipson’s memo. “This notification requires an additional 10-business-day waiting period before demolition can proceed. In the meantime, staff will continue to complete pre-demolition preparation activities and other necessary due diligence. Barring any unforeseen delays or inclement weather, demolition is anticipated to begin and be completed in early January 2025. The City will continue to monitor the property and promptly address any issues that may arise until demolition is finalized. Once a demolition date is confirmed, it will be communicated to the City Council.”

What’s the status of the new Family Gateway building?

As the Dallas City Council dealt with the mess of 711 S. St. Paul this fall, it came to light that Family Gateway, the nonprofit that previously inhabited the downtown building, was having problems with its new City-owned site on Preston Road.

At an August meeting of the City Council’s Government Performance and Financial Management Committee, Family Gateway president and CEO Ellen Magnis explained that a May storm prompted the need for roof repairs. The matter wasn’t addressed quickly and water damage and mold were later reported, prompting the business to evacuate part of the building and temporarily shut down its downstairs childcare facility.

Magnis and Assistant Director of Facilities and Real Estate Management Brian Thompson reported during a December GPFM meeting that the facility is back in good shape.

“We are substantially finished with the repairs specifically related to the end of May’s storm on Family Gateway North,” Magnis said. “We uncovered some issues that contributed to the damage related to the storm but were more infrastructure-related that now need ongoing support and I believe need further council support.”

Thompson echoed that the repair and rehabilitation phase is substantially complete, noting the childcare operations are back in full swing. He said he anticipated coming back before the committee or the full council in the near future to seek approval for the infrastructure maintenance needs identified as “phase two.”

“From an exterior perspective, we did identify that the exterior membrane — and I’ll put it in the words of our contractors — at some point was installed in an inferior or inappropriate manner that is allowing water penetration into the interior framing,” he said. “We have engaged a contractor to give us an evaluation and proposal on that exterior membrane.”

About 93 windows need to be replaced and some interior window framing needs repairs, he added.