Nearly two weeks after a major water line break and electrical short forced more than 175 residents to evacuate Downtown Dallas’ historic Mercantile Building, the high-rise remains closed and uninhabitable — and tenants now say the halls reek and no one is guarding what’s left behind, according to WFAA.
The October 2 rupture caused extensive electrical damage, leading management to declare the property “uninhabitable for a prolonged period of time.” Emails sent to residents informed them that leases would be terminated and units opened for ventilation to reduce humidity.
Brookfield Properties, which manages the Mercantile, has canceled all leases and is offering refunds for October rent and deposits, along with relocation payments of $3,700 for one-bedroom units and $4,800 for two-bedroom apartments, per WFAA and CBS Texas.
Residents told WFAA the building now “smells like dead possums” and appears unguarded despite assurances of on-site security. “There’s nobody at the front desk — absolutely nothing,” said tenant Jacqueline Kolski, who has returned daily to check on her belongings. “It’s like a smash-and-grab without the smash.”
Video from inside the building shows damp hallways filled with drying equipment and debris. Several tenants told reporters they have been unable to move out due to unsafe conditions and lingering moisture.
City of Dallas officials confirmed the Mercantile has not been condemned, but the structure remains unsafe for occupancy. Four residents were treated for minor injuries, and a firefighter was hospitalized for heat exhaustion during the evacuation earlier this month.
Built in 1943, the Mercantile Building was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in the downtown skyline. The city designated it a historic landmark in 2006.
As of October 14, Brookfield Properties has not responded to media requests for comment or released a timeline for repairs or reentry, leaving dozens of displaced residents in limbo as they search for new housing.