The Dallas City Council has approved a proposal to construct apartment buildings where the historic Atlas Metal Works plant currently stands in West Dallas at 818 Singleton Blvd.
Despite the concerns of historical preservationists, the city council permitted the apartment builder, Lantower Living, to redevelop the land into a rental community with retail space. The development would include two five-story residential buildings with a combined 400 apartment units, according to The Dallas Morning News.
This is the largest piece of land available for development on Singleton Boulevard, which has been rapidly transitioning from industrial to more residential.
David Prezioso, an activist for historic preservation, stated that the plant should be preserved since it is “one of [the city’s] very few industrial complexes from the early 1900s.” While he admitted to the DMN that “it was not built to be a great work of architecture,” he insisted that its contributions to the city remain important.
According to city Councilmember Omar Narvaez, the complex’s warehouses cannot be preserved as they are “full of asbestos.”
The council instead prioritized keeping “all the green area up against Singleton Boulevard,” which Narvaez called “vital for the community.”
Narvaez also claimed that the buildings are an eyesore for many in the neighborhood. He believes most residents are in favor of the development.
The Atlas Metal Works plant dates back to the 1920s and encompasses roughly six acres. The company was founded in Dallas in 1904 but moved its complex to West Dallas in 1929. During World War II, Atlas Metal Works used its resources to manufacture goods for the armed forces.