The city of Dallas on Thursday released more than 400 submissions from residents and others with ideas on what to do with its City Hall building. They ranged from saving the building to destroying it.
The city had asked the public this year what it should do with the aging building, which was designed by I.M. Pei, an architect known for other distinctive designs, like the Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong.
The call-out came as the city grappled with two problems: what to do with a building that faces costly repairs, and how to keep the Dallas Mavericks, the city’s N.B.A. team, from moving to the suburbs when their lease ends at the American Airlines Center. One idea has been to tear down City Hall and build a new arena for the Mavericks.
The future of Dallas City Hall has created a stir around the city. Some residents welcome the concept of a new arena. Others fiercely oppose the idea of tearing down a building designed by a famed architect, with some putting up yard signs that say, “Save Dallas City Hall.”
Out of 418 submissions, 321 involved plans to repair or restore the existing building, and 85 involved destroying it and erecting something else on the property.
The Mavericks made a submission to the city, but it did not include a detailed proposal for a new arena.
“Given the level of detail required to support a responsible and credible submission for a project of this complexity, it would be premature to submit a draft concept at this time,” Gina Miller, a team spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Our focus remains on identifying the right long-term solution in Dallas.”
In a letter to the city, the team’s chief venue officer, Theo Hodges, said the Mavericks remained “committed to keeping the team in the City of Dallas.”
In the letter, the team said that it envisions a new multipurpose arena with a corporate headquarters on more than 50 acres of land. The project would include a hotel and space for a mixed-used development with shops and restaurants. The letter said that the team was looking forward to seeing whether downtown Dallas could be a home for that project.
Of the more than 400 submissions, some were also more statements than specific designs. One proposal, made by Joe Barentine, simply said, “Save City Hall.”
Another submission, made by Brad Friedman, said that the building should be used “for retail/restaurant as part of the Mavs arena project. Similar to Texas Live! in Arlington.”
Texas Live! is an entertainment center in Arlington, Texas, outside Globe Life Field, home stadium of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. The space includes several restaurants and shops, and is a place where many fans stop before or after games.
A report released this year by the city of Dallas revealed that it could cost more than $1 billion over 20 years to make repairs to the City Hall building. In March, the City Council also voted to look into what it would take to relocate operations, such as the city’s 911 call center.
Dallas City Council is scheduled to have a briefing on Wednesday to go over what it would take to repair the building.
Jesus Jiménez is a Times reporter covering North Texas. He is based in Dallas.
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