Time's Running Out for Preservationists Hoping to Save Old Oak Cliff Christian Church

Unless a buyer steps up before August 17, DISD can go ahead with plans to raze the church at 10th and Crawford.

​​Late yesterday afternoon, John McCall Jr. -- the former president of the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League and its current attorney -- sent word that the future of the old Oak Cliff Christian Church is looking bleaker than ever. Not that the building's fate has been anything but bleak as of late.

"I wish I had better news," McCall told Unfair Park. "But short of having someone come up with a purchase contract, there's just no way to save the building at this point."

And lest any potential buyers forget, would-be purchasers will have to pony up $1.2 million for the old church or next month Dallas Independent School District will be moving ahead with plans to raze the building, making way for new athletic fields for Adamson High School.

Some had hoped that perhaps a willing (and qualified) party may come forward to save the 94-year-old church on 10th Street by moving or dismantling the building itself. But, according to McCall, short of a miracle, there's not enough time to make the necessary changes to allow such a mammoth project.

McCall has been in "discussions with opposing counsel" to modify the current abatement agreement that was signed by the OOCCL back in February.

Seems under said agreement, the OOCCL agreed that unless someone makes "a bona fide, good faith offer to purchase the Property" by August 16 at 5:00 p.m. then the demolition can begin "on or after 7:00 a.m." on August 17, 2010.

McCall sought to modify the terms of the agreement to allow for the interchange of an "offer to purchase" with an "offer to move or dismantle" the property.

In his e-mail he explains the reason to seek the change of language in the abatement agreement:

The idea being that the building would be free to anyone who could qualify by proving ownership of land elsewhere and a signed contract with a mover to relocate the building.

While opposing counsel agreed that at the end of the day, DISD would have exactly what they are seeking- a clean parcel of land for sports, the School Board is the only one who can agree to rewording this Agreement and they will not meet again until after the 16th of August.

Thus it appears that only a valid sales contract will prevent the wrecking ball from dismantling the church in approximately 30 days.

So, short of a miracle, unless there's a "bona fide" offer by the deadline, then the building's gonna probably not going to be around much past 7:05 on the morning of August 17.