How Goes That City Performance Hall, Anyway?

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Apr. 25 2011 at 9:05 AM

At left, the under-construction balcony of the City Performance Hall, seen at right in a conceptual rendering

We spent much of Saturday in the Arts District, where the 7-year-old who lives in my house went trick-or-treating amongst the hundreds of Earth Day Dallas vendors handing out an ironic number of non-biodegradable goodies. At which point the boy pointed to the under-construction building across the street from Booker T. and asked, "What's that?" Well, funny you should ask: At noon today the council's Quality of Life Committee will get an update on the City Performance Hall, the final addition to the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the one with most public money poured into the concrete -- some $40.5 million in 2003 and '06 bond funds.

Says the update, it's about 23 percent finished and on schedule to make its bow in September 2012, at which time the Office of Cultural Affairs will take the reins. Well, actually, that's due to begin before that: The city will begin taking bookings in February, and the city guesstimates that "72 events and 37 rehearsal dates will be booked for the first full‐year of operations." The city also expects that almost all the events held there will be staged by "Dallas‐based arts & cultural nonprofit organizations," and that 30 percent of all events held there will be "student shows, of which half will be free or $5 or less."

But all that discount comes with a price: The city guesstimates FY2011-12 "start‐up partial year" revenue will be $22,982, while expenses are expected to total $227,381. Per the briefing, first full-year revenue in FY2012-13 will come in at around $273,692, which should just about cover personnel. Says the city, expenses the first year will run around $494,929.

We Recommend

LaceyB

Eco trick-or-treat? Sounds like the wrong holiday. The bunny left me a back-ache, however, also a few flexoril and Lumet's "Network". I think I had the better holiday than staring at a half-built building.

Sharon Boyd

At the TJ Mayoral Debate, Candidate Rawlings said Dallas is a great city -- because 5 Dallas families gave a million dollars each to the performance hall.

It says a lot about our city that the candidate for mayor know so little about it.

Vjackson

Earth Day was great this weekend. What really stood out to me was the event really highlights how Flora Street needs to be transformed into a park-like pedestrian thoroughfare. Having that stupid street run through the Arts District is ridiculous.

Wylie H.

If I were a resident of the Park Cities, I'd be pretty steamed that the City of Dallas has been taking so long to get this project finished!

Bob

That construction seems like the longest timeline ever. Every time I pass by I see no evidence of anyone working on the shell. I get the feeling they're going slowly to keep costs down.

T.Hurst

I walked down Flora Street Friday as more than 1000 Dallas ISD students were bused in to learn about Earth Day. In the two blocks I walked before turning around and going home in disgust, I saw a fist fight, someone steal a camera, students tagging concrete with a magic marker and lots of trash being thrown on the ground. Happy Earth Day Dallas Texas style.

freddie

Sorry you were disgusted - did you assume they were DISD kids by the color of their skin? There's a DISD school across the street and apparently they don't behave the same way.

Bill Holston

I'm sure that stuff went on, but you missed a great event. The films at the DMA were outstanding. I saw so many great local environmentalists and naturalists. There was a ton of information there for the taking.

It is too bad some of the kids can't seem to show respect. But same as it ever was.

G_David

I don't know if you saw, or if it was even the situation when you were there, but I noticed exactly 2 booths that were totally abandoned: Republicans for Environmental Protection and Far North Dallas Democrats. Either these creatures are extremely elusive, or somebody was playing a joke on us.

Jgreenan

Friday afternoon I actually saw The Far North Dallas Democrat. I presume she was on break when you guys went by, and since I figure there is only one, nobody was left to cover the booth.

Robert Wilonsky

I did indeed notice both booths were empty. What wasn't: My bag full of Trinity Trust Frisbees, which feature the MMH Bridge. I gave one to Jim this morning. I've never seen him smile that wide.