As First Presbyterian Closes on 508 Park Ave., A Closer Look at Its Plans for Landmark Location

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Jun. 29 2011 at 9:06 AM

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Late last summer we caught wind of First Presbyterian's plans to purchase 508 Park Avenue, the former Brunswick Records regional office near Dallas City Hall in which Robert Johnson, Bob Wills and others once recorded. Yesterday, after myriad stops in front of the Landmark Commission, where the church had to make the case for razing next-door 1900 Young, the church finally closed on the property -- and immediately launched a website detailing its plans for the landmark location and the two other adjacent properties.

The Stewpot's blog sheds further light on what's to come -- including that outdoor amphitheater about which we've written and a recording studio, for starters. Here, let Rev. Dr. Bruce A. Buchanan, executive director of The Stewpot and First Presby associate pastor, explain:

"508 Park has long been a place of pilgrimage for Blues lovers. We understand the great desire to step into the building where Johnson recorded, and we have every goal of not just bringing it up to code, but preserving and restoring historically-significant areas of the building. We hope to create a state-of-the-art recording studio in the area where Robert Johnson was known to have recorded his legendary music those hot June days in 1937. Additionally, plans are under consideration for the first floor of this 3 1/2 floor, 23,000 square foot building to be used for music education, an art gallery, and a Spirit of the Blues empowerment coffee bar."

Read all about it here.

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hopalong

Very positive news and good that they are going to clean up that corner of the world.

dwi

Where are all the kool kids who have been bashing the prebys?

Grumpy Demo

They're just proving you can be uninformed and intolerant without being religious.

Ellum08

Right here. I don't have a problem per se with what First Presbyterian has in the works for 508 Park Avenue.

I am glad they decided to buy the building and restore it considering no one else had an interest in it based on what lies across the street.

hopalong

There has always been interest in that building especially by music enthusiests but the owners had the building grossly overpriced considering the repairs that would have to be done. The building was in such disrepair the city started fining the owners and the price dropped offering opportunity for a new owner. It is good they agreed to let the non historical part come down so they could do some positive restoration and beautification in that area.

hopalong

Pardon the error I meant enthusiasts.

Guest

I guess preserving this building and its history as a venue for proselytizing and recording of sub-par Christian rock is better than not preserving it at all...

Grumpy Demo

" sub-par Christian rock"

Don't know anything about Presbyterians do we?

We Presby's aren't really into Pop Christian music, simple little songs about a simple little god. You need to go up the road a bit. Stop by some Sunday you might be surprised.

Here's the stuff we promote:

http://www.unclecalvins.org/

Pat Boyack

How many Presbyterian Christian rock bands are there?

Guest

Four.

Pat Boyack

Wow.

El Rey

Just tell them that this is where the hit songs "Hell Hound on My Trail," "Drunken Hearted Man," and "Me and the Devil Blues" were recorded. That should scare away the zealots...

DuckDuckGoose

'sub par Christian rock' possibly so.

There's also just as much a chance of Clapton returning, maybe Jack White, Billy Gibbons ...

Matthew Gunter

Very cool. When they're done I will certainly visit, homeless folks outside or not.

Cowtown

Two thumbs up to you, BIg D, First Presb, and the Stewpot for preserving this piece of history. I have some Robert Johnson playing right now, imagining him recording in that building.