Photo by Harry Bennett, via eBay seller "ericdatz"

​A couple of years back we virtually toured the Mercantile Bank Building as it looked following its 1958 redo, when Heritage Auctions made available 17 never-before-seen photos of R.L. Thornton's skyscraper taken by legendary Chicago-based architectural-photo firm Hedrich Blessing. Those photos, offered in a single package initially guesstimated to be worth several thousand, never did sell (thought for sure Forest City would have snapped 'em up). Only recently, on behalf of a still-interested Friend of Unfair Park, I asked Heritage's PR man Noah Fleisher is the seller was still interested in parting with the pictures. He said he'd look into it.

Photo by William Langley, via eBay seller "ericdatz"

​Then, a couple of days back, Friend of Unfair Park PeterK dispatched me a trio of photos taken inside the mighty Merc in the 1940s, not long after it was finished in '43. Back then, of course, it was a significant structure for myriad reasons: It counted among its architects Walter W. Ahlschlager, famous for his work in Chicago and New York City. It was, by all accounts, the sole significant skyscraper built in the U.S. during World War II. And it was, till '54, the tallest building in the city.

Turns out there are far more than three photos of the Merc being sold on eBay: A seller in San Diego is sitting on a dozen, each still sitting a mere $9.99 with four days left, all but one taken by William Langley, whose own career appears to span the rough-n-tumble days of the Dallas Dispatch to the Texas Centennial Exposition in '36 (where he rounded up "beautiful bevies") to an ad assignment so unusual (at the time, at least) it landed him in Life magazine in 1959. (And Langley, intriguingly, mentored a young Jeff Kimball, who would go on to become the cinematographer responsible for the look of Top Gun, among other familiar titles.)

I'd begin the tour here. Then, in no particular order: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and, finally, here. Interestingly, the last photo -- the only one with actual people in it -- wasn't taken by Langley. At least, it's not credited to him. Rather, says the seller, the back of the photo is stamped: "HARRY BENNETT - 2108 McKinney - Dallas, Texas Phone 7-4906."

The "Harris Kemp House" at 2822 Maple Springs Boulevard

​I've driven past this house countless times; it's not far from the office, after all, more or less just behind Maple and Motor on Maple Springs Boulevard. But till I saw the agenda for Monday's meeting of the Landmark Commission, I had no idea that it was designed by one of its former residents -- none other than Harris Kemp, one of the city's most important post-war architects (he served, for 11 years, as chief designer in the offices of George Dahl Architect & Engineers) and a man who had his hand in, among other things, The Dallas Morning News building and Dallas City Hall and Memorial Auditorium. Says the historic designation doc, its current owner wants to create an historic overlay district for the "Harris Kemp House." Why? Those reasons are below.More >>

Merriman Associates Architects

​So, maybe you noticed: On Monday we checked in to see how progress, or whatever, was going with efforts to redo 1401 Elm Street. That's the George Dahl-designed building Mike Sarimsakci was going to spruce up with $30 million in TIF money from Dallas City Hall. Except, turns out, the Turk's parted ways with Istanbul-based developer Polidev and turned his attention to 500 South Ervay next to City Hall. We'll get back to that one later. Monday, probably. Waiting on some emails from Istanbul (not Constantinople).

Anyway. About 1401 Elm. We got an email today from Atil Karagoz, executive veep at Polidev, who took notice of Monday's item and wanted to fill in a few blanks. I sent him a missive this morning asking a few more questions; haven't heard back. Till then, though, this is what he says about how Polidev intends to proceed with the former Elm Place, which was shuttered two years ago:More >>

Photos by Mike Brooks

​Shortly after the clock struck just past midnight Sunday, Erykah Badu, behind the wheel of a matte black Stingray, led a funeral procession down Main Street -- not far, mind you, just from Pegasus Plaza at Main and Akard to the front door of PM Nightlife Lounge at The Joule, which is all of, what, 407 feet. A band trailed behind Badu, their soundtrack morphing from mournful to joyful along the abbreviated route, and not just any band but the Rebirth Brass Band, who filled downtown with a big, brief blast of their New Orleans-imported heavy funk. Behind them: a hearse.

The event, after which Badu was to deejay till the wee small hours, was intended to mark the adios of the lounge in the hotel's basement, which is now closed as Joule owner Tim Headington begins that much-talked-about expansion that will see the danceteria turned into a screening room and recording studio. But it was also something bigger: "a funeral for Main Street as it is today, before its rebirth," in the words of one of Badu's business partners, Paul Levatino. Which is why there were camera crews on hand to capture the brief, wonderful moment -- prolonged when Badu, clad in top hat and trench coat, danced among the band and onlookers who'd joined in and filled up the closed-off Main Street. A film of some sorts is in the works; details remain a bit blurry.

But in coming days there will be much action to document: City officials confirmed this week that the old Praetorian at 1607 Main -- the tallest skyscraper in the West upon its completion in 1909 -- is being prepared for its imminent demise, with interior demolition and abatement taking place at this moment. Theresa O'Donnell, head of Sustainable Development, says that according to the plans at present: "One half of the building will be dismantled; the other half will be imploded." Those historic buildings next to it are either gone already or about to meet the wrecking ball. Last night the funeral procession was as much for them as for a dance club; those buildings deserve their proper send-off, after all.

A slide show is in the workshere; till then, look out below.More >>

Nurses gathered on the front steps of the Good Samaritan Hospital in 1933

​In June 2010 we told you the remarkable tale of a rather unremarkable-looking building that stands at 4526 Leland Avenue, near the intersection of Hatcher Street and S. Central Expressway in South Dallas. It came to our attention because its owner, Vanessa Baker, was seeking landmark status for the property -- property, we were told, that long ago was known as the Good Samaritan Hospital, a community almshouse founded by a German immigrant named Martha Schultze and her husband. After that, owners James and Bertha Baker -- Vanessa's parents -- opened in the old hospital the Baker Residential Hotel, which, according to city documents, "could possibly be the first licensed residential hotel for African-Americans in Dallas." It would operate as such until 2006.

We told you in 2010 of Baker's plans to rehab the building and reopen it as "a community theater for neighborhood kids." Those efforts remain very much in place after all this time: On New Year's Eve Roy Appleton wrote a piece about Vanessa and Bertha's intention to "return the building to community service, perhaps with spaces for meetings, tutoring, play rehearsals, a writing laboratory or a catering kitchen, in addition to Vanessa's quarters." To do so, though, they are hoping for official city landmark designation, to help with securing historic tax exemptions. They want to fund the overhaul through a nonprofit called Good Samaritan at the Baker Estate.

On Wednesday the city council will vote to approve its historic status, which the City Plan Commission approved in November after it passed through Landmark. On the other side is a riveting read: Landmark's official history of the building and its owners, compiled after city staffers combed through the archives and talked with those who knew of its storied past. It's also loaded with pages' worth of old photos like the one seen above. A truly remarkable treasure trove.More >>

Doesn't seem all that long ago that Edwin Cabaniss first told us about his plans for the old Kessler Theater on W. Davis; sweet fancy mayor, has it really been more than two years since Tom Leppert put his shovel into the dirt? From risky concept to necessity to institution in such a short time, I'm not sure we don't already take the Kessler for granted as it marches toward its only-two-year birthday in March.

I was thinking about all that while watching the short film -- part history-of, part promo, part roll call -- you see above, narrated by one Jeff Liles, but of course. I stumbled across it this morning and asked Jeff what it was for. He explained: It's a clip made last week that's being dispatched to booking agents in New York and Los Angeles who might otherwise be unfamiliar with the Kessler as they consider venues for their clients, be they musicians or authors on speaking tours or even burlesque performers in need of a stage. Says Jeff, "This was made just to let them know there is another viable option here that is actually in the middle of a burgeoning creative community." Another version, featuring predominantly local performers, is on its way.

And for those wondering about the singer seen at the beginning and heard throughout: That's the extraordinary Damon K. Clark, a Kessler regular whose lone CD, a collection of jazz standards, was recorded ... where else?

Via David Kirkpatrick

A look at one of the Merc's mosaics before it was removed

​For close to two years we've written here and there (and there and there and ...) about Tim Headington's slow-but-sure downtown takeover via The Joule's expansion, which, we recently learned, is the reason the Praetorian and those other old buildings along Elm are being razed. And now we know, in part, for what.

To begin: 2,500 square feet added to the lobby ("anticipate an all-hours vibe somewhere between the allure of a library coffee bar and the mystique of a classic cocktail lounge"); 31 new guest rooms (including one single-story penthouse and two three-story penthouses, not to mention "a 4,000 square-foot rooftop terrace and garden that can accommodate 500 people"); a revamped PM Lounge that will include "a 600-square foot screening room with seating for 25 and a 1,350-square foot recording studio"; an "8,000 square-foot subterranean spa"; and a second Charlie Palmer eatery, this one featuring "certified Neapolitan pizzas, fresh-off-the-grill plates and handmade breads and pastries."

But for some Friends of Unfair Park, this may be the biggest, best part of the press release:

The Joule's art collection will also grow with the addition of historic mosaics from the original Mercantile National Bank Building. The mosaics, an important piece of Dallas history, were slated to be destroyed during that building's renovation, but were rescued by Joule-owner Tim Headington. Originally commissioned during the art deco period by former Dallas Mayor R.L. Thornton, the handmade mosaics were shipped from Venice and installed in the Mercantile National Bank Building. The mosaics, which depict the basic elements of nature -- earth, wind, fire and water -- range in size from only a few feet high to more than 20 feet. The works, restored by conservation specialist Michael van Enter, will be installed in The Joule's new VIP Corridor and ballroom pre-function space.

Here's a fascinating look at the mosaics being removed; look forward to seeing them restored, should I ever be allowed in the VIP Corridor, which is highly doubtful.

Photo by Noah Jeppson

Yesterday Noah took several photos of what remains of 1604 Elm, along with the scar left by the demolition of 1600 Elm last week.

​You may have noticed in recent days that Elm Street downtown is missing another one of its old buildings: the 70-year-old-or-so 1600 Elm, which was razed last week as part of the Joule expansion. We knew it was coming down; we just didn't know when. Also on the chopping block: 1604 Elm, which has a demolition permit on display. Turns out it was granted the same day Tim Headington's company got the OK to raze the Praetorian Building, the West's first skyscraper.

The building at 1604 Elm is among the oldest in downtown: Records indicate the former Hite Building was built in 1900, and that it once served as a W. T. Grant storefront. But like most of the smaller storefronts downtown, it went to ruin while skyscrapers took root around it. Which is why 1604 Elm, not to mention the other buildings around Stone Street being demolished by Headington, don't need Landmark Commission consent before they're razed: They're considered "non-contributing" pieces of the Downtown Dallas Historic District.

That said, Friend of Unfair Park and downtown resident Noah Jeppson can't help but note: Those buildings are just two being added to the growing pile of rubble up and down Elm, which is slowly but surely being shed of whatever history that remains: "In the course of eight months," writes Noah, "807 Elm, 1600 Elm, 1604 Elm, 2222 Elm, 2224 Elm and 2226 Elm will have been leveled."

Photo at left courtesy the Dallas Public Library Texas/Dallas History Division

Then and now: 500 South Ervay in 1955, and a more recent photo

​Back in May, at the request of a City Hall worker who's been staring at the carnage next door for far too long, we peaked into 500 South Ervay and discovered the old Butler Brothers furniture warehouse wasn't just a 500,000-square foot mess, but also one tied up in litigation with ... dunh dunh dunh ... Dallas City Hall. But David Glasscock, exec vice president at Colliers International, says all that bankruptcy stuff has been taken care of. He also says the building has a new owner, as of September 30: a California-based partnership that plans to restore and do ... something with the building. What, exactly, it's not quite sure.

"It just needs some love," Glasscock tells Unfair Park this morning of the building on the tax rolls for $2.5 million. "You can do a lot of uses with it. We're not just going to build 600 loft apartments."

He says the new owners liked the building and saw potential for that end of downtown, near the convention center and City Hall. And while there were concerns over the proximity of the Stewpot -- the same concerns that kept investors from buying nearby 508 Park Avenue for years -- in the end, the Cali-based owners decided to go for it, Glasscock says.

"There are so many great things about the building and its location," he says. "Even though the soup kitchen's close, and that's always an issue, but you go to San Francisco or other big cities, and there are soup kitchens everywhere. ... And the building's been cleaned out and cleared. There were some worries about environmental issues in there, but they were comfortable with those [after some testing was done]."More >>

From the '09 docs, prepared before Central was rechristened César Chávez Boulevard

​Next week's council agenda makes it official: The long-talked-about expansion of César Chávez Boulevard and Pearl Expressway downtown, from Commerce Street to Live Oak Street, is on track to begin in December. The council is set to sign off on paying $12,473,920 to Tiseo Paving Company to do the job, which entails installing ....

... a six-lane divided boulevard with turn lanes, wider sidewalks, landscaping, pedestrian lighting, benches, trash receptacles, signal upgrades, storm drainage, water and wastewater improvements for Cesar Chavez Boulevard (Central Expressway) from Commerce Street to Live Oak Street and Pearl Expressway from Pacific Avenue to Live Oak Street. The contract will also include the removal of the existing pavement sections and be replaced by sod inside the Carpenter Plaza Park. One-way traffic operation on Live Oak Street will be converted to a two-way traffic operation from Olive Street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard (Central Expressway).

Says the time line, work will take a good long while -- till July 2014, which means, for the first time, I won't miss our old home at 2130 Commerce.

But that reminds me: When last we wrote about the project, it was when the city was trying to buy up those properties on Elm that need to be razed to make way for the expansion, including 2226 Elm, which was built in 1896 and is easily among the oldest still-standing structures downtown.More >>