The timeline
Dallas spent fourteen years planning and building City Hall. The push to leave it took about eighteen months — in which the public repair estimate grew roughly tenfold, and the question quietly changed from how do we fix the building to where do we move instead. Here is the sequence, in order.
Nov 221963
President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. In the years that follow, Mayor J. Erik Jonsson's Goals for Dallas program sets out to rebuild the city's image — with a new city hall at its center.
Jun1966
Dallas selects I.M. Pei — then also designing the Kennedy presidential library — as the architect.
1972
Construction begins on Marilla Street.
Mar1978
City Hall opens to the public.
1982
The new central library — later named for Erik Jonsson — opens across Young Street, facing City Hall.
Jan–Feb2024
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts later says he had discussed City Hall as a possible arena site "over a year ago" — before any public process began.
Mar 32025
The Historic Landmark Commission votes unanimously to begin the landmark designation process for City Hall.
Jun 182025
First public repair estimate: $81–121 million.
Oct 212025
The estimate grows to $142–345 million at the Finance Committee.
Nov 92025
The mayor says the city should consider relocating regardless of the building's architectural significance.
Nov 122025
Council votes 12–3 to explore relocation options.
Dec2025
Internal emails discuss touring relocation sites in ways that avoid quorum rules — meaning no public meeting, no public record.
Feb 202026
The city's consultant report lands: renovation priced at more than $1 billion, with no price attached to any alternative.
Mar 92026
The Dallas Morning News reports on roughly 5,000 pages of internal emails about the behind-the-scenes discussions.
Jun 92026
A temporary restraining order, brought under the Open Meetings Act, blocks the scheduled relocation and redevelopment votes.
Jun 102026
Council denies phased repairs, 9–6.
Jun 172026
Council votes 9–5 to spend $3 million searching for somewhere else to go — using money moved off a City Hall generator and electrical repair line.
~Aug 262026
The city manager is due back with candidate relocation sites and a repair-versus-relocation comparison — in the middle of budget season.
The meetings where you can say something are on the front page.
Data subject to review. Corrections: chris@1500marilla.com
1500 MARILLA