After a high-profile demolition claimed a 129-year-old building in Dallas, preservationists are getting a seat at the table in the form of a newly formed task force.
"At year’s end the Dallas City Council was considering a task force to look at stopping, or at least pausing, the razing of historic downtown buildings," according to Robert Wilonsky.
Wilonsky goes on to announce the new members of the task force (as Wilonsky puts it, "who’s going to stand between history and the wrecking ball"), which will be led by Preservation Dallas Executive Director Katherine Seale.
Wilonsky also quotes directly from a statement released by Seale to describe her expectations for the role of the task force: "The task force will start by looking inwardly at where we are now as a city with preservation and development policies, where we have been over time and the major moments in between….From there, the group will look outwardly at how other cities blend development with preservation for mutual benefit and come back to the city with recommendations and best practices."
FULL STORY: Dallas task force to examine the demolition of historic downtown buildings
'Big, Excellent News' for Dallas Preservationists
The Dallas City Council surprised everyone by reversing early indications of reticence and giving full support to the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Task Force.
Preservation Task Force Hits a Wall in Dallas City Council
Big questions remain about how Dallas will address preservation controversies in the future. Meanwhile the past hangs in the balance.
Dallas Delays Controversial Downtown Demolitions
In what is described as a "Penn Station moment," Dallas has approved a demolition delay ordinance for historic buildings downtown. This is an uncharacteristic victory for preservation.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research