The Cost of Standing Still
The Cost of Standing Still
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At 48 years old, nearly every major system at Dallas City Hall has reached or exceeded its useful life. The building is beyond piecemeal repairs and now requires wholesale intervention just to remain operational.
Total 20-year Occupancy Cost: $1.1–$1.4 billion
The Result
After spending over a billion dollars, Dallas returns to:
The same building
The same inefficient use of space
Land that produces zero economic return
A billion-dollar investment with no upside.
The Required Spending
$329 million in corrective repairs
Assumes City Hall is fully vacated
Covers only basic systems: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, roof, parking garage
No modernization, no reconfiguration
The Disruption
Repairs require a 5-year vacancy
$113 million in temporary relocation costs (lease + fit-out)
The Cost to Come Back
$165 million to make City Hall move-in ready
Interiors
ADA compliance
Furniture
Technology
The Long-Term Price Tag
$299–$360 million in financing costs (20 years)
$277 million in operating expenses (20 years)
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