Karen Eubank: When I heard about the roof collapse at Marquita Court, a wave of dread washed over me. I rang Daltxrealestate.com photographer Mimi Perez, and we met at the corner of Matilda and Marquita on Tuesday to see the damage. We were worried, but determining whether or not a damaged historic building can be repaired is not in our wheelhouse.
Fortunately, Norman Alston, FAIA, Principal of Norman Alston Architects and the current President of the Board at Preservation Dallas, is not only one of the most informed preservation architects in America but also a talented writer and the person who knows if and why a building should be saved.
By Norman Alston, FAIA
Special Contributor
“Dallas doesn’t have much history because it tears it all down.” I hear and read that a lot.
It’s easy to understand that sentiment when you hear about the loss, or impending loss, of so very many well-known and potentially historic buildings, such as Exchange Park, the former Parkland Hospital complex, the sheds at Atlas Metal Works, and other large and well-known buildings. In my lifetime, I have watched as both Texas Stadium and Reunion Arena were built, then ultimately demolished before they even had an opportunity to be considered historic.
More obvious and troubling to many, however, is the loss of smaller, older buildings that make up the soul of our most interesting neighborhoods. It is an unusual day that I don’t hear some comment about a beautiful, older neighborhood that is being consumed by modern apartments or sleek, new homes that are twice the size of the original houses. With the loss of these original buildings goes the character of the neighborhood.
While historic preservation is thought by most to focus on the architecture, it is increasingly evident that these places have an importance that goes far beyond the often-modest architecture that populates them. What comprises a neighborhood is far more complex and nuanced than its buildings, and that sentiment comes from an architect. It’s about both the look and the feel. It’s about the people, businesses, schools, and memories that create an image in our minds that makes these neighborhoods unique.
The architecture may be modest, but it is powerful in that it is the quick, readily accessible link to the soul of the neighborhood.
I have often attributed the difficulty in preserving historic buildings to our city’s age. Dallas has been an adolescent city, brimming with energy and hormones but lacking the life experiences to focus them constructively. However, over the past several years, I have seen that changing.
In many ways, I have seen us take our feet off the throttle of the bulldozers. Public outcries about the possible loss of even some non-descript buildings have indicated we may be on the road to better appreciating their value, especially that of the smaller, more vernacular structures.
The Measuring Stick
Now we have the strange story of Marquita Court to gauge our progress.
Less than two weeks ago, the news outlets reported that a large portion of the roof collapsed and that a structural engineer would determine if the building could be saved. There was an immediate outcry, with no one, including me, expecting the result of that examination to recommend retaining the building. Here was a prime piece of property on a prominent corner in a popular neighborhood close to restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It’s already occupied by multifamily. What a natural location for new, podium-style, Soviet-era, proletariat housing-inspired modern apartments.
But no, the engineer’s recommendation is that demolition is not necessary. So now what? The owners’ decision on this property will likely say much about Dallas’ progress in appreciating what it has.
I looked at this building after the roof collapsed (from the public right-of-way) and am embarrassed that I hadn’t paid much attention to it earlier. It is remarkable. The form is basic, but the details and the materials are exquisite.
Underground parking in 1930 residential Dallas? Virtually unheard of.
It is in many ways the face of the adjacent neighborhood and faces a street with small multifamily buildings along the south side and single-family homes facing it from across the street. It is the cornerstone of one of those complex, nuanced neighborhoods I mentioned earlier.
It should be saved, repaired, and fixed up. In the Dallas that I think we live in today, it would be.
Keep the terra cotta roof tiles and the wood windows. Maybe do the modern air conditioning now. Don’t even think about trying to paint the brick, even though some new brick will be needed. The right landscaping would do wonders. Residents could have their homes back, and the neighborhood would be strengthened, not diminished.
I think I’ll drop the owners of Marquita Court a note and make sure they are aware of the available support, from technical and political guidance to substantial financial assistance from the State of Texas. Yes, even the Texas Legislature appreciates such buildings and is willing to step up.
Hopefully, everyone is.
