This story has been updated with new information about the mall’s demolition and asbestos abatement.
Valley View Center is finally being torn down. After Thursday morning’s structure fire that injured two firefighters, exterior demolition began Thursday afternoon on the troubled commercial property that’s been vacant for years.
Two Dallas Fire-Rescue firefighters sustained injuries while battling a structure fire at the vacant Valley View Mall in North Dallas early this morning. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a 4:30 a.m. 9-1-1 call reporting smoke coming from the structure, located at 13331 Preston Rd, near LBJ Freeway. The first firefighters arriving saw heavy smoke and fire conditions, so they requested a second alarm, Dallas Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer Jason Evans said. Firefighters also reported multiple spot fires, which are secondary fires that ignite from wind-blown embers of the initial fire.
Timing Unclear
It may not matter who did what first, but the timing and impetus for demolition were somewhat unclear as early reporting by D Magazine implied the city was driving the demolition.
City of Dallas officials told D Magazine they pushed the developer to demolish what remains of the mall immediately. “According to sources with the city who spoke on background this afternoon, the fire was seemingly the last straw of a long line of frustrations, and Dallas asked permission from the state to demolish the site. Councilwoman Jaynie Schultz confirmed the demolition and noted that the developers who own that parcel — Jeff and Scott Beck — would be footing the bill.”
But developer Scott Beck of Beck Ventures told daltxrealestate.com that state-regulated asbestos removal had already begun last Friday and the early morning fire only accelerated the planned demolition that was set to begin next week.
“It was those people who called the fire department,” Beck said in a text.
Beck Ventures had to seek permission from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services as part of a new state asbestos oversight removal program enacted in 2021. Asbestos was used in construction for its heat resistance, but is a known carcinogen that increases chances of developing lung and mesothelial cancer years after exposure.
The Dallas Morning News later quoted Schultz as saying the demolition company contracted to tear down the building came on site Thursday and successfully petitioned the state to move up the demolition.
“Our firefighters being hurt was enough of an argument to the state that there was a mortal danger to leaving the building standing as is,” Schultz told the Dallas Morning News. “This is something that should have been done a long time ago.”
Mayor Eric Johnson agreed in a statement, “Dallas deserves safe structures, a strong International District, and a vibrant new development on the site of the former Valley View Mall. This is a major step forward on every front.”
Fire-Rescue Takes Swift Action
One Dallas Fire-Rescue firefighter was burned when part of the blazing structure collapsed, trapping the firefighter, and another sustained musculoskeletal injury. This is the second fire in one month at the vacant mall that’s been designated a “Habitual Criminal Property” by the city and police.
“While the firefighters were working, one became trapped by the fire but was quickly rescued,” spokesman Evans said. “That person has burn injuries, and another sustained musculoskeletal injuries while working to rescue the other firefighter.” Both were taken to a local hospital, though none of the injuries were life-threatening.
As of 11:20 a.m., the fire was mostly under control, but firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots. By 2 p.m. Dallas Fire-Rescue had cleared the scene, scanner traffic appeared to show, but city officials and the developer remained on scene. In total, 41 Dallas Fire-Rescue units responded.
The cause of this fire is undetermined.
Feb. 14 Blaze at Valley View Mall
On the morning of Feb. 14, another mystery structure fire took place at Valley View Mall, near the old AMC theater. It took almost four hours to extinguish the fire. A homeless man was rescued through the roof of the partially burned structure. A significant homeless population lives in North Dallas, near the former mall site.
Valley View, which opened in August 1973, has been vacant since January 2022, though all five anchor stores had since closed as of 2017.
But plans for development continue to evolve since the mall changed hands in 2012. The latest — A 450-acre Dallas International District is slated to become a live-work-play district, complete with residences, a park, a Dallas ISD school, and retail and office spaces, among other amenities.
Previous roadblocks continue to challenge the project.
Beck Ventures Purchases Valley View
In April 2012, Beck Ventures purchased a large portion of Valley View Center from Jones Lang LaSalle and took management in-house, when it was 90 percent occupied by retail tenants, including Sears and AMC Theater. The developer planned for a $4 billion mixed-use development called Dallas Midtown that would include a five-star hotel, high-rise office buildings, multi-family, and luxury residential towers.
But legal conflicts among multiple landowners, including a real estate development arm of Sears Roebuck Co. called Seritage, delayed development plans. The mall was only partly demolished in 2017.
The city’s relationship with Beck Ventures grew strained when promised tax incentives were rescinded after years of demolition delays. For years, city leaders have been pushing for developers Beck Ventures to complete demolition at the site.
Sources at Beck Ventures tell daltxrealestate.com that the newly-elected Schultz in 2021 offered the city’s help to complete demolition only if Beck agreed to build low-income housing at the work-live-play development, but they refused.
Instead, Beck Ventures proceeded into asbestos abatement remediation as part of a new state asbestos oversight removal program enacted in 2021.
Meanwhile, apparent lax security has been an issue of late. In late February 2023, the site was designated by the City of Dallas as a “habitual criminal property,” officials confirmed to daltxrealestate.com. The “habitual criminal property” designation, established in 2017 under a nuisance abatement ordinance, is intended to increase property owner accountability in reducing crime.
The city has the right to fine, investigate, and mandate upgrades to the property owned by Beck Ventures, according to a report from Sharon Grigsby of The Dallas Morning News.
Thursday morning’s fire apparently moved up the timeline for Valley View’s demolition.
