Introduction to the New Convention Center Project
The city of Dallas is planning to build a new convention center, and to make this happen, it needs to acquire some properties near the old Dallas Morning News campus. The city has been trying to buy these properties from the owners, but it seems like the negotiations have failed. As a result, the city has decided to use a legal process called eminent domain to take over the properties.
What is Eminent Domain?
Eminent domain is a legal process that allows the government to take ownership of private property for public use. This can happen when the government needs the property for a project that will benefit the community, such as building a new road, school, or convention center. The government must pay the owner a fair price for the property, but the owner may not have a choice in the matter.
The Properties in Question
The properties that the city wants to acquire are located near the old Dallas Morning News campus, which is situated downtown near Young and Houston streets. The city has already bought the larger parcel of land, which includes the former newspaper headquarters and its parking garage, for $45.1 million. However, there is a smaller parcel of land, a parking lot between the parking garage and WFAA’s television studio, that the city still needs to acquire.
The Lawsuit
The city has filed a lawsuit against Charter DMN Holdings, a company owned by developer Ray Washburne, to acquire the smaller parcel of land. The lawsuit states that the city made two offers to buy the land, but they were rejected. The city believes that further negotiations would be futile, so it is using eminent domain to take over the property. Washburne has stated that he is willing to sell the parcel to the city, but there is a ground lease with WFAA that remains in effect.
The New Convention Center Project
The new convention center is a big project that will cost more than $3 billion and is expected to open in 2029. The city needs to acquire the properties near the old Dallas Morning News campus to make room for the convention center, as well as to accommodate the Texas Department of Transportation’s plans to widen Interstate 30 and updates to nearby Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The city believes that the new convention center will be a great benefit to the community, bringing in new businesses and creating jobs.
The History of the Properties
Washburne bought the old Dallas Morning News campus for $28 million in 2019. Under the city’s deal, he retains ownership of the front portion of the campus. Earlier this year, Washburne threatened to sell the downtown site to an unnamed data firm, citing delays in the city’s design plans for the new convention center. However, it seems like the city is moving forward with its plans, and Washburne is willing to sell the parcel to the city.
Conclusion
The city of Dallas is using eminent domain to acquire properties near the old Dallas Morning News campus for its new convention center. The city believes that this project will be a great benefit to the community, but it needs to acquire the necessary properties to make it happen. The lawsuit against Charter DMN Holdings is a step in this process, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
FAQs
Q: What is the new convention center project?
A: The new convention center project is a big project that will cost more than $3 billion and is expected to open in 2029. The city needs to acquire properties near the old Dallas Morning News campus to make room for the convention center.
Q: What is eminent domain?
A: Eminent domain is a legal process that allows the government to take ownership of private property for public use.
Q: Why is the city using eminent domain?
A: The city is using eminent domain because negotiations with the property owners failed, and it needs to acquire the properties to make room for the new convention center.
Q: Who owns the properties in question?
A: The properties are owned by Charter DMN Holdings, a company owned by developer Ray Washburne.
Q: How much did the city pay for the larger parcel of land?
A: The city paid $45.1 million for the larger parcel of land, which includes the former newspaper headquarters and its parking garage.
Q: What is the ground lease with WFAA?
A: The ground lease with WFAA is an agreement that remains in effect, and it may affect the city’s ability to acquire the smaller parcel of land.
Q: When is the new convention center expected to open?
A: The new convention center is expected to open in 2029.
