A BIG “Thank You” to Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer for bringing the plight of the Union Banker’s building to light.

As I office half a block west of this building, I am often sickened to watch the junkies make their way into the building. Even though Westdale Management won’t do jack about the building, perhaps we can. Here is what we know:

• Union Bankers Building was originally the Knights of Pythias Temple
• It was constructed in 1916
• According to a 1986 news article, it was the only commercial building built in Dallas by blacks, for blacks, utilizing black money.
• The building was designed by Sidney Pittman who was son-in-law of Booker T. Washington
• The building has city-designated historic landmark status as noted in this link
• As quoted by Wilonsky: “Westdale actually has the building listed on the county tax records as 2505 Elm, not 2551 Elm — the historic address. Fact is, if Westdale went to the city and asked to get 2505 Elm demolished to make room for a parking lot, no one would ever notice — and in the meantime, 2551 Elm would get adiosed.”

Here is what I find interesting about this situation….that building sits on the northwest corner of Good-Latimer and Elm Street and adjacent to the land that is now under development for the DART Deep Ellum station for the new Green Line.

According to this listing with the Dallas County Tax Appraisers office, the building is valued at: $272, 970 BUT the land is valued at: $1, 874, 590.

If you want to do something to save at least ONE historic building in Dallas from the greed of developers that are appearing to take shortcuts (by jacking with the addresses), contact the Mayor and City Council, Preservation Dallas and Dallas Historical Society to voice your concerns.

The following 3 photos were taken from my office window and show the Union Bankers building, the construction of DART and a view of how close all of this is to downtown Dallas.