PILLAR: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: October 22, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 2
DEPARTMENT: Park & Recreation Department
PRIORITY: N/A
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a professional services contract with TreanorHL, Inc., for architectural and engineering services for the discovery/scope-to-budget assessment of existing conditions, schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration for the City Park for the Blum House and Rall House Restorations Project located at 1515 South Harwood Street - Not to exceed $401,207.00 - Financing: Cedars Tax Increment Financing District Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
The City of Dallas (City) recognizes the importance of its role in local economic development.
On December 9, 1992, the City Council authorized the establishment of Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Four (Cedars TIF District) in accordance with the Tax Increment Financing Act, as amended, Texas Tax Code, Chapter 311, as amended (the Act) to promote development and redevelopment in the District through the use of tax increment financing by Resolution No. 92-4302; Ordinance No.21492, as amended.
On April 9, 1997, the City Council authorized the Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for the Cedars TIF District by Resolution No. 97-1225; Ordinance No. 23092, as amended.
On October 18,2018, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board adopted the Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park Master Plan.
On October 18, 2018, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and adopted an Economic Development TIF Grant Program for the Cedars TIF District, as amended (attached as Exhibit A).
On October 18, 2018, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and recommended approval of Cedars TIF District funding in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 (in the form of a grant) to support the historic restoration of the Park Avenue House and Rall House to be used as co-working office space at the Dallas Heritage Village (now Old City Park) located at 1515 South Harwood Street; and
On June 12, 2019, the City Council authorized (1) a development agreement with the Dallas County Heritage, Society (DCHS), in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00, payable from exiting and/or future Cedars TIF District Funds, to support the historic restoration of the Park Avenue House and Rall House to be used as co-working office space at the Dallas Heritage Village (now Old City Park) located at 1515 South Harwood Street; and (2) an increase in appropriations in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 in the Cedars TIF District Fund by Resolution No. 19-0918; and
Due to turnover of leadership at DCHS as well as impacts of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, DCHS was unsuccessful in raising the $550,000.00 in required matching funds for the project, and, as a result, the development agreement was never executed, and the project never moved forward; and
On October 26, 2022, the City received a new request from the DCHS for TIF District funding to support an updated historic restoration project at Old City Park; and
On November 8, 2022, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and unanimously recommended approval of a development agreement with the Dallas County Heritage Society in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 payable from existing Cedars TIF District funds in consideration of the historic restoration of the Blum House and the Rall House to be used for leasable office space and park programming at Old City Park located at 1515 South Harwood Street; and
The expenditure of Cedars TIF District funds supporting this Project is consistent with promoting development and redevelopment of the Cedars TIF District in accordance with the purposes for its creation, the ordinance adopted by the City Council approving the Cedars TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan, and is for the purpose of making public improvements consistent with and described in the Cedars TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan; and
The proposed Project supports the following goals of the Cedars TIF District's Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan: (1) support the growth and success of activities at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Heritage Village (now Old City Park), and Farmers Market, (2) secure growth and investment in the Cedars TIF District, (3) encourage economic revitalization through hotel, for-sale and rental housing, retail, and office development, and (4) encourage preservation of historic buildings.
On December 14, 2022, to further implement the Cedars TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan, the City entered into a development agreement with DCHS in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 payable in the form of a grant from existing Cedars TIF District Funds, in consideration of the historic restoration of the Blum House and the Rall House at Old City Park (the Project) located at 1515 South Harwood Street by Resolution No. 22-1774.
On January 26, 2023, the City of Dallas advertised the Request for Qualifications for Engineering, Architectural and Landscape Architecture Consulting Services for the 2024 Capital Improvements Projects. In response to this advertisement, the Office of Procurement Services received submittals from 26 interested architecture firms on March 3, 2023.
In July 2023, the Park & Recreation Department, Planning and Design Selection Committee evaluated and ranked the 26 firms based on their qualifications for various bond projects. On October 22, 2024, the Planning, Facility, and Environmental Services Division sent a Request for Proposal for Architectural and Engineering Services for the City Park Blum and Rall House Restorations project to the 9 interested architecture firms. In response to this request, the Planning and Design Division received 4 submittals on November 15, 2024.
On December 12, 2024, the Selection Committee concluded its evaluation scores and a selection recommendation letter to the Park Department Director was forwarded on December 19, 2024. The Park and Recreation Planning, Facility and Environmental Services Division forwarded the firm ranking results and finalist selection. The selection committee specific to this project ascertained that the firm of TreanorHL, Inc., was the most qualified proposer for this project.
Ranked in order by a panel of four evaluators. Ranking scores indicated below based on score of 100:
Scores
1. TreanorHL, Inc. 91.50
2. Alana, Buick Bers, Inc. 86.00
3. SBLM Architects 84.50
4. Walker Consultants, Inc. 75.75
This professional services contract will assess the condition of the two existing historic facilities and prioritizes the following needs: execute a site and facility assessment study, develop architectural restoration program, architectural restoration plan, site development plan featuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible routes for each residence, ADA upgrades at restrooms (for Rall exclusively), kitchen and break room, mechanical upgrades, electrical upgrades, new lighting (for Rall exclusively), and architectural restoration of envelope finish improvements for both Blum and Rall Houses.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Begin Design November 2025
Complete Design September 2026
Begin Construction February 2027
Complete Construction August 2027
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On December 9, 1992, the City Council authorized the establishment of Tax lncrement Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Four (Cedars TIF District) in accordance with the Tax lncrement Financing Act, as amended, Texas Tax Code, Chapter 311, as amended (the Act) to promote development and redevelopment in the District through the use of tax increment financing by Resolution No. 92-4302; Ordinance No.21492, as amended.
On April 9, 1997, the City Council authorized the Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for the Cedars TIF District by Resolution No. 97-1225; Ordinance No. 23092, as amended.
On October 18,2018, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board adopted the Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park Master Plan.
On October 18, 2018, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and adopted an Economic Development TIF Grant Program for the Cedars TIF District, as amended (attached as Exhibit A).
On October 18, 2018, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and recommended approval of Cedars TIF District funding in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 (in the form of a grant) to support the historic restoration of the Park Avenue House and Rall House to be used as co-working office space at the Dallas Heritage Village (now Old City Park) located at 1515 South Harwood Street.
On June 12, 2019, the City Council authorized (1) a development agreement with the Dallas County Heritage, Society (DCHS), in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00, payable from exiting and/or future Cedars TIF District Funds, to support the historic restoration of the Park Avenue House and Rall House to be used as co-working office space at the Dallas Heritage Village (now Old City Park) located at 1515 South Harwood Street; and (2) an increase in appropriations in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 in the Cedars TIF District Fund by Resolution No. 19-0918.
On October 26, 2022, the City received a new request from the DCHS for TIF District funding to support an updated historic restoration project at Old City Park.
On November 8, 2022, the Cedars TIF District Board of Directors reviewed and unanimously recommended approval of a development agreement with the Dallas County Heritage Society in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 payable from existing Cedars TIF District funds in consideration of the historic restoration of the Blum House and the Rall House to be used for leasable office space and park programming at Old City Park located at 1515 South Harwood Street.
On December 14, 2022, to further implement the Cedars TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan, the City entered into a development agreement with DCHS in an amount not to exceed $650,000.00 payable in the form of a grant from existing Cedars TIF District Funds, in consideration of the historic restoration of the Blum House and the Rall House at Old City Park (the Project) located at 1515 South Harwood Street by Resolution No. 22-1774.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2026 |
FY 2027 |
Future Years |
|
Cedars Tax Increment Financing District Fund |
$401,207.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
LOCAL PARTICIPATION
|
Prime |
Status |
Workforce % |
|
TreanorHL, Inc. |
Local |
9.32% |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
In accordance with the City of Dallas Administrative Directive 4-05 procurement guidelines, TreanorHL, Inc., was selected as the most qualified consultant for this project.
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
TreanorHL, Inc.
Nancy McCoy, FAIA, FAPT, Principal
MAP
Attached