The Dallas Landmark Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 4 to certify a finding of “demolition by neglect” for Oak Cliff United Methodist Church, the Oak Cliff Advocate reports.
According to a report from the city’s Office of Historic Preservation, the 107-year-old church has cracks in its exterior walls, deteriorating masonry, a broken water distribution system and cracked window sills.
“Demolition by neglect” does not mean that the church will be demolished. The Office of Historic Preservation will instead work to preserve the historic landmark and ensure that it is up to code.
Preservation and code enforcement offices will draft a list of necessary repairs, which the owners will have 30 days to begin working on. The church will then be subjected to checkups every 30 days, and the owners could be fined for noncompliance.
The Oak Cliff church closed its doors and merged with nearby Tyler Street United Methodist Church in 2015. The church building at Jefferson Boulevard and Marsalis Avenue needed an estimated $3 million worth of repairs at the time — an impossible load for the then 128 congregants.
