City of Dallas Landmarks

Historic District Designation Requests/ Zoning Change Request

The City of Dallas Landmark Historic District Designation is a type of zoning overlay. So the process to designate
an area or neighborhood as a historic district is to request a zoning change to those properties to add the historic
designation zoning to it. Attached you will find a copy of the zoning change application.

It is important to understand that the designation process is not quick. It takes time to complete – typically 6+
months. The process and procedures for designation that must be followed are outlined in Dallas City Code
(Section 51A-4.501).

Step 1
Read through the Zoning Change Application. Pay special close attention to the checklist of required application
documents found on page 3. The application elaborates on what these documents are and where to go to get
them on pages 4 and 5. Also see the attached list of records building department locations, which will also help
you find where you need to go to get the application documents. Please note that the locations listed for
checklist items F, H and G have changed to the Renaissance Tower Building.

Step 2
Amass all the required application documents listed in the checklist. Complete filling out the various forms in
the application on pages 7 and 9.

For historic districts, or sites with multiple owners, there are a few additional application items you need to be
aware of and include. First, when it comes to a proposed historic district or site, which includes multiple
properties and property owners, 100% of the property owners must sign the application stating they understand
what historic designation will mean and that they want it. This is typically done through the use of a petition.
Attached is a copy of our petition form template. In addition to the petition, the following materials are required:

• A copy of the deed verifying ownership for each property within the proposed district is required.
• A tax certificate verifying taxes are current for each of the properties within the proposed historic
district.
• Verification of no unpaid liens for each of the properties within the proposed historic district is required.

Be aware that there is an application fee. The fee is based on the size of the property to be designated. You
will find the Fee Schedule on page 10 of the application.

Step 3
Once you have a complete application with all the required documents, contact Liz Casso at 214-671-5052 to
set up an appointment date and time for you to submit your application and pay the application fee. Liz will
make sure that a Zoning planner will be available to go through the application to make sure it is complete. Liz’s
office, and that of the Zoning planners, is located in City Hall in Room 5BN. Once the Zoning Planner gives us
the thumbs up that your application is complete, you will pay the application fee at the 5BN front desk.
At this point, with your application submitted and the fee paid, the designation process will be officially initiated
for your proposed district. It is not a City of Dallas Landmark yet – that will only happen once City Council has
finally approved it, which is Step 8.
It is important to understand what being officially initiated means. It means that the City is going to treat all the
properties within the proposed district boundary as if they are already designated while the application makes
its way through the designation process. This means that design review will apply. All City of Dallas Landmark
properties are subject to design review for all exterior repairs and alterations to the property. A Certificate of
Appropriateness (CA) is what we call an approval by the Landmark Commission to repair or alter the landmark
property. So moving forward, property owners will be required to submit a CA application requesting approval
to make repairs or changes to their landmark property before that work may commence. The City may not issue
a permit to do work to the landmark property until the CA is approved. Work that requires a CA includes
everything from a request to repaint the structure, to replace wood siding, to installing new landscaping – it is
all repairs or alterations to the exterior of the property.

Step 4
The next step in the designation process is to create/draft the Landmark Nomination and the Preservation
Criteria. The Landmark Nomination is a document that includes the history of the district area, and architectural
descriptions of the properties in it. The Preservation Criteria is the document that contains the preservation
rules that will apply specifically to all the properties in the district, and that will govern how repairs and
alterations should and can be done. There are templates for both of these documents that must be used to
create them. Staff will provide you with these templates.

Staff highly recommends that applicants consider hiring preservation consultants to draft the Nomination and
Criteria documents, and help get the designation application all the way through the process. The Nomination
document requires historical research. A preservation consultant familiar with this type of research and familiar
with the designation process can be invaluable and can help speed the process along because they are able to
draft these documents faster than the property owners may be able to. A list of local consultants is attached.

Step 5
Designation Committee Meeting(s).
The Designation Committee vets all proposed designation requests before the case is sent to the Landmarks
Commission. This Committee is made up of volunteers – some are actual Landmark Commission members,
architects, historians, etc. They will go over and help edit your Nomination and Preservation Criteria and may
request additional information, edits, etc. The Committee will make a determination of eligibility for your
property based on the designation criteria (see attached criteria). Your district needs to meet at least three of
the ten criteria to be eligible for Landmark designation. And the description and history of the property that is
included in the Nomination should speak to this. This Committee meets once a month. It is typical for
Designation applications to go through this Committee twice before being ready to move on to the Landmark
Commission.
Step 6
Landmark Commission Meeting.
By the time we have made it to this step, your nomination and preservation criteria will have been reviewed
and edited by Preservation Staff, Designation Committee, and the City Attorney’s office. It is unlikely that the
Landmark Commission will request any changes to the documents. So at this meeting the Commission will
discuss the designation, review the criteria for designation as it applies to the proposed district, and vote on
what their recommendation will be to City Council (typically the vote is to recommend approval).

Step 7
City Plan Commission Meeting.
Again, because the historic designation is a type of zoning overlay, the City Plan Commission is required to
review the designation. They too will vote on what their recommendation to City Council will be.

Step 8
City Council Meeting.
City Council is the body with the ultimate approval power over this type of zoning change. They will review the
designation application taking into account the Landmark Commission and the City Plan Commission’s
recommendations and comments. Once City Council approves the designation your proposed historic district
status as a City of Dallas Landmark Historic District will be official.
 Records  Building  Complex  -­‐  Relocating  Departments  and  Operations  

900  Jackson  Street,  Dallas  (Founder’s  Square)  

Sheriff’s  Department,  Human  Resources  -­‐  Suite  300  
Jackson-­‐Stanfield  Health  Center  -­‐  Suite  350  
Sheriff’s  Department,  Clean  Air  Task  Force  -­‐  Suite  380  
 
1201  Elm  Street,  Dallas  (Renaissance  Tower)  –  21st  Floor  
County  Clerk  –  Administration  
County  Clerk  –  Vital  Division  
 
1201  Elm  Street,  Dallas  (Renaissance  Tower)  –  22nd  Floor  
County  Clerk  –  Accounting  and  Trust  Division  
County  Clerk  –  Recording  Division  
County  Clerk  –  Probate  Division  
Probate  Court  No.  2,  Hon.  Ingrid  M.  Warren  
Probate  Court  No.  3,  Hon.  Margaret  Jones-­‐Johnson    
Probate  Courts’  Associate  Judge,  Hon.  John  Peyton,  Jr.    
Probate  Courts’  Associate  Judge,  Hon.  Lincoln  J.  Monroe  
 
1201  Elm  Street,  Dallas  (Renaissance  Tower)  -­‐  23rd  Floor    
Human  Resources    
County  Auditor  
Treasurer’s  Office  
 
1201  Elm  Street,  Dallas  (Renaissance  Tower)  -­‐  24th  Floor  
Information  Technology  
Purchasing    
The  Probate  Court,  Hon.  Brenda  Hull  Thompson    
 
1201  Elm  Street,  Dallas  (Renaissance  Tower)  -­‐  26th  Floor  
Tax  Office  
- Apply  for  Dealer/Runner’s  Permit  
- Renew  Title  Service  Permit  
- Resolve  Title  Rejection  
- File  Mechanic’s  Lien  
- Pay  SIT/Inventory  Tax  
- If  you  have  questions  about  Specialty  or  Personalized  Plates,  please  call  214-­‐653-­‐7840  
 
600  Commerce  Street,  Dallas  (George  Allen  Courthouse)  
Fire  Marshal’s  Office  -­‐  Level  B  
Tax  Office,  Downtown  Motor  Vehicle  Branch  –  Level  B  
- Renew  Vehicle  Registration  
- Transfer  a  Title  
- Apply  for  Disabled  Plates/Placards  
- Temporary  Permits  
- Pay  Property  Taxes  
- Sign-­‐in  on  Dealer  Board  
 Dallas Landmark Commission
Sustainable Development & Construction
Historic Preservation
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5BN
Dallas, Texas 75201

Petition To Create The

_________________________________________ Historic District

WE, the undersigned, are property owners within the proposed _________________________________
Historic District that lies completely within the City of Dallas and is roughly bounded by
___________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________,. We hereby request historic
overlay zoning of said area as provided for under Section 51A-4.501 of the Dallas Development Code.
We sign with the understanding that if the application is approved and the District created, all exterior
repairs and alterations to the properties within the district boundary as well as any new construction or
demolition will be subject to review by the Dallas Landmark Commission prior to commencement of
work. In addition, we understand that once our complete application has been filed with the Sustainable
Development and Construction Department the designation process will be initiated and our properties
will be subject to the predesignation moratorium which means that all exterior repairs, alterations, new
construction and demolitions for the properties within the proposed district boundary will immediately be
subject to the review processes and the regulations outlined in Section 51A-4.501 of the Dallas
Development Code until such time that the application is withdrawn, denied or the moratorium expires.

Note on Application Requirements:

• A copy of the deed verifying ownership for each of the properties within the proposed historic district is required.
• A tax certificate verifying taxes are current for each of the properties within the proposed historic district is required.
• Verification of no unpaid liens for each of the properties within the proposed historic district is required.

Property Address within Property Owner Name

Property Owner Signature
Proposed Historic District (Please Print)
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 Property Address within Property Owner Name
Property Owner Signature
Proposed Historic District (Please Print)
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 Property Address within Property Owner Name
Property Owner Signature
Proposed Historic District (Please Print)
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 Property Address within Property Owner Name
Property Owner Signature
Proposed Historic District (Please Print)
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 Property Address within Property Owner Name
Property Owner Signature
Proposed Historic District (Please Print)
The following document is the list of criteria for historic designation. Your property must meet at
least three of these.
 LANDMARK DESIGNATION FORM
CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY

____ History, heritage and culture: Represents the historical development,

ethnic heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, state, or county.

____ Historic event: Location of or association with the site of a significant

historic event.

____ Significant persons: Identification with a person or persons who

significantly contributed to the culture and development of the city, state, or
county.

____ Architecture: Embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an

architectural style, landscape design, method of construction, exceptional
craftsmanship, architectural innovation, or contains details which represent folk
or ethnic art.

____ Architect or master builder: Represents the work of an architect,

designer or master builder whose individual work has influenced the
development of the city, state or county.

____ Historic context: Relationship to other distinctive buildings, sites, or

areas which are eligible for preservation based on historic, cultural, or
architectural characteristics.

____ Unique visual feature: Unique location of singular physical

characteristics representing an established and familiar visual feature of a
neighborhood, community or the city that is a source of pride or cultural
significance.

____ Archeological: Archeological or paleontological value in that it has

produced or can be expected to produce data affecting theories of historic or
prehistoric interest.

____ National and state recognition: Eligible of or designated as a National

Historic Landmark, Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, State Archeological
Landmark, American Civil Engineering Landmark, or eligible for inclusion in the
National Register of Historic Places.

____ Historic education: Represents as era of architectural, social, or

economic history that allows an understanding of how the place or area was
used by past generations.
Should you want to hire a consultant to help create the nomination and
criteria for you …

Architexas
1907 Marilla St. Second Floor
Dallas, Texas 75201
Phone: (214)748-4561

McCoy Collaborative Preservation Architecture

3200 Main Street #3.6
Dallas, TX 75226
Phone: (214) 977-9118

Preservation Dallas
2922 Swiss Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204-5928
Phone: (214) 821-3290

Evelyn Montgomery, Ph.D.

Phone: (214) 413-3666

Norman Alston Architects

Renaissance Tower
1201 Elm Street, Suite 4920
Dallas, Texas 75270
Phone: (214) 826-5466

Jim Anderson Preservation and Design

Phone: (214) 620-7870
 Planning & Zoning Consultants
Roger E. Albright 3301 Elm Street Roger Albright
Attorney Dallas, Texas 75226 ralbright@lawoffices.email
214-939-9222

Jorge Hernandez
jorge@americapermits.com
American Plans & Permits 2600 K Avenue Monica Hernandez
972-214-9811 Plano, TX 75074 monica@americapermits.com
Deniss Hernandez
deniss@americapermits.com

Angela Hunt 1700 Pacific Avenue, Ste 3700 Angela Hunt

Farrow-Gillespie & Heath Dallas, TX 75201 angela.hunt@fghlaw.com

Aranda Planning Consultants 2946 S Sunbeck Circle Ramon Aranda

972-754-1745 Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 ramonaranda@hotmail.com

Baldwin Associates 3904 Elm Street, Suite B Robert B. Baldwin, AICP

Dallas, Texas 75226 rob@baldwinplanning.com
214-824-7949
http://www.baldwinplanning.com

Ryan Bibb Consultants

8301 Lakeview Pkwy Ryan Bibb
Suite 111-122 ryanbibb@mac.com
214-232-5443 Rowlett, Texas 75088

Bowers & Associates

Commercial & Industrial Real Estate 520 Avenue H East, Suite 102 Joe Bowers
817-633-5517 Arlington, Texas 76011 jb@rebowers.com
214-505-4386 cell

Audra Buckley 416 S Ervay Street Audra Buckley

Land Planning/Pre-Construction Project Dallas, TX 75201 permitteddevelopment@tx.rr.com
Management
214-686-3635

Business Zoom 1901 Central Drive, Suite 607 Parvez Malik, B.S., B.A.
972-591-3322 Bedford, Texas 76021 parvez@businesszoom.us

C8 Construction 269 Hickerson Street Mike Khatib

817-832-1777 (cell) Cedar Hill, TX 75104 mike@c8gc.com
682-777-5752 (office)

Coker Company 3111 Canton Street, Suite 140 Michael R. Coker, AICP, CBO
214-821-6105 Dallas, Texas 75226 mrcoker@cokercompany.com

Cowles & Thompson, P.C Michael Northrup

901 Main Street, Suite 3900
214-672-2000 mnorthrup@cowlesthompson.com
Dallas, Texas 75202
214-672-2020 (fax)

2807 Allen Street, Suite 345

Davis Business Services Dallas, Texas 75204 Michael Davis
214-505-6461 michael.davis@davis4business.com

Christy Lambeth, P.E.

DeShazo Group
214-748-6740
400 South Houston, Ste 330 Mark Mathis, P.E.
Dallas, Texas 75202 John J. Deshazo, Jr., P.E.
christy.lambeth@deshazogroup.com

Susan Mead
smead@jw.com
William Dahlstrom
wdahlstrom@jw.com
Jackson Walker L.L.P. 901 Main Street, Suite 6000 Myron Dornic
Attorneys & Counselors Dallas, Texas 75202 mdornic@jw.com
214-953-6000
Suzan Kedron
skedron@jw.com
Jonathan Vinson
jvinson@jw.com

Disclaimer: The Planning & Zoning Consultants list is provided as a courtesy and is not an endorsement by
the City of Dallas.
Page 1 of 2
 Planning & Zoning Consultants
Land Use Planning & Zoning
9406 Biscayne Blvd. Elsie Thurman
Solutions Dallas, Texas 75218 elsie.thurman@landdevsolutions.com
972.584.1015 www.landdevsolutions.com
214.680.7949

William E. Cothrum
Karl Crawley
karl@masterplanconsultants.com
Masterplan Consultants 900 Jackson St, Ste 640
214-761-9197 Dallas, Texas 75202 Dallas Cothrum
dallas@masterplanconsultants.com
Santos Martinez
santos@masterplanconsultants.com

Robert Miklos Robert Miklos

Miklos Law, PLLC 1800 Valley View Ln, Ste. 360
Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 J. Prabha Cinclair
cinclair@mikloslegal.com

M. E. Mims, Esq. 2633 McKinney Ave, #130-400 Myron Mims

Real Estate & Business Resource Dallas, Texas 75204 Myron@memimsesq.com
214.484.9453

Pink Consulting, LP Julianne McGee

682-429-6254 juliannetx@gmail.com

Robert Reeves & Associates, Inc. 900 Jackson St, Ste 160 Robert G. Reeves Jr.
214-749-0530 Dallas, Texas 75202 rob.reeves@sbcglobal.net

Dallas: Ike Shupe

9406 Biscayne Blvd.
Shupe Ventura, PLLC Dallas, Texas 75218
214.328.1100
817.405.9935 Fort Worth:
500 Main Street, Suite 800
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
ike.shupe@svlandlaw.com
Misty Ventura
misty.ventura@svlandlaw.com
Melissa Lindelow
melissa.lindelow@svlandlaw.com

Tailim Song Law Firm 13140 Coit Road, Ste 350 Tailim Song
214.528.8400 Dallas, Texas 75240 tsong@tailimsong.com

Thomas RPDC Company P.O. Box 50051 J. Eugene Thomas

214-388-2244 Dallas, Texas 75250 jeugene65@hotmail.com
Fax: 214-388-2233

Kirk R. Williams
kwilliams@winstead.com
Arthur Anderson
aanderson@winstead.com
Barry Knight
bknight@winstead.com
Winstead PC, Attorneys 500 Winstead Building
Tommy Mann
Attorneys at Law 2728 N. Harwood Street
Dallas, TX 75201 tmann@winstead.com
214-745-5400
Laura Hoffmann
lhoffmann@winstead.com
Brad Williams
bwilliams@winstead.com
Dave Martin
dmartin@winstead.com

Zone Systems, Inc. 1620 Handley, Suite A Peter Kavanaugh

Land Use Consultants Dallas, Texas 75208 peterk@zonesystems.com
214-941-4440

Disclaimer: The Planning & Zoning Consultants list is provided as a courtesy and is not an endorsement by
the City of Dallas.
Page 2 of 2
The following document is an example of a Land Use Statement, which is required
for your zoning change application.