Preservationists Have Possible Saviors For Church, But Parking is Their Kryptonite

In the saga of DISD vs. the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, we are nearing the climax of the story. This is the point where either a hero, in the eyes of the preservationists, arrives on the scene to save [purchase] Oak Cliff Christian Church or the building meets its fate in an anticlimactic August demolition.

It’s also the most appropriate time for a plot twist. This week I received an e-mail from OOCCL lawyer John McCall indicating that the group had two potential buyers (a private school and a photographer who wants to open a studio), but neither qualified for the parking exemption in place. McCall’s e-mail asks DISD lawyers for several different compromises to make the sale work. This afternoon DISD responded. You can find both e-mails below.

The odds for a sale still seem like a long shot, but since when did Oak Cliffers ever pay attention to the odds? In the words of the immortal Han Solo, “Never tell me the odds!”

Gentlemen,

It has been brought to my attention, that there are two qualified serious entities seeking to place an offer on the church.  However, since neither of these are a religious based organization, they would not be grandfathered for parking as was Revivial Tabernacle.

Each of these entities would be housing a great deal of employees and visitors.  As a result, they need a great deal of parking to accomodate 300 E. 10th.  That being the case, I have been consulted to issue the following inquiries:

1) Would DISD entertain an offer that includes many other properties along the 300 block of 10th to be purchased at one time?

2) If purchase is not an option, would DISD be interested in a shared lot to accomodate the new Adamson campus?

3) Does DISD intend to purchase property along the 300 block of Jefferson for the future expansion?

If you could provide answers to these questions by the end of the week, it will provide the proper guidance necessary to properly draft an offer(s).

Respectfully
John McCall Jr.