Our Plans for 508

The Stewpot/Community Ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas completed the purchase of 508 Park Avenue, Dallas, and the adjoining properties on either side of it, 1900 Young and 1905 Canton on June 28th, 2011.

This building, precious to all lovers of blues, and important as the city of Dallas’s best specimen of Zig Zag Moderne, will be preserved. Our goal is to maintain both parts of this building’s unique legacy. Many ideas for upgrading the adjoining properties and specific plans for the safeguarding and restoring the 508 Park property have been developed. The new owners envision a place of vitality, open to all.

The Rev. Dr. Bruce A. Buchanan, Executive Director of The Stewpot and Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church said, “508 Park has long been a place of pilgrimage for Blues lovers. We understand the great desire to step into the building where Johnson recorded, and we have every goal of not just bringing it up to code, but preserving and restoring historically-significant areas of the building. We hope to create a recording studio in the area where Robert Johnson was known to have recorded his legendary music those hot June days in 1937. “

The property redevelopment will begin with the demolition of 1900 Young Street, the empty building that stands at the southeast corner of the crossroads of Young and Park. In its place, an outdoor performance amphitheatre will be constructed. The two-story stacked stone corner of the current building will be preserved as a corner tower and a perimeter wall will help replicate the previous building’s footprint. Trees and grass will grace this new cityscape. The amphitheater will host concerts, performances, and outdoor worship.

1905 Canton Street (the south side of 508) now a vacant lot and enclosed by chain link fence, will receive a new perimeter of trees and an iron fence to complement the existing fence adjacent to the Masonic Temple. It will house a Community Garden.

The top drawing depicts 1900 Young, 508 Park, and the adjoining empty lot at 1905 Canton Street
as they appear today. The bottom drawing depicts the envisioned renovation and improvements.

You can see the plans we have submitted to the Landmark Commission of the City of Dallas here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/80968286/New-508-Park-Avenue-Renderings-Rooftop
http://www.scribd.com/doc/80971441/New-1900-Young-Landmark-Submissions
http://www.scribd.com/doc/80970150/New-1905-Canton-Landmark-Submission

Graphics courtesy of Good Fulton & Farrell Architects