law school boost: council approves old dallas municipal building restoration funds

The University of North Texas System’s plans for a College of Law in downtown Dallas received a major boost Wednesday from the Dallas City Council, which approved expenditure of $16 million for preservation of the Old Dallas Municipal Building.

The City of Dallas had earlier committed to offer the Municipal Building as the location for the College of Law and pledged improvement funds. The City Council today authorized city staff to go forward with repairs of the building roof and windows and to separate the older 1914 part of the building from its 1956 Annex. Municipal Courts will be relocated for a period of several years into the Annex, and funding was also approved for improvements to the Annex. UNT System’s proposed State funding will pay for the significant internal renovation, restoration, and furnishing of the Municipal Building.

The presence of a major UNT college program in the downtown area will address the need identified in every recent city planning study of downtown Dallas, which have all concluded that for Dallas to rejuvenate its downtown area, it must have a vital university presence. The success of such joint city-university revitalization projects in Chicago, Philadelphia, and other major American metropolitan areas are serving as models for the City of Dallas/UNT System partnership.

By establishing the UNT College of Law in the Old Municipal Building, the location will promote partnerships among students, faculty, courts, law firms — and other businesses — to serve the greater DFW community.

It is UNT System’s goal to bring affordable, high-quality legal education to the DFW region and the partnership between the City of Dallas and UNT System to accomplish this goal will also serve to revitalize downtown Dallas.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Spring 2009	Tuition Revenue Bonds, Facility financing approved win conjunction with city commitment
Spring 2009	Recruit founding dean
Summer 2009	Initiate feasibility study with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Fall 2009	Begin building renovation, Complete ABA accreditation planning
Fall 2009/Spring 2010	Recruit faculty for Fall 2010 entering class
Spring 2010	Enroll first students for Fall 2010
Fall 2010	Complete renovation of the Universities Center at Dallas
Fall 2010	Complete installation of furniture and equipment
Fall 2010	Classes begin at UNT College of Law