By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-746142.mp3
Dallas, TX – Dallas plans to borrow $6 million from a city fund to tear down Reunion Arena, with no deadline to pay it back.
The money to demolish Reunion Arena will come from the Hensley Field Fund - several million dollars won in a lawsuit over contamination left by the Navy when it decommissioned the West Dallas airfield. The city says the $6 million for demolition will be paid back, with interest, when the Reunion property is sold. Councilman Ron Natinsky says that could be a while.
Natinsky: When we decided to demolish Reunion, we didn't want to be put under a time constraint, and we did not want to declare the property under Reunion Arena surplus, which would trigger a whole series of things.
Including Dallas oilman/developer Ray Hunt's right of first refusal to buy the property at a prescribed price. Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia says she's worried about raiding the Hensley Field fund. She says some of that money is earmarked to move the overcrowded auto pound to Hensley Field.
Demolition of Reunion should begin in March.