The Monroe Shops building, located at Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) Blue Line Illinois Station, will become the home of the DART Police Department, beginning Monday.
Opened in 1914, the building has long been recognized as a historic treasure, but efforts to redevelop it for retail or other transit-oriented uses were unsuccessful, and the maintenance facility for the former Texas Interurban Railway has sat vacant for years.
With the rail system slated to grow to 90 miles over the next few years, the number of police personnel will need to expand beyond its current force, according to DART.
The new $20 million facility now includes three floors of modern workspace, meeting rooms, staff offices, showers, lockers and an exercise facility. DART is applying for recognition of Monroe Shops as the agency's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building.