Historic Mercantile Building Closed After Water Line Break, Electrical Short in Downtown Dallas

A notable high-rise in Downtown Dallas is still off-limits to residents as repair teams are engaged in restoring power and fixing damage from a broken water line that caused a substantial electrical short, according to officials.

Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to an incident at the Mercantile Building located at 1800 Main Street just before 4 p.m. on Oct. 2. A water line burst on the 20th floor, resulting in flooding that affected an electrical room on the 11th floor and led to a significant electrical failure.

The situation led to the evacuation of over 175 occupied residential units in the Mercantile Place residences.

According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, one first responder was hospitalized due to heat exhaustion, while four residents received on-site treatment for non-life-threatening conditions.

“The department stated on Thursday that management is collaborating with DFR, the Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Response, and DART to ensure that the needs of all residents are met.” “Currently, there is no set schedule for when the electrical issues will be resolved.”

An internal email acquired by WFAA and distributed to residents indicated that repair and restoration teams are currently on-site evaluating the damage and working in conjunction with utility providers.

“A recent water leak has resulted in damage to the building’s electrical infrastructure, impacting the power systems across the property,” the message stated. “Emergency teams are actively present, carrying out detailed evaluations and implementing essential repairs.”

Restoration crews have initiated the process of extracting water from shared spaces and impacted apartments, as stated in the email, which emphasized that reentry will be prohibited until the building is secured and deemed safe.

As of Monday, the Mercantile Place website announced, “The Merc is temporarily closed and cannot accommodate tours or new leasing inquiries at this time.”

The Mercantile Building, finished in 1943, stood as the tallest edifice west of the Mississippi River, featuring its iconic clock tower and spire, and it emerged as a lasting emblem of postwar Dallas. In 2006, the city officially recognized it as a landmark after transforming it into residential units.