Mothballing Toolkit for Vacant or Infrequently Used Halls

When a building is vacant for a period of time, or used so infrequently that it is effectively vacant for long stretches, small problems can turn into big problems very quickly! Roof leaks, pests, vandalism and theft, and other issues can escalate without being noticed right away.

To combat these issues and help protect historic dance halls, Texas Dance Hall Preservation has developed a toolkit for “mothballing” vacant halls. In historic preservation terms, “mothballing” means securing, stabilizing, and weatherizing a building – in other words, protecting it from damage while it’s not being used.

When would we need to “mothball” a hall?

If a building is going to be vacant and unused for more than a month or two, or for an indefinite amount of time, it pays to check it for potential problems before you close it up. Some events that can trigger mothballing include:

  • Owner is trying to sell the hall
  • Owner’s health issues make it necessary to shut down the business for a while
  • The hall is already vacant and unused

How can I get a copy of the Toolkit?

The full-color Toolkit can be downloaded as a PDF document, free of charge.
Click to download the Mothballing Toolkit »

If you need a printed copy, please contact us.

Insurance for Historic Dance Halls

Thanks to the generous contributions of donors during Giving Tuesday 2018, TDHP has worked with Historic Appraisals, Inc. to develop a set of sample insurance appraisals for representative Texas dance halls. The National Trust Insurance Services, which specializes in providing property insurance for historic buildings, will use these appraisals as reference for dance halls that contact them for a quote.

For more information, contact National Trust Insurance Services, LLC at 866-269-0944.

Support Texas Dance Hall Preservation

Your kind and generous help makes it possible for us to work directly with dance hall owners to provide technical assistance, workshops, grants for building repairs, and other resources. Please become a TDHP Member and make a donation today.