Flatiron Building
1000 Houston - 1907 (NR, RTHL, FWHSE)
This structure, one of the signature buildings of Fort Worth, was designed by Sanguinet & Staats. It was modeled after the Flatiron Building in New York (1902). Our Flatiron Building was one of the first steel framed buildings in Fort Worth and was one of the tallest commercial buildings in North Texas in the early 1900's. Originally designed with 10 stories, three floors were cut from the building due to budgetary constraints. The following is an ironic situation. The man that Fort Worth is named after is buried on a small island of land at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue at the base of the Flatiron Building in New York City. William Jenkins Worth died shortly before Fort Worth was founded.
The building is owned by Dr. George Cravens and his wife and they are working on a $4 million restoration/renovation of the structure. The first phase is their own loft apartment located on the top two floors. On the ground floor, plans call for a bistro or cafe. The remaining floors will have luxury loft apartments. Recently the Park Central Hotel, immediately to the south, was purchased by Dr. Cravens and his wife. They plan to remodel the hotel. The Cravens' recently donated a panther sculpture that was placed in the adjacent Hyde Park. The architect for the restoration is Raymond O'Connor and the contractor is Scott Dennett Construction.
