84 replies to this topic

[Austin55]

Slideshow of interior pics. I'd reccomend muting the video.

 

http://video.tccd.ed...8776ceab56f6e1d

[Fort Worthology]

Awesome.  That place has such massive potential.

[RD Milhollin]

Wow, too bad this building is not located at Jones and 9th Streets, it would make a great train station.

[Austin55]

I heard through the Grapevine crews were power washing and removing graffiti today. I'll look ou tomorrow after class. 

 

Good news, I guess!

[John T Roberts]

That is good news.  Let's hope the rumor is true. 

[BlueMound]

NYCs Domino Sugar Factory renovation
https://www.designbo...ork-04-06-2018/

[John T Roberts]

I would be for any project that adaptively re-uses the old power plant.  Several ideas have been pitched to TCC over the years, but nothing has happened.

[Electricron]

I think they should just demolish the old power plant. It was built to house a steam turbine generator which has been removed for a long time. Whatever you  may repurpose it for, it will never be as efficient as a brand new building built for that purpose.  Texas Electric Service Company didn't overspend to add much design beyond functionality into this building, it's basically just a large shed with a very strong foundation to support the huge weight of a turbine generator and  huge pumps and pipes. It'll probably cost more to remodel this shed than to build an entirely new building for whatever you want to do here. 

[JBB]

If "cheaper and easier to build new" is the measuring stick, then preservation will lose every single time.

[John T Roberts]

JBB is generally correct.  I have seen some instances where it is cheaper to restore or adaptively re-use a building.  However, we to have to think about the history here.  Adaptively re-using the old power plant would be a plus for the Tarrant County College.  Look how much they have already spent on their downtown campuses.  Converting the old power plant probably would be just a drop in the bucket for them.  If anyone is wondering, the power plant has NO historic designation(s). 

[renamerusk]

I think they should just demolish the old power plant. It was built to house a steam turbine generator which has been removed for a long time. Whatever you  may repurpose it for, it will never be as efficient as a brand new building built for that purpose.  Texas Electric Service Company didn't overspend to add much design beyond functionality into this building, it's basically just a large shed with a very strong foundation to support the huge weight of a turbine generator and  huge pumps and pipes. It'll probably cost more to remodel this shed than to build an entirely new building for whatever you want to do here. 

 

 BS!!!!!!!

[renamerusk]

JBB is generally correct.  I have seen some instances where it is cheaper to restore or adaptively re-use a building.  However, we to have to think about the history here.  Adaptively re-using the old power plant would be a plus for the Tarrant County College.  Look how much they have already spent on their downtown campuses.  Converting the old power plant probably would be just a drop in the bucket for them.  If anyone is wondering, the power plant has NO historic designation(s). 

 

 IMO, unless it was deemed to be a safety issue, demolishing the tower was a mistake and we missed the opportunity for turning it into an even more significant landmark than it was at the time. Imagine this -

[Austin55]

I think the building serves a lot of potential to be a landmark of Panther Island. There are not many historic buildings out there, keeping the few that exist adds to the legitimacy and character of the area IMO. 

 

I have no idea what TCC will do with the building, but I hope it sticks around. Maybe the new development (Encore) will encourage them to move along with it.

[Jeriat]

I do want the Power Plant to stay, but something tells me it won't be here once Panther Island fully comes into development. 

[John T Roberts]

Unfortunately, nothing can stop the demolition.  No one has any ground to stand upon if they want to save the building.  Hopefully, there might be enough public pressure to convince TCC to save it, if they are contemplating demolition.

[Austin55]

Historic commission turning up the heat on TCC to do something.

https://www.fwweekly...o-the-people-2/

Edit - forgot article

[JBB]

FW Weekly ran a piece on it this week. TCC's response does not sound encouraging, especially their claim that the building is up to code.

[renamerusk]

It sounds as though the TCC Board is impervious as ever.  This is the same board that gave us the Trinity Campus East at a breath taking cost.  The Board also demolished the Plant Power Tower without an explanation.

 

https://www.fwweekly...-money-machine/

[arch-image]

Anything new on his property? Was just down in San Antonio at the old Pearl Brewery Doing some poking around, sure would be cool to see something like that going on here as an anchor

[John T Roberts]

I don't know of anything new.

[BlueMound]

Bursting the Aquarium Bubble

https://www.citylab....nt-fish/588103/

[JBB]

Meh.  I would take that with a grain of salt.  For all of the failures they mentioned, there are a lot of successful aquariums in the US: Monterey Bay, The Georgia Aquarium, the Newport Aquarium, the Shedd in Chicago, Houston's Downtown Aquarium, Dallas World Aquarium, Audubon in New Orleans.  Zoological facilities often have challenges in their early years.  The Georgia Aquarium is probably a good model for what could happen here if the zoo is a partner: an ambitious project built with the support of a single donor or under the direction of a fundraiser that can rally an army of donors.

[rriojas71]

Bursting the Aquarium Bubble
https://www.citylab....nt-fish/588103/

Maybe I’m missing something but what does an aquarium have to do with the TXU plant?

[JBB]

It has been floated as a possible use for the power plant building.

[UncaMikey]

Any idea why they have dug a huge hole on the west side of the plant? Toxic waste, soil remediation?

[rriojas71]

Any idea why they have dug a huge hole on the west side of the plant? Toxic waste, soil remediation?

Do you mean the hole at the bottom of the bridge? That is going to be the canal portion that will run down the middle of the apartment complex they are building. I haven’t noticed a hole to the west of the plant but I haven’t really looked either.

[UncaMikey]

I'm not sure what you mean about a hole at the bottom of the bridge. We walk on the trails there regularly, under the bridge on the trail on both sides of the river, so are familiar with the area.

 

For some months now, they have been digging a large deep hole along the western side of the power plant, with the hole running roughly north/south parallel to the building. They've exposed old pipes, pumped out water, etc. This is next to, but not a part of, the Encore apt project.

 

If you are in the area, you can walk up on the levee near the power plant and see what they've done. It doesn't seem to be active at the moment, but I'm puzzled as to what it's about. I have a recent photo but I'm not sure how to add it here.

[JBB]

The work is visible on the mobile version of Google Maps.  Is it possible it's utility work for the Encore apartments?  In the aerial, it looks like both sites tie into each other.

[Austin55]

(apologies for bumping the thread without real news)

Some inspiration for how this could be developed from Savanah GA. A waterfront powerplant with retail, a hotel, venue, and just a beautiful setting.

 

https://www.cnu.org/...8d27j4NPuc5r4QM

 

https://www.plantriv.../map-directory/

[Austin55]

Just begging for some attention...

[John T Roberts]

I agree with you 100%.

[JBB]

You had quite the busy day with the drone!

[Austin55]

Star-T's Harrison Mantas did a nice piece on the plant: https://news.yahoo.c...-182803830.html

 

Nothing new really, but does mention that TCC and TRWD are working together to "explore possibilities".

[John T Roberts]

Austin, I'm already ahead of you.  I read the article early this morning.  As for the Power Plant, I'll believe it when I see it.

[txbornviking]

I hate the idea of relying on "benefactors" for anything to happen in this city, BUT someone with pockets and means to use the St. Louis City Museum as a jumping-off-idea could be really cool here:

https://citymuseum.org/