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Old Civil Courts Building Demo

Downtown Building Demolition Tarrant County Courthouse Demolition Photographs Wyatt C. Hedrick

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#1 Brian Luenser

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Posted 14 March 2013 - 07:31 AM

Could not find this thread so I am starting this.  Happy to move over to the old thread.

 

I see this scaffolding happening this morning.  YIPPEEE.

 

CivilCourtsDemo_zpsee7c5d47.jpg


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#2 Tacoma

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Posted 14 March 2013 - 02:13 PM

Thanks Brian. I couldn't find the old thread either but didn't want to start a new one without a pic. 

 

I can't want to see how this block looks with the original courthouse standing alone.



#3 John T Roberts

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Posted 14 March 2013 - 02:54 PM

In a word - better.



#4 dangr.dave

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Posted 14 March 2013 - 08:19 PM

I walked around the building at lunch and they have some scaffolding and machinery set up to remove the angels on the east side of the building.  Looks like they are going to save them after all.



#5 Phil Phillips

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Posted 16 March 2013 - 03:57 PM

Here's the old thread.  It's in the Fort Worth Architecture group.

http://www.fortworth...opic=514&page=3



#6 johnfwd

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 08:57 AM

The construction (rather, demolition) barriers have gone up and a bulldozer or two is on site. Looks like the demolition will commence very soon.  Already notice some chunks in the structure.   Hallelujah for some; relief for others, but the building has not been functional for years.  



#7 cberen1

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Posted 09 April 2013 - 07:59 AM

In a word - better.

 

Zing!  :)



#8 RD Milhollin

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Posted 24 April 2013 - 06:27 AM

 S-T article on the old Civil Court's demolition and restoration of the west facade of the historic courthouse. For some reason I thought I had read that granite from the original west had been saved back in the 1960's. The use of the basement space as a water cistern is interesting; I suppose that fixing the leak would be too difficult...

 

http://www.star-tele...courthouse.html



#9 John T Roberts

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Posted 24 April 2013 - 10:51 AM

RD, it could be that you read it once and that the items were saved and stored.  However, over the course of time, things change. Maybe the granite from the courthouse was eventually thrown away.  Just look at the Aztec decorations from the Aviation Building. They were given to the AIA and TCU offered to store them.  Now, no one knows where they are.  I'm betting those are sitting in a private art collector's living room.



#10 Volare

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Posted 24 April 2013 - 01:43 PM

...I suppose that fixing the leak would be too difficult...

 

...but the City will have no problem reinstituting watering bans ASAP to stop us from watering our lawns too much... :rolleyes:



#11 Brian Luenser

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Posted 25 April 2013 - 05:06 AM

Shot from last night.  I thought this building was ugly before the demo started, I really think it is ugly now.  I don't even really like the Angels from this building as it reminds me of the building.  I think the Angels should have been saved.  For up to $2,000 in costs to take down and move.  That is what they were worth to me.  (Nothing against Angels, but these were not real Angels) 

 

I now have some concerns about the look of the new civil courts building.  A recent artist rendition show exactly what I hate.  Busy brick color with a busy design.  Want one or the other.  Like the whole South end of the Fort Worth convention center.  Ugly.  Would have been handsome with one brick color or a less ornate design.

 

IMG_1851_zps7d3406d8.jpg


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#12 Phil Phillips

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Posted 25 April 2013 - 06:28 PM

The original plan was for the new civil court building to basically be a clone of the Family Law Center on the exterior.  Obviously, the interior has to be different since civil courts don't have associate judges.  I guess something changed. 



#13 RD Milhollin

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Posted 25 April 2013 - 08:46 PM

IMO good to have some architectural variety. 



#14 Austin55

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Posted 26 April 2013 - 07:42 PM

Agree'd, I love his work, but we have enough Schwarz in the town.



#15 RD Milhollin

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Posted 28 July 2013 - 06:16 AM

I'm surprised there have not been any recent photos of the Old Civil Courts building posted; the north side is almost gone and cladding all around is being removed. 



#16 Austin55

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Posted 28 July 2013 - 10:22 PM

Gotcha covered!

 

9388278771_11ae7aaa4b_c.jpg
DSC_0568 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9391041446_1cd2b87989_c.jpg
DSC_0573 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9388265007_40400e2b79_c.jpg
DSC_0576 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9388275057_7f3b83ec7b_c.jpg
DSC_0569 by Micro55, on Flickr


#17 RenaissanceMan

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Posted 29 July 2013 - 06:03 AM

I'm not typically one who enjoys the sight of demolition, but this is just beautiful to me.



#18 Dylan

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Posted 29 July 2013 - 01:33 PM

Glad to see that ugly building coming down. Demolition progress is much further along than when I was in DT a few weeks ago.


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#19 Fort Worthology

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Posted 29 July 2013 - 03:36 PM

Good riddance.


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Kara B.

 


#20 Austin55

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 02:27 PM

They are down to the basement. Its hard to take pictures of because I couldn't get close, but from a car you can see into the basement area pretty easily. 



#21 Austin55

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Posted 11 April 2014 - 11:09 PM

No pictures but there is granite on site, looks like portico restoration will start soon. 



#22 John T Roberts

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Posted 12 April 2014 - 08:10 PM

I have heard that it won't be long before they start.



#23 renamerusk

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Posted 18 July 2021 - 05:42 PM

Shot from last night.  I thought this building was ugly before the demo started, I really think it is ugly now......

 

IMG_1851_zps7d3406d8.jpg

 

 

 

Gotcha covered!

 

9388278771_11ae7aaa4b_c.jpg
DSC_0568 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9391041446_1cd2b87989_c.jpg
DSC_0573 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9388265007_40400e2b79_c.jpg
DSC_0576 by Micro55, on Flickr
 

9388275057_7f3b83ec7b_c.jpg
DSC_0569 by Micro55, on Flickr

 

I now that we have demo this eyesore, can't we demo this too -

 

http://www.fortworth...iminalcourt.htm



#24 johnfwd

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 02:36 PM

The criminal courts and jail building is among the blandest looking buildings downtown.  I wouldn't shed tears if it was demolished and replaced with a lofty tower.  Is it an example of brutalist architecture?



#25 RD Milhollin

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 07:28 PM

I wouldn't shed tears if it was demolished and replaced with a lofty tower.  Is it an example of brutalist architecture?

Would you cry if a parking lot took it's place? Or a bank drive-in? How about a 3 story stick built apartment?

 

I like the building, it is unique to the architecture of the surrounding area, and besides (ducking) I like brutalist architecture!



#26 John T Roberts

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 07:32 PM

I'm not sure you can really call this brutalist architecture.  It is more of the form follows function type of building.  You can't do a lot with Criminal Courts combined with a jail.  There is probably a good chance that when it is demolished, it will be replaced with a County parking lot.



#27 Nitixope

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 08:16 PM

Dumb question but was Cullen Davis processed or held in this building after his arrest?



#28 Austin55

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 08:50 PM

From a few years back, but the county also moves pretty slow. 
 

NBC talked has an article talking more about the demolition of the Criminal Courts & Jail building and proposed changes to the existing Thomas Wyndham building which was sold to the county. The Criminal Courts building will be replaced with a circular driveway. Fine by me!

 

JVzpBWw.jpg



#29 renamerusk

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Posted 20 July 2021 - 09:48 PM

A circular driveway seems a waste of prime space.  More office and Customer Service Area given that Tarrant County is now headed for 2.5million residents.



#30 johnfwd

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Posted 21 July 2021 - 05:51 AM

Not meaning to be argumentative, tastes in architecture are akin to tastes in art paintings.  I realize a criminal courts and jail building shouldn't look like the Taj Mahal. I was just giving my opinion about that building's appearance in general terms.

 

 I would hope that when a high-rise building is demolished, it would be replaced by a modern high-rise building...not a parking pot or driveway.  Somewhat like when New York City's twin towers succumbed to the 911 attack, the lofty One World Trade Center tower replaced them.  But, alas, this is downtown Fort Worth.



#31 Doohickie

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Posted 21 July 2021 - 06:57 AM

I would hope that when a high-rise building is demolished, it would be replaced by a modern high-rise building..

My money is on a QuikTrip.


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#32 johnfwd

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Posted 21 July 2021 - 08:52 AM

 

I would hope that when a high-rise building is demolished, it would be replaced by a modern high-rise building..

My money is on a QuikTrip.

 

Ha!  If that's the case, I say leave the criminal courts and jail building where it is.



#33 Jeriat

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Posted 21 July 2021 - 11:14 AM

 

From a few years back, but the county also moves pretty slow. 
 

 

 

 

JVzpBWw.jpg

 

That should be the county's motto... 


7fwPZnE.png

 

8643298391_d47584a085_b.jpg






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: Downtown, Building Demolition, Tarrant County, Courthouse, Demolition Photographs, Wyatt C. Hedrick

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