Timely article on the Rec Center recently added to HFW's endangered list. Seems like it has been on the burner for awhile, since 1998, but apparently a lot of work is going to be needed to get a CO for this property. I wonder what the musician-owner has in mind for the facility: concert venue with tiered seating, multi-use facility with flat floor, single room to take advantage of the wide roof span or several separate and variously sized rooms to make for more potential uses? The T&P transit station is walking distance (as the crow flies), but there is no direct path from the platform into the Southside. A photo is included with the article published in the paper
http://www.star-tele...ry/1384693.html
Posted on Mon, May. 18, 2009
Owner of former Fort Worth Rec Center sees the Rundown Building's Potential
By SANDRA BAKERsabaker@star-telegram.com
Soiled shreds of gold brocade curtain still hang from a steel rod installed more than 80 years ago to span the stage at the former near south-side city recreation center on Vickery Boulevard.
Most of the stage was removed by a former tenant, and what’s left is falling in. So are the floors of the two handball courts off to each side of the stage. The subflooring of the original basketball court is exposed and damaged, and remnants of the original bathroom floor tiles poke through piles of old building materials being stored in the red-brick building.
The paint is peeling, the street-level windows are bricked in, and most of the upper-level windows are broken.
While the building is seemingly a daunting renovation project, owner Tom Reynolds sees only what it might be.
"The construction of this is very interesting," Reynolds said as he pointed to the trusses spanning the 16,788-square-foot building. "I’ve never had a situation where I’ve been scared off."
The Fort Worth Recreation Building, built by the city in 1927 as an auditorium and gymnasium, recently went back on Historic Fort Worth’s Endangered Places list. The city sold the building in 1955, and it was used as a factory and warehouse, the organization said.
An automotive parts distributor was last to use it, altering the interior to add a truck ramp and cutting in a garage door at the back of the stage, Reynolds said.
Yet, he said, it is not endangered. The building, at the southeast corner of Vickery Boulevard and Galveston Avenue, may be in disrepair — most of the roof has fallen in — but engineers have told him that it’s structurally sound, he said.
Reynolds, a jazz musician, real estate developer and cattle owner, bought the long-vacant building in 1998 from a magazine publishing house that wanted to make the building its offices. Two years later, he bought vacant lots to the east and south of the building, giving him a little more than an acre.
He plans to make the building a public-events venue, but that may not be for some time given the current credit crisis. Project costs will run more than $1 million, he said.
"This is a real opportunity," Reynolds said. "But funding has always been an issue."
This isn’t Reynolds’ first renovation of an old building. He’s been involved in apartment and office projects on Magnolia Avenue and Main Street.
The rec building, he said, is perfectly situated between downtown and the south side, where development is poised to collide in the coming years, bringing residents back to the neighborhoods. People already live in the condos at the renovated T&P building a couple of blocks to the north.
"I knew it was too good of a building in too good of a location," Reynolds said. "This one is possibly the crown jewel of the near south-side edge of downtown."
A public use building is vital to the area at Vickery Boulevard and Main Street, said Paul Paine, president of Fort Worth South, a nonprofit advocacy group. He said he’s confident that Reynolds will eventually pull off a redevelopment.
"He really cares a lot about the future of that building," Paine said. "Anybody who grew up here will tell you stories about playing basketball there. There’s sentimental value to the building."
Arlene Endsley Echols knows that all too well.
She grew up a few blocks from the rec center. It’s where she and her sister, Dortha, spent their summers as young girls in the 1950s.
"I grew up in that place," said Echols, who lives near River Oaks. "That’s where we spent all our time. It kept us out of trouble."
SANDRA BAKER, 817-390-7727
#1
Posted 19 May 2009 - 06:08 AM
#2
Posted 19 May 2009 - 07:24 AM
#3
Posted 22 May 2009 - 03:38 PM
Oops, pie on my face! Thanks for making it coconut creme Andy... my favorite. I was not even aware of the park-and-ride lot to the south of the freeway, the walking tunnel makes access to Vickery EASY, and this could be a huge selling point for using the old Rec as a public events venue. Go for it!
#4
Posted 27 June 2011 - 06:35 PM
Unfortunately, I came home from work today and looked out to see that the front of the building has been tagged. It looks like they used a fire extinguisher or some kind of sprayer because it has a giant k1 painted on the front facing I-30. This is the same tag that was on the old Star-Telegram distribution building by the T&P Warehouse last year. I hope that whatever it is painted in can be removed...
#5
Posted 07 December 2011 - 02:30 PM
Rec Building by johnkirking, on Flickr
I have noticed work being done on the roof over the past few weeks. Also, it appears that the roof has been lined with Christmas lights.
Interested to see if this is being done as the start of the major rehab, or just to keep the building from being further damaged by water.
#6
Posted 10 December 2011 - 09:18 AM
#7
Posted 10 December 2011 - 09:43 AM
#8
Posted 18 January 2012 - 02:01 PM
(we called it the "Rec Hall") was one of the centers of my and my sister's life.
That would be in the years 1942-1951. I used to take tumbling lessons and played
basketball on the wide floor while my sister took dancing and baton lessons from
Dorothy Bryant. It was always a beehive of activity with constant rehersals on the
stage while kids scampered through the tiers of benches.At one point I remember
acrobats practicing on trapeeze hung from the roof beams. In the lobby was a popcorn
trolley and a concession stand where one could get these little wax bottles of
flavored water. After drinking the liquid you could chew the wax like it was chewing gum.
To the right of the front entrance was a crafts area where they provided the irons
and leather for burning designs into belts and such. And in the back behind the dock
and stage doors were tall swings. A lumber yard was next door and when they were closed
I used to climb over the fence and sneak in to enlarge my playground.
Fanatsic that it's still standing! I sure hope it gets rennovated. Such a special
heritage, but there couldn't be many of us alive who remember it. How appropriate
that the present owner is a jazz musician!
#9
Posted 15 February 2012 - 05:29 PM
Untitled by johnkirking, on Flickr
Update: The roof has been completed with green shingles, which looks nice with the brick color. What I thought was Christmas lights must have actually been something to do with the flashing on the parapets. There is activity around the building every once in a while, but it appears that nothing else is being done on the exterior yet.
#10
Posted 16 February 2012 - 08:27 AM
#11
Posted 20 February 2012 - 12:45 PM
My in-laws are here from Albany, NY, area, and I point out different things as we drive around town. I've pointed out this building recently and noticed that, yes, the roof has been re-done. My father-in-law is very impressed with how much historical preservation is being done here in Ft Worth. We often see the glass is half empty when we lose the preservation battles, but there are a lot of victories, and hope for future victories.
I'm from back east, and the "old" stuff is older than Fort Worth. Because of that, where I grew up there was very little art deco architecture. Fort Worth has quite a bit, and embraces that heritage. It's a snappy, classy look that a lot of other cities just don't have, and art deco can be made to blend well with current architectural trends in newer buildings (the Chase Building being a good example). Art deco architecture is the architecture of an optimistic America, and reflects well on Fort Worth's outlook.
- renamerusk likes this
#12
Posted 20 February 2012 - 03:55 PM
It is the same guy as I said, here is his site: http://prosites-oldb...ngprojects.html
#13
Posted 27 February 2013 - 01:34 PM
Update: The roof has been completed with green shingles, which looks nice with the brick color. What I thought was Christmas lights must have actually been something to do with the flashing on the parapets. There is activity around the building every once in a while, but it appears that nothing else is being done on the exterior yet.
It's been a year now, any news on what is happening at the Rec Building?
#14
Posted 28 February 2013 - 10:50 AM
Doesn't look any different to me....
#15
Posted 09 March 2015 - 06:10 AM
A small dibble dabble on this was mentioned in a recent FWBP article.
That includes the historic Fort Worth Recreation Building on Vickery that Reynolds bought in 1997, a 6,700-square-foot former grocery store at the corner, and two vacant lots.
Reynolds has said for years he wants to turn the 18,000-square-foot recreation building, which Fort Worth built in 1927, into a center for corporate parties, weddings, performances and other events, viewing a gap in the market for venues.
Reynolds said he would build surface parking on the vacant lots between the recreation building and South Main, or look to develop a mixed-use project with a parking garage, and may ask the Near Southside tax increment finance district for help as he develops his plans.
#16
Posted 09 March 2015 - 11:14 AM
Planning for increased parking in south side would be a wise idea. If that area fully develops there won't be enough street parking without completely jamming the residential streets and creating conflict much like what happened up and down Greenville Ave. in Dallas. The residents fought for what seemed like decades to shut down parking in the neighborhoods which eventually had the effect of choking off all the nightlife because nobody could find close and safe parking. I'm not sold on the idea of setting up private garages to gouge people in south side but a few small parking garages could ease the future parking problems at least until it becomes safer and more convenient to walk through south side from the TRE.
#17
Posted 19 December 2017 - 09:40 AM
Why hasn't the city insisted that the broken windows in this building be repaired?
#18
Posted 15 February 2018 - 01:06 PM
After the city made the T&P owners shore up their building, I am surprised the Fort Worth Recreation Building on Vickery has not done something similar. Each day as I drive past it I see broken window on the north side of the building. Is the city going to bring this building up to code any time soon?
#19
Posted 15 February 2018 - 01:19 PM
The City of Fort Worth no longer owns the building. It is in the hands of a private developer. Like the T&P Warehouse, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, I don't think it has a local historic designation. A few years back, the owner did mothball the building, but I don't think any work has been done on it since. I also believe that City Code officials could try to force the owner to further secure the site, similar to what is being done at the T&P Warehouse.
#21
Posted 18 February 2018 - 01:07 PM
#22
Posted 18 February 2018 - 06:11 PM
Yes, it does.
#23
Posted 18 February 2018 - 07:20 PM
#24
Posted 06 June 2019 - 10:26 AM
Txbornviking pointed out to me that the windows, at least on the N facade, are being worked on.
#25
Posted 04 July 2019 - 11:08 AM
New windows on N side, trimmed trees, and a powerwashed facade. The gold letters are also being polished up.
#26
Posted 04 July 2019 - 01:07 PM
Last year, at the Preservation Awards, I was visiting with Tom Reynolds. He was receiving an award for the Dickson-Jenkins Lofts. He also owns the Recreation Building. He said that he was going to start that project soon. So, I'm guessing that he is starting to do some work on the building.
#27
Posted 05 July 2019 - 01:35 AM
- txbornviking likes this
#28
Posted 24 September 2019 - 11:44 AM
I received this in my email today with no explanation. Looks like a redevelopment announcement
- renamerusk and rriojas71 like this
#29
Posted 24 September 2019 - 02:12 PM
So the poster's LinkedIn account shows he works at - ?
Edited by AndyN, 26 September 2019 - 12:29 PM.
#32
Posted 26 September 2019 - 12:28 PM
I'm sorry, Cody. I thought you were providing a link, I didn't realize you were hosting the item. I didn't make the connection between your username here and your account name on flickr. I thought your employeer might indicate the proposed use for the revamped building but I couldn't imagine how that would work.
- renamerusk and Cody C like this
#33
Posted 27 September 2019 - 10:59 AM
I'm sorry, Cody. I thought you were providing a link, I didn't realize you were hosting the item. I didn't make the connection between your username here and your account name on flickr. I thought your employeer might indicate the proposed use for the revamped building but I couldn't imagine how that would work.
No worries!
#34
Posted 01 December 2020 - 11:04 PM
Found these old photos I took back on 12/10/2005. I'd be interested to see how much as changed inside since then. (Sorry it took me 15 years to post these, I'll try to be a little more timely.)
- RD Milhollin, Doohickie, txbornviking and 1 other like this
#35
Posted 02 December 2020 - 09:59 PM
Thanks for posting these old photographs. I remember the interior.
#36
Posted 28 September 2023 - 08:39 AM
#39
Posted 28 September 2023 - 12:13 PM
Excited to see the rebirth of this building adding to the growth of the area.
This part really caught my attention, would be an excellent venue for concerts, weddings, churches, theater productions etc esp with the clear span design, there's no obstructed views and seems like the place could seat 500+ (just guessing). Parking might be tricky.
"This plan is to save the main structure & redevelop the interior as a stage..."
- TLA likes this
#40
Posted 28 September 2023 - 12:46 PM
The interior space is pretty large and can definitely seat a number of people. I remember going there to shoot baskets when I was in high school and then playing racquetball there when I was in college. It was a convenient place for recreation back in the day,
- rriojas71 likes this
#41
Posted 28 September 2023 - 01:08 PM
Harrison Mantas with S-T covering the Rec Center project: https://www.star-tel...e279867999.html
(with link to John's FW architecture website entry for this building!)
#42
Posted 28 September 2023 - 04:34 PM
I remember going there to shoot baskets when I was in high school and then playing racquetball there when I was in college. It was a convenient place for recreation back in the day,
I feel like I've mentioned on the forum before that my dad used to play basketball there around the time I was born (mid-70s).
#43
Posted 17 January 2024 - 09:21 AM
Drainage Study Filed:
https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=
- TLA likes this
#47
Posted 17 January 2024 - 12:45 PM
The most exciting part about this for me is the connection between T&P Station and the Near Southside. I think the vast majority of people just think of T&P as a downtown park and ride, but projects like this will help beautify the walk and create more of a transit-oriented feel to the area. Right now the first thing you see once you leave the train parking lot is A. More parking lot (soon to be developed, hopefully) and B. this abandoned building. You'd have no idea of the vibrant streets that lie just a block or two away.
#49
Posted 17 January 2024 - 12:54 PM
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