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Reit plans to demolish Westchester Tower and redevelop as mixed use

Medical District Fort Worth South New Construction Demolition Mixed-Use

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#101 AndyN

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Posted 16 March 2018 - 01:43 PM

City advises that the demolition is planned for the 18th.

 

http://fortworthtexa...tchester-plaza/

 
The following streets will be closed from 5:30-9 a.m. as a result of the demolition:
 
8th Avenue From I-30 WBSR to Pruitt
Summit Avenue From 8th to Pennsylvania
Petersmith Street from Summit to Ballinger
Tucker Street from Summit to Ballinger
Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th to Ballinger

Www.fortwortharchitecture.com

#102 Austin55

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Posted 16 March 2018 - 02:27 PM

Hey it actually looks better without the brick. 

 

Let's just slap some glass back on it and let people move in and call it a day.



#103 Dylan

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Posted 16 March 2018 - 07:12 PM

Wish I had known there was going to be a "media viewing area" earlier today. Need to see if I can get access to it.

 

Looks like it's going to be cloudy and the sun won't be a factor. If the "media viewing area" isn't an option, I'm still conflicted on whether to watch from Ballinger Street or Summit/8th at I-30.

 

EDIT: Ballinger is closer to the building, but the view of the building from Summit/30 seems more interesting.

 

Another thing to note: The forecast calls for southerly winds, so dust may blow away from Ballinger and towards Summit/30.


-Dylan


#104 John T Roberts

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Posted 16 March 2018 - 09:12 PM

I will agree that Summit/30 is more interesting, but from experience, I have found that the closer you are, the better. 



#105 JBB

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 07:52 AM

I'm working tomorrow and I need to be able to leave quickly afterward, so I'm thinking about somewhere around Summit and the I-30 service road.  The Summit bridge over 30 has a great view, but if I'm reading the closures correctly, it's going to be off-limits.
 
Bud Kennedy had a good write-up on the building today:

http://www.star-tele...e205258019.html

#106 calien

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 12:24 PM

St Paul is having an implosion watch party in their upper parking lot at 8am.  Coffee and snacks will be served.



#107 John T Roberts

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 04:30 PM

I'm going to try to view it from the south.  Since I live south of the building, I figured that I shouldn't try to work around to the north.  I know that I will be shooting around trees, so I'm not promising the best coverage.



#108 John T Roberts

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 06:47 PM

Here are a couple of parting views of the Westchester House Apartments.  These photographs are from the W.D. Smith Photography Collection from the UTA Library Special Collections, Digital Galleries.

 

1952 Photograph: https://library.uta....d7038f34656.jpg

 

1957 Photograph: https://library.uta....16bfbeb3865.jpg

 

 



#109 Austin55

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 06:54 PM

John, what was the name of the building to the east which is no longer there?

#110 John T Roberts

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Posted 17 March 2018 - 07:28 PM

In the next block to the east was a mansion that was replaced by the current gas station in the early 1960's.  Directly to the east of that, which I think is the building that you are referring, was the Lucerne Apartments.  It was demolished in the 1970's.  Next door to the east of the Lucerne Apartments was Doctor's General Hospital.  It was a small private one that was demolished in the 1980's.  Then there is Ballinger Street.  To the east of that is the Woman's Club.



#111 elpingüino

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 06:28 AM

Really interesting Bud Kennedy column this morning about the history of the Westchester. I had no idea it had been so luxurious, with a "dress boutique, shoe shop and posh 1960s private club with cabana, heated pool and a steady stream of showbiz stars." http://www.star-tele...e205258019.html

#112 JBB

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 06:58 AM

I'm on the eb I-30 service road just west of Summit. Lots of people and lots of drones.

#113 Dylan

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 07:15 AM

That was a blast! I've got footage I'll post later.

-Dylan


#114 Volare

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 07:36 AM

T&P Warehouse... you're next!

 

Performed by (of course)... Dallas Demolition.



#115 JBB

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 07:42 AM

 

Excuse the quality.  Recorded on an iPhone 6S.



#116 panthercity

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 08:06 AM

T&P Warehouse... you're next!
 
Performed by (of course)... Dallas Demolition.


What was the final verdict for the T&P Warehouse?

#117 Volare

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 08:37 AM

What was the final verdict for the T&P Warehouse?

 

 

Those holding their breath waiting to find out have turned into a desiccated corpse.



#118 bryanr

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 10:23 AM

I'm working tomorrow and I need to be able to leave quickly afterward, so I'm thinking about somewhere around Summit and the I-30 service road.  The Summit bridge over 30 has a great view, but if I'm reading the closures correctly, it's going to be off-limits.
 
Bud Kennedy had a good write-up on the building today:

http://www.star-tele...e205258019.html

========================================================================================================

Great story, but I am the grandson, not the son of CL Richhart


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#119 John T Roberts

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 11:44 AM

JBB, thanks for posting the video.  I was there on the south side and I had two tasks.  The first was to take photographs of the implosion for Architecture in Fort Worth, and the second was to serve as Historic Fort Worth's representative at Thistle Hill.  I only had a few minutes between jobs, and I didn't get a chance to get my video up here.  However, it will be coming.  I did get it posted immediately to my personal Facebook page, and shortly thereafter to this site's Facebook page.  I will upload it soon, now that I'm home.

 

Bryan, I'm glad that Bud Kennedy contacted you and put your quotes in the article.



#120 John T Roberts

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 12:37 PM

Here's a link to my video of the implosion at Fortwortharchitecture.com's Facebook page.

 

https://www.facebook...31009410261516/



#121 Dylan

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 01:15 PM

Here's my video of the implosion from Ballinger Street. For best results, select 720p at 60 frames per second on the setting icon.

 

 

Worth noting: I originally intended to check out a tripod from school, forgetting it was spring break. Thankfully, I was able to hold my monopod steady beside me while I watched with my own eyes.


-Dylan


#122 John T Roberts

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 01:43 PM

Very nice.



#123 Volare

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 02:02 PM

There were a LOT of drones in the sky- at least 8-10 from the north. But I haven't seen a single drone video posted yet. (Perhaps they fear FAA enforcement action.)

 

Looking forward to seeing one.



#124 Austin55

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 02:04 PM

Here's one

https://v.redd.it/1co0kmllckm01

https://www.reddit.c...plaza_implosion

#125 JBB

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 07:48 PM

Two of the drones, including one that was directly over the building, took off from the worker staging area in the foreground of my video.  I would assume that might show up on social media associated with Dallas Demolition.



#126 John T Roberts

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 09:22 PM

Westchester Plaza and the Landmark Tower were both imploded on March 18th, twelve years apart.



#127 Austin55

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Posted 18 March 2018 - 09:49 PM

I think the Weatherford/Belknap/121 bridge was also on this date.

#128 JBB

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Posted 20 March 2018 - 09:09 AM

I watched the Landmark implosion from just south of Morton and 10th next to city hall.  The bridge implosion happened around 10:00 at night and, from 12 miles away as the crow flies, it sounded like it was happening in my backyard.

 

A great compilation of Westchester footage with some taken from drones:

 

https://www.facebook...89899177941192/



#129 arch-image

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Posted 21 March 2018 - 04:07 PM

Sadly wasn't able to go to this one , glad to see a few of you went and were able to film it. It always amazes me the precision of implosions. 



#130 JBB

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 06:52 AM

John - any early word on problems at Thistle Hill following the implosion? I would like to think that no news is good news.

#131 John T Roberts

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 08:11 AM

No news is good news!  I inspected the property within 30 minutes, or so, of the implosion.  There was no damage, that I found.  Our Executive Director and our Staff Person at Thistle Hill was finally let through around 10 AM, and they found nothing.  Another architect and engineer on our board inspected later on Sunday and found no damage to the house or the other structures.  The equipment used to take down the draping of the windows and the house did put a few ruts into the lawn, but Dallas Demolition was aware of it and they were going to fix the lawn damage.  It was pretty minimal.



#132 JBB

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 09:49 AM

That's great to hear.  I'm glad that Historic Fort Worth was so vigilant in making certain that the property was protected.



#133 txbornviking

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 10:07 AM

Via Scott Nishimura and VLK architects

wcPNjwd.png

 

1EmtyLU.jpg

 

5ogFy7j.jpg

VLK-Architects-424-Summit-1.jpg

 

 

VLK-Architects-424-Summit-2.jpg

I'm liking it, the curved glass on following summit ought to be a pretty cool gateway element, The residential portion looks dense and interesting. Good project. 

 

Do we have a clue if this is still the redevelopment plan for the site? 



#134 Austin55

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 10:09 AM

It feel through although I think it was basically a perfect plan for the site. Maybe swap "building 2" for a ~12 floor hotel and a meeting hall over the outdoor parking space and it's perfect.

#135 rriojas71

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Posted 22 March 2018 - 03:14 PM

This is a great spot for a Hotel Renovo revival

#136 Austin55

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Posted 24 March 2018 - 04:21 PM

In the next block to the east was a mansion that was replaced by the current gas station in the early 1960's.  Directly to the east of that, which I think is the building that you are referring, was the Lucerne Apartments.  It was demolished in the 1970's.  Next door to the east of the Lucerne Apartments was Doctor's General Hospital.  It was a small private one that was demolished in the 1980's.  Then there is Ballinger Street.  To the east of that is the Woman's Club.

 

Found a photo on the UTA archives.

 

9907723fed43f14f23152fec4db2ddb3.jpg



#137 bryanr

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 02:12 PM

The Loizeaux Group just uploaded there 2:33 video of the implosion.

 

 

TheLoizeauxGroupLLC


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#138 Austin55

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 02:24 PM

That 2nd angle with the debris hitting the camera is quite dramatic. Thanks for sharing the video.



#139 JBB

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 02:28 PM

Great videos.  I especially like the video from the Texaco lot where you can see the east end of the building swaying before it falls.



#140 Austin55

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 02:30 PM

Great videos.  I especially like the video from the Texaco lot where you can see the east end of the building swaying before it falls.

 

Interesting watching the glass all shatter at that moment as well.



#141 Dylan

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 05:25 PM

When I was watching it live, it looked like it was going to fall towards us for a half-second.


-Dylan


#142 John T Roberts

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Posted 26 March 2018 - 08:15 PM

I went back and looked at my video directly from the south, and you could see the east end of the building swaying, also.



#143 Austin55

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Posted 14 January 2019 - 10:28 AM

Looks like Cooks owns it

https://www.tad.org/property/04679512/

#144 John T Roberts

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Posted 14 January 2019 - 10:34 AM

This is no real surprise.  I had heard that Cook's and Harris had shown interest in the property ever since it was demolished.



#145 renamerusk

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Posted 14 January 2019 - 10:49 AM

Looks like Cooks owns it (Westchester Property)

 

 

This is no real surprise.  I had heard that Cook's and Harris had shown interest in the property ever since it was demolished.

 

 That may explain why no commercial/ lodging development has been announced for that location. 

 

With so hospitals and clinics very nearby, properties like this and the one at Rosedale @ 8th, even though it is not currently vacant or available, are primed to be developed into extended stay lodging.



#146 John T Roberts

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Posted 19 February 2019 - 04:21 PM

It's official.  Cook Children's has purchased the old Westchester Plaza site.  The Fort Worth Business Press has the story and a link is below.

 

http://www.fortworth...646fa9f603.html



#147 Austin55

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Posted 19 February 2019 - 04:29 PM

Cooks has really amassed a ton of land. To be honest, I don't think they were the best suitor for it. I was hoping to see a more mixed use style project here.

#148 JBB

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Posted 19 February 2019 - 04:44 PM

I would not be surprised if it ends up as another parking garage. It's a large, highly visible space. I was hoping for something more imaginative than what they will likely do with it, parking or otherwise.

#149 renamerusk

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Posted 19 February 2019 - 05:35 PM

Cooks has really amassed a ton of land. To be honest, I don't think they were the best suitor for it. I was hoping to see a more mixed use style project here.

 

 Agree.  You would think that this parcel is too detached from the consolidated campuses of either Harris or Cook's, but it is apparent that Cook's doesn't think so. I also believe that Cook's will have a tricky situation because of Thistle Hill in an attempt to consolidate the property into its campus south of Pennsylvania Avenue.

 

This area needs more extended stay lodging for the families of hospitalized patients.  Perhaps Harris and Cook's jointly can do a hotel-institutional project, like the TCU-hotel project near its campus, where out of town families can have a convenient place to lodge near the hospitals.



#150 Dylan

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Posted 19 February 2019 - 06:42 PM

Cook Hospital property now surrounds Thistle Hill on all four sides. :unsure:


-Dylan






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: Medical District, Fort Worth South, New Construction, Demolition, Mixed-Use

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