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Recent spike in warehouse construction?


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#1 Not Sure

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Posted 07 December 2016 - 10:36 AM

Over the past two or three years, I've noticed what appears to be an abrupt increase in the number of large warehouse/distribution center type buildings being constructed in Tarrant County. I don't get out to other parts of the metroplex much, so I can't figure if this is a local trend I'm seeing or part of a larger metro area/regional trend.

 

Specifically what I'm talking about are the large tilt-wall type buildings constructed around Alliance airport as well as near the auto and intermodal facilities. To the south along the north Loop 820 corridor there has been significant construction in the Railhead development between Business 287 and FM 156 (four up so far and another one underway) as well as in the area between Haltom Road and I35W. I know some have been purpose built facilities for the tenants, but at least one of them was completed and immediately advertised as available.

 

So is there actually a marked increase in the number of these facilities or do they replace obsolete structures elsewhere? If there is an increase, what is driving it?



#2 Doohickie

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Posted 08 December 2016 - 12:43 PM

Not sure, but I think it may be a reflection of the internet-based retail economy, where merchandise is ordered online and delivered to the customer's home.  This increase in warehousing may be to the detriment of new retail operations, as an increasing amount of commerce is occurring without the need for brick-and-mortar retail locations.


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#3 Austin55

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Posted 08 December 2016 - 03:27 PM

Arlington has a spike as well, especially around 360. The 360 & 20 interchange has warehouses going up to the west of it (including one on the site of the old Johnson & Johnson facility) and the old Six Flags Mall site. 



#4 youngalum

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Posted 12 December 2016 - 11:06 AM

This is what happens in the Tarrant County job market.  Tarrant County gets the warehouses and the blue collar jobs.  Dallas County gets the new office buildings and the white collar jobs.



#5 rriojas71

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Posted 13 December 2016 - 09:25 PM

This is what happens in the Tarrant County job market.  Tarrant County gets the warehouses and the blue collar jobs.  Dallas County gets the new office buildings and the white collar jobs.


If getting more white collar jobs and new office buildings is what we need to become more like Dallas then I will be more than happy to accept more blue collar jobs and more warehouses in exchange for less pretentiousness. Just my opinion of course, but as a native Fort Worthian who returned after a 17 year stint away, I have really come to appreciate Fort Worth and where it is trying to head as a city.

One thing I have noticed as an underlying theme on this forum is the need to validate the quality of Fort Worth and it's image based on the amount (or lack) of skyscrapers in our skyline. Fort Worth is a very unique and interesting city that has a strong identity and character that you can't replicate or produce. All my friends from the west coast that have visited me have really enjoyed their time here and they loved the Cowboys, Culture and and laid-back vibe that is the backbone of our city. Many of them mentioned to me (and I have heard the same from visitors to our city) that FW is very underrated and they even called it a hidden gem.

Yes I am a skyscraper enthusiast and I have lived in a few cities with iconic Skylines (SF, Seattle & Chicago) so I love skyscrapers, however I also don't believe that having more skyscrapers increases the quality of life in any particular city. I actually think it does more harm to the quality of life than it does to help it because it causes rents and property taxes to go through the roof which squeezes out those who may not be able to afford those costs. I was in SF for several years and I loved my time there and all that it had to offer, but I also loathed a lot of it as well. I finally had to leave because I could no longer afford to live there. Teachers, police officers, firefighters, restaurant/retail workers and those who are not super rich or in the tech field cannot afford to live in the city. It has basically become a gated community and playground for the super rich. Seattle & Austin are great examples of cities following this new trend and I hope FW doesn't allow itself to join that fraternity. I actually like the fact that FW is taking it's time in creating a livable city by focusing on the central core and creating mixed use neighborhoods along the river and surrounding areas that will hopefully endure and help people of all walks of life feel as though they are a part of a community and not excluded from it. If it takes more blue collar jobs to keep the friendly laid-back feel this city offers then sign me up.

Sorry for going off topic. I will get off of my soapbox now.

#6 Doohickie

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Posted 13 December 2016 - 10:19 PM

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Well said.  I wasn't born here, but I lived here for a few years, moved away, and chose to move back, for a lot of the same reasons you cite.

 

Foat Wuth, ah luv yew!


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#7 Dylan

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Posted 13 December 2016 - 10:49 PM

If city leaders in the early to mid 20th century had the mindset y'all have, Fort Worth would not be the large metro anchor we all love today.


-Dylan


#8 Jeriat

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Posted 13 December 2016 - 11:19 PM

For me, it's not about "being like Dallas". And to be honest, I get tired of hearing that, as if Dallas is the only city in the world with skyscrapers and sports teams and well planned public transportation...

Personally, I'd like to see more white collar jobs to diversify this city's economy more than it is. It's great that we're getting more jobs... but can we get more for people who DON'T want to work in a factory or warehouse? Something for engineers, artists, young professionals, etc. We all know skyscrapers don't make a city and they don't have to come with that, but it would be nice to think outside the box a hell of a lot more than this city does.

I'm just sayin', it would be ok to be a large major city and think like a large major city, instead of being a large major city that thinks like Abilene...


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#9 Doohickie

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 07:56 AM

If city leaders in the early to mid 20th century had the mindset y'all have, Fort Worth would not be the large metro anchor we all love today.

 

So?  I don't know how that has any bearing on this discussion.  Your point is as relevant as saying, "If the early cattlemen felt like you, this wouldn't be called Cowtown."

 

For me, it's not about "being like Dallas". And to be honest, I get tired of hearing that, as if Dallas is the only city in the world with skyscrapers and sports teams and well planned public transportation...

Personally, I'd like to see more white collar jobs to diversify this city's economy more than it is. It's great that we're getting more jobs... but can we get more for people who DON'T want to work in a factory or warehouse? Something for engineers, artists, young professionals, etc. We all know skyscrapers don't make a city and they don't have to come with that, but it would be nice to think outside the box a hell of a lot more than this city does.

I'm just sayin', it would be ok to be a large major city and think like a large major city, instead of being a large major city that thinks like Abilene...

 

If being a large major city means that real estate gets too expensive or the city centers are less accessible, I'd rather think like Abilene.


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#10 renamerusk

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 08:24 AM

For me, it's not about "being like Dallas". And to be honest, I get tired of hearing that, as if Dallas is the only city in the world with skyscrapers and sports teams and well planned public transportation...Personally, I'd like to see more white collar jobs to diversify this city's economy more than it is....I'm just sayin', it would be ok to be a large major city and think like a large major city, instead of being a large major city that thinks like Abilene...

 

  Businesses of the white collar variety tend to cluster and where the gravitational pull is greatest, in this case Dallas,  the cluster is larger.  Fort Worth's original sin has been its willingness to be a part of a greater sum, DFW and which is something that FW may never truly overcome.

 

While Dallas is a destination for commerce, Fort Worth is becoming a destination for tourism.  Ask yourself, where do tourist want to go and see the mythical lifestyle of Texas.  You will be pleasantly surprised that Fort Worth is the preferred choice above Dallas.  It is very encouraging that several hospitality projects are planned and in the works for Fort Worth to offer a place for tourist to stay, spend money and enjoy the City.  It is very encouraging that the Department of Labor is projecting a strong growth in tourism nationwide and that employers are planning to add more jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.  It is an economic fact that white collar jobs can evaporate as quickly as they can appear; technology will see to that.  Tourism, the desire to escape from the M-F 9/5 treadmill, will always persist.  Fort Worth must continue to develop itself by balancing the scale of it image.

 

 

My long held desire for Fort Worth is for the City to operate its own regional airport; a feature that will accentuate Fort Worth as a distinctive destination apart from Dallas.  Hands down, I would take an airport over a new skyscraper.



#11 JBB

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 10:27 AM

We all know skyscrapers don't make a city and they don't have to come with that, but it would be nice to think outside the box a hell of a lot more than this city does.


I know I beat this dead horse frequently, but not building skyscrapers is not about a mindset or a lack of imagination or "outside of the box" thinking. It's about economics.

#12 Doohickie

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 10:35 AM

My long held desire for Fort Worth is for the City to operate its own regional airport; a feature that will accentuate Fort Worth as a distinctive destination apart from Dallas.  Hands down, I would take an airport over a new skyscraper.


An airport would be huge, equivalent to several skyscrapers.
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#13 hannerhan

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 11:00 AM

 

My long held desire for Fort Worth is for the City to operate its own regional airport; a feature that will accentuate Fort Worth as a distinctive destination apart from Dallas.  Hands down, I would take an airport over a new skyscraper.


An airport would be huge, equivalent to several skyscrapers

 

 

I will never understand the "we need an airport" argument.  We literally have one of the best airports in the entire world right here.  I live on the West side of Fort Worth and it takes me 30 minutes door to door.  Every new international destination to/from DFW brings dollars directly to Fort Worth, and our city leadership has done a great job of being presented as equal to Dallas when they're out marketing our region internationally.  This is WAY more economically beneficial to Fort Worth than a new (tiny) airport could ever be.  Realistically, you're talking about maybe a couple of budget carriers coming into Meacham and flying short haul routes.  This might be slightly more convenient for some people, but it won't "put Fort Worth on the map" in any meaningful way.  Business travelers from Fort Worth will drive the extra 10 minutes to DFW to fly the myriad routes and earn AA miles, just as they do today.

 

We need a new airport like we need a monorail.



#14 Doohickie

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 11:44 AM

Ooh! A monorail!
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#15 JBB

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 03:16 PM

"Well sir, there's nothing on Earth like a genuine, bona-fide, electrified, six-car monorail!"

#16 Dylan

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 03:56 PM

So?  I don't know how that has any bearing on this discussion.  Your point is as relevant as saying, "If the early cattlemen felt like you, this wouldn't be called Cowtown."

 

Allow me to clarify: Fort Worth is the metro anchor we all know today because of city leaders in the 20th century who brought in white collar jobs and built large office buildings downtown. Otherwise, we'd be a satellite town of Dallas without a large downtown. We wouldn't have suburbs or tourist attractions of our own.

 

If being a large major city means that real estate gets too expensive or the city centers are less accessible, I'd rather think like Abilene.

 

FWIW, Large cities tend to have better transit.

 

I'd much rather Fort Worth continue to act like a major city. Abilene is a boring town.


-Dylan


#17 Jeriat

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 04:00 PM

 

I know I beat this dead horse frequently, but not building skyscrapers is not about a mindset or a lack of imagination or "outside of the box" thinking. It's about economics. 

 

 

I understand that. And in a way, it goes to my comment about seeing a more diverse economy. 

Even though I think we focus more on tourism, other forms of business would work as well. I'd like to try and go after transportation and logistics companies. 


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#18 JBB

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 04:39 PM

Ah, I get what you're saying. And I agree.

#19 Dylan

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 04:42 PM

I will never understand the "we need an airport" argument.  We literally have one of the best airports in the entire world right here.  I live on the West side of Fort Worth and it takes me 30 minutes door to door.  Every new international destination to/from DFW brings dollars directly to Fort Worth, and our city leadership has done a great job of being presented as equal to Dallas when they're out marketing our region internationally.  This is WAY more economically beneficial to Fort Worth than a new (tiny) airport could ever be.  Realistically, you're talking about maybe a couple of budget carriers coming into Meacham and flying short haul routes.  This might be slightly more convenient for some people, but it won't "put Fort Worth on the map" in any meaningful way.  Business travelers from Fort Worth will drive the extra 10 minutes to DFW to fly the myriad routes and earn AA miles, just as they do today.

 

We need a new airport like we need a monorail.

 

For some reason, DFW Airport seems to be under-appreciated on here. I agree with everything except for the last line.

 

There are a couple of instances where I think a short monorail line could be useful here (Gateway park-downtown, and Stockyards-North Side Stn).


-Dylan


#20 JBB

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Posted 14 December 2016 - 04:51 PM

Anyone that under-appreciates DFW (or Love Field) hasn't spent time in other airports. In the last year or so, I've been in La Guardia, Orlando, LAX, and San Diego and DFW and DAL blow them all away with accessibility, a fresh modern look, spacious passenger waiting areas, short security lines, and short times on the taxi way coming and going.

#21 Mr_Brightside526

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Posted 15 December 2016 - 10:06 AM

We could stand maybe one more skyscraper but I think the city is doing a good job just focusing on density such as walk-able urban neighborhoods and mid-rises.

 

I rather be compared to Portland or DC.



#22 Jeriat

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Posted 15 December 2016 - 04:18 PM

We could stand maybe one more skyscraper but I think the city is doing a good job just focusing on density such as walk-able urban neighborhoods and mid-rises.

 

I rather be compared to Portland or DC.

 

I'm MUCH more ok with that than downgrading to "small town" status... 


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