254 replies to this topic

[JBB]

It appears that the owner has a plan for the Neiman Marcus space in the way of an aquarium:

 

http://www.nbcdfw.co...-403494456.html

 

This is slightly smaller than the Merlin entertainment operated aquarium at Grapevine Mills that clocks in at 44,000 square feet.

[jefffwd]

I love the Dallas World Aquarium...  How does this compare in size?  I guess these days with malls struggling across the country it is really optimistic to see GK Development pouring so much money into the Ridgmar property.  I really wish Dillard's would reconsider the outlet concept and remodel that store.  It will be interesting to see what GK's next step is. 

[JBB]

Dallas World Aquarium is 180,000 square feet.  That includes a number of mammal exhibits and some event space that the facility at Ridgmar won't have.

[jefffwd]

Dallas World Aquarium is 180,000 square feet.  That includes a number of mammal exhibits and some event space that the facility at Ridgmar won't have.

Thank you.

[Austin55]

To be honest an aquarium in a mall just seems tacky. Hopefully it will help economically though.

[Jeriat]

To be honest an aquarium in a mall just seems tacky. Hopefully it will help economically though.

 

Well considering the proposals we've seen, it won't be a mall for too much longer... 

[Mr_Brightside526]

To be honest an aquarium in a mall just seems tacky. Hopefully it will help economically though.

 

Is it tacky, or just a new trend of evolving malls into more modern experiences?

[JBB]

Ridgmar has a Spencer's Gifts.  Do we really want to see such a high tone establishment spoiled by the tack and gaudiness of an aquarium?

[John T Roberts]

Malls are passe.  In order for them to survive, they have to evolve into more modern experiences. 

[JBB]

Exactly.  And they need more than traditional retail to get people to stay long enough to spend money.

[Now in Denton]

Funny the only time I go to Ridgemar anymore is to go to "The Fish Place" tropical fish store. Plus the area north of the mall don't help. How long has Mervyn's sat empty ? Well over ten years I think. All those big box stores north of the mall coming and going. Just goes to show. Open air shopping does not always work either. I like to see a grand plan for both shopping centers. Maybe a partnership with the Fort Worth Zoo showing aquatic life. Or a mix use development like Dallas is planning with its old mall Valley View.   

[John T Roberts]

Mervyn's was converted into a Burlington Coat Factory last year.  The shopping center to the north of the mall is owned by a different property owner from the mall itself.  I believe you are very close in the amount of time the store was vacant.  It appears that Mervyn's closed at Ridgmar in 2005 and the Burlington Coat Factory opened in 2015. 

[renamerusk]

 

To be honest an aquarium in a mall just seems tacky. Hopefully it will help economically though.

 

Well considering the proposals we've seen, it won't be a mall for too much longer... 

 

 

  The term "mall" should be dropped for something that more accurately describe the do over.  "Ridgmar Park?"

[John T Roberts]

I'm sure there will be a change in terminology once the project is completed.

[NSFW]

Years ago when they did the make over at Ridgmar they did drop "mall" from the name.

[Doohickie]

Doesn't matter.  Everyone still calls it that.

[JBB]

Dagwood's shut down recently and Bud Kennedy is reporting that a new location of Tommy's Burgers is moving in.

 

I've also heard through the grapevine that the aquarium plan at Ridgmar is pretty flimsy and the people behind it have a pretty shady background.

[Jeriat]

Dagwood's shut down recently and Bud Kennedy is reporting that a new location of Tommy's Burgers is moving in.

 

I've also heard through the grapevine that the aquarium plan at Ridgmar is pretty flimsy and the people behind it have a pretty shady background.

 

Into Ridgmar or somewhere else? 

(Also, why am I not surprised to hear that about the aquarium...?) 

[JBB]

The old Dagwood's location in a strip center in front of the mall.  Same center as Woody Creek.

[NSFW]

Dagwood's shut down recently and Bud Kennedy is reporting that a new location of Tommy's Burgers is moving in.

 

I've also heard through the grapevine that the aquarium plan at Ridgmar is pretty flimsy and the people behind it have a pretty shady background.

 

Dreamvision? 

[JBB]

Not quite.  They've actually had some success in the aquarium business, but I did hear that they were trolling for investors in the same way as Dreamvision.  Do some Google searching and you can find out about their shady dealings.

[Austin55]

Some more info on the proposed changes to the mall via Bisnow

 

[Doohickie]

That article seems to think the aquarium is a "go."

[youngalum]

The aquarium is under construction from the pictures I have seen floating around

[renamerusk]

That article seems to think the aquarium is a "go."

 

 The article published in Bisnow  provides information of successful redo of a mall in Milwaukee utilizing a team, InPlace Design, with a proven record.

 

http://inplace-desig...-redevelopment/

 

 So are you suggesting something otherwise?

[Jeriat]

The aquarium is under construction from the pictures I have seen floating around

I need to see it, myself.

Completely forgot about it.

[Doohickie]

 

That article seems to think the aquarium is a "go."

 

 The article published in Bisnow  provides information of successful redo of a mall in Milwaukee utilizing a team, InPlace Design, with a proven record.

 

http://inplace-desig...-redevelopment/

 

 So are you suggesting something otherwise?

 

I wasn't suggesting anything.  Earlier in the thread there was skepticism about the aquarium.  I was just commenting that it appears the aquarium is on track.

[Jeriat]

So yeah... that aquarium really IS happening.

[John T Roberts]

From what I have heard, the aquarium is still happening, but I haven't been to the mall in a long time to verify there is any construction activity at the aquarium location.  I did eat at Dagwoods, and then later Tommy's after they opened. I have also been to Woody Creek Barbecue this year, but I haven't been inside the mall.

[Jeriat]

I was there today.

It's going to be on the 1st level, near where Macy's (?) used to be.

[Austin55]

InPlace has added some new renderings

 

http://inplace-desig...-redevelopment/

[Austin55]

Here's Redbird mall in Dallas, a similar proposal to what's going on with Ridgemar

 

https://www.dmagazin...outhern-dallas/

[John T Roberts]

Here's a link to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram article about the Seaquest Aquarium saving the mall.

 

http://www.star-tele...e159693989.html

[bgh01]

Looks like Sears will be closing soon. I knew it wouldn't be long when I saw that they had only one employee covering the entire top floor on a Saturday afternoon.

http://time.com/mone...re-stores-list/

 

The Seaquest Aquarium opened a few months ago. I didn't see any sort of marketing campaign, so I doubt that most people know about it.

 

Ridgmar certainly seems to be on its deathbed...

[txbornviking]

It's time to save Ridgmar by killing the mall.

 

There are so many great redevelopment opportunities with the space there. Yes it'd take some real capital, but it could certainly be done.

[BlueMound]

Sometimes developers will bulldoze an old mall and develop light industrial office/warehouse.
That happened to 360 Mall in Arlington and is happening to Six Flags Mall.

[John T Roberts]

I actually thought Sears would have shut down this store several years ago.  I also had a feeling the mall was doomed when it appeared the only "viable" (and I use that term loosely) anchor was JCPenney.

 

I'm curious if the surrounding neighborhoods would protest an industrial project for the site.  In reality, that's probably the only practical use because I think that residential would not be desirable at the end of the NASJRB runway. 

[jefffwd]

New rendering from about ten days ago...  

[renamerusk]

Malls like Ridgmar can become urban villages with less emphasis on retail and more emphasis on lifestyle (retirement dwellings, generalized entertainment, medical, grocery, health spas and gyms, etc.

 

Fortunately, Fort Worth does not have an excess of malls within its boundary and allows the City an opportunity to aid in the redevelopment of this major mall.

[txbornviking]

So many great examples the owners could learn from and improve upon...

I'm not saying it'd be easy. But there's certainly BIG opportunity available.

One Connecticut town swaps a derelict mall for a 14.4-acre, community-centered green space

https://archpaper.co...llery-0-slide-1

 

A Dead Mall Becomes a Downtown for a Sprawling Suburb

http://buildabetterb...rawling-suburb/

 

Ten Ways To Make Big Box More Walkable

http://buildabetterb...-more-walkable/

 

Mall Redevelopment Strategies: Keeping Today's Malls Competative

http://buildabetterb...ls-competitive/

[RD Milhollin]

 

A Dead Mall Becomes a Downtown for a Sprawling Suburb

http://buildabetterb...rawling-suburb/

 

 

 

I would suggest a "real" urban/mixed-use center could be developed from the bones of the mall, the Lakewood CO project txbornviking quoted above appears to be a reasonable model for the Ridge-Mall owners to study. If the revitalization was to follow that sort of plan it would fit nicely into the existing "Urban Villages" model Fort Worth has in place.

[arch-image]

Looks like it would be a total scrape and start over based on the model. Had to chuckle at Johns comment about residential at the end of the runway, I grew up in base housing there, my backyard was the fence towards end of the runway. Not that I disagree, just brought back memories. it isn't to bad unless were at war. I kind of miss hearing the old sonic booms lol

[John T Roberts]

My office sits due south of Ridgmar Mall in the old Levitz Warehouse, and we get a lot of noise during the day from the jets.  I don't mind working here, but I don't know if I would want to live close to the runway.  On the other hand, to show you how I have become used to the noise, I live close to the BNSF main rail line through the southern part of the city, and I am not even aware of the trains that blow their horns on the tracks.  Obviously, I am used to the noise from the trains and I don't think anything about it.

[Austin55]

Sounds like one of the vacant deptarment store spaces is becoming an indoor storage facility.

[Jeriat]

Sounds like one of the vacant deptarment store spaces is becoming an indoor storage facility.

 

. . . 

[txbornviking]

Sounds like one of the vacant deptarment store spaces is becoming an indoor storage facility.

 

so it seems all the "revamp" renderings and messaging from summer of 2017 are about as factual as anything Dreamvision was spinning...  #sad indeed

[JBB]

I think that's stretching it a little far. Developers cast vision to try to lure in investors all of the time and few are as disingenuous or out of touch as the people behind Dreamvision. Besides, building an indoor storage facility in an existing space could be a very cheap holdover tenant that could easily be booted out of the space when the market supports something better.

[renamerusk]

Malls like Ridgmar can become urban villages with less emphasis on retail and more emphasis on lifestyle (retirement dwellings, generalized entertainment, medical, grocery, health spas and gyms, etc.

 

Fortunately, Fort Worth does not have an excess of malls within its boundary and allows the City an opportunity to aid in the redevelopment of this major mall.

 

 

 I want to repeat what I think could be a successful reuse of Ridgmar.  Just like the proposed repurposing of  Westcliff Center, there is a growing need for retirement enclaves; places like are in abundance in Florida.

[txbornviking]

I think that's stretching it a little far. Developers cast vision to try to lure in investors all of the time and few are as disingenuous or out of touch as the people behind Dreamvision. Besides, building an indoor storage facility in an existing space could be a very cheap holdover tenant that could easily be booted out of the space when the market supports something better.

 

It was a bit hyperbolic, I'll agree.

[Urbndwlr]

Wait, did I miss something?  Are they converting one of the former department stores to storage or was that speculation?

 

With the proximity to the base, I think they are limited in what can be built there.   It is a big blank slate though, that could be (depending on what's allowed in the base flight path) redeveloped for SOMETHING.