646 replies to this topic

[Stadtplan]

Here's a few photos of The Tradition I took earlier this evening:

 

 

[Stadtplan]

Site lighting, sidewalks, landscaping underway at The Tradition:

[ramjet]

Wow, out of my league, but this is something:

 

https://www.papercit..._eid=1907ab3ba2

[Stadtplan]

Keith House sign permits filed:

 

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

 

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

 

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

[ramjet]

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture company is going out of business and all of their stores will be closing.

[John T Roberts]

I have no doubt that Clearfork will be able to fill that space quickly.

[elpingüino]

Fort Worth Report,
Experts question $22 million tax break to move luxury car dealership to Clearfork shopping center

[roverone]

I think the out-of-towner's commentary about the Clearfork incentives missed out on a couple of things: most importantly the bigger picture of the sliding-tile puzzle effect that this move will have for the city in opening up a larger block of property along White Settlement for higher-use development; and the luxury nature of these particular car dealerships with their ability to continue to shore up the comparatively lacking higher-end amenities that our city needs to be competitive with our neighboring regional cities to attract growth in a balanced way.

[Austin55]

Keith House looks just about done. 

 

 

[John T Roberts]

It is looking nice.

[roverone]

That is a strange dirt / stain considering that is clad in wood, but it almost looks like it was there already in early June in your photo in post #600.

[RD Milhollin]

Tannin/pollen stains from the oak tree? The projecting eave could keep it from getting washed off by rains.

[Stadtplan]

It appears to be some kind of weepage. I recall seeing the mechanical equipment upstairs when I toured the project. Hopefully this is just construction related and easily pressure washed off.

[Stadtplan]

Here's a few more photos from my bike ride yesterday evening.

 

Showing signs of life at The Tradition.  If you look closely, there are residents moved in, with patio chairs on the balconies, I saw one lady sitting up there and other walking a dog out by the trail.

 

 

 

Back over at Keith House, I took a couple more photos to follow-up on Austin55's post from the other day.  Things are looking really nice just in time for fall.  Still quite a bit of landscaping, hardscapes and flatwork to do.

 

 

I really like the wrap-around porch...it is very inviting:

 

 

 

The wall is shaping up nicely.  Press Cafe is over to my left.

 

 

I noticed this security vulnerability in the fence, I supposed someone if they really wanted to could slip through here.

 

This is facing north and you can see straight ahead where the access point through the brush will connect out to the bike trail / river.

 

I spotted this guy sunbathing on a tree further up river:

[Stadtplan]

They are testing the Sky Space tonight. Perfect evening for it too!

[Stadtplan]

They are testing the Sky Space tonight. Perfect evening for it too!

[Stadtplan]

[Stadtplan]

Keith House update:



Chain link downspouts:

[Stadtplan]

Keith House Construction Update:

 

 

They did a nice job with this side gate / wall.  You can get a close-up look at the reclaimed stone that is used on the house and was sourced from the Keith Bros. historic property in Wichita Falls.

 

Driveway going in.  (little friend posing for me in the foreground) 

 

They must be running the Skyspace lights on a dusk schedule.  This is the only color I've seen so far:

 

There should be a connection to the trail here at some point:

 

Keith Brothers abandoned house where the stone was reclaimed from:

 

 

[Stadtplan]

Per their FB page, Keith House opening is going to be in November...stay tuned.

https://www.facebook.com/keithhousefw

[Stadtplan]

[John T Roberts]

The Keith House is really starting to look nice.  I can't wait to visit.

[roverone]

Sneak peek: Take a look inside Keith House, James Turrell’s ‘skyspace’ in Fort Worth

 

https://fortworthrep...-in-fort-worth/

[Stadtplan]

Sneak peek: Take a look inside Keith House, James Turrell’s ‘skyspace’ in Fort Worth

 

https://fortworthrep...-in-fort-worth/

 

Lovely!  You can really sense the Quaker influences.  The pew arrangement center-facing is most notable and the dark fabric on light floors has a very comforting feel to it. 

I really like how deep window wells are, I seem to recall this is a place to sit and look out of some of the windows.  So much to talk about here.

 

[george84]

It mentions a patio, so I assume restaurant?

[Stadtplan]

It mentions a patio, so I assume restaurant?

 

Here's the space for 5256 next to Joy.  Looks like a minimal patio, I would guess something light maybe a coffee shop, bakery, ice cream, cheese and wine.... but probably not another macaron shop.

 

[Stadtplan]

(Last Friday)



(Exterior lights on)






(Moon With Jupiter)

[Austin55]

Perhaps this? Sq Ft does not line up though.

https://property.jll...outh-fort-worth

[elpingüino]

E G Benbrook Ltd owns all that land south of I-20.  Guess who runs EG Benbrook Ltd.....Cassco Management Co.  https://www.corporat.../108748318.aspx
(just a guess but is "EG" = Edwards Geren)

 

 

For background reading, here's a thread from years ago about plans for that property that never came to fruition. https://www.fortwort...?showtopic=4508

[Jeriat]

 

This is pretty interesting. Autobahn is leaving White Settlement area for a mixed-use project at Clearfork.

 

https://www.star-tel...e275439281.html

 

Autobahn moving to Clearfork....the deal is dead.  Well, not completely dead, but....

 

I was just over at Autobahn talking to one of their managers this afternoon and I asked how that project was going and he told me it's not happening.  They're going to be moving instead to I-20 over by where they built the Audi dealership, but south of I-20.  He cited a couple reasons why the Clearfork location was a no-go. 

• It just isn't really any more space than they have now, net total even with garage structures
• Each car manufacturer has specs on how their dealerships need to look and some of them specifically don't allow shared spaces with other brands.  I'm guessing that's also true for certain staff as far as training goes, branding on shirts, certifications, continuing education etc. but probably more so the physical dealerships not sharing space.  I've seen some brands share space at dealerships where it makes sense but there's some that are purely stand-alone in their design and finish.
• There was some concerns about accessibility and traffic congestion around the holidays.  I don't think this is so much a traffic jam scenario but first of all, most car dealerships are right off a freeway for a reason, there's advertising but also ease of access in and out.  I'm not sure Autobahn would necessarily gain a ton of visibility at Clearfork from where they're at on WSR currently.
• There's also the test drive factor...you hop in a car to test drive and you want to give it a go.  Over by Clearfork, you have relatively calm traffic and if you take it out to CTP, then the dealership has to figure out tolls on unregistered cars, I think that would be a deterrent for anyone having to reconcile that invoice each month from NTTA.
• They were unaware of the upcoming University Dr. closure in mid-2026.  Honestly, if they're going to start redeveloping along I-20, they'd better get a move on it.  That new Toyota dealership I just posted off of W. Loop, they show a completion date of 10/31/25 starting 4/1/24 so that's what 18-19 months to complete.  That'd certainly push Autobahn close to the start of the 12-18 month University Dr. project which would likely be a major headache for them, not just increased traffic on WSR but employee and customer access as well.    

E G Benbrook Ltd owns all that land south of I-20.  Guess who runs EG Benbrook Ltd.....Cassco Management Co.  https://www.corporat.../108748318.aspx

(just a guess but is "EG" = Edwards Geren)

 

 

 

 

Just gives another opportunity for something better. 

[roverone]

I will be pleased to see how Clearfork expands, but all things considered, the I20 site seems to make more sense for that kind of business.

[Jeriat]

I will be pleased to see how Clearfork expands, but all things considered, the I20 site seems to make more sense for that kind of business.

 

Oddly enough... I was kinda hoping that area would be more densely built. 

I know it's literally suburbia, but still. 

[John T Roberts]

I agree with you, Jeriat.  I was hoping for more density along I-20 at this location.

[Doohickie]

Based on the business relationships I wonder if this was the plan all along:  Get them bought into the idea of moving, slowly reveal the downsides of Clearfork for the move, then direct them to their I-20 property.

[Stadtplan]

 

Based on the business relationships I wonder if this was the plan all along:  Get them bought into the idea of moving, slowly reveal the downsides of Clearfork for the move, then direct them to their I-20 property.

 

 

I would give the local "family" that owns Autobahn a little more credit as far as the strategy for the real estate development / apartments that will replace the car dealerships on WSR.  Just follow the ownership trail.  

 

 

[Austin55]

For background reading, here's a thread from years ago about plans for that property that never came to fruition. https://www.fortwort...?showtopic=4508

 

This was an interesting read, I'd never paid close attention to that thread and always wondered why that big chunk of land hadn't developed. 

[Doohickie]

 

For background reading, here's a thread from years ago about plans for that property that never came to fruition. https://www.fortwort...?showtopic=4508

 

This was an interesting read, I'd never paid close attention to that thread and always wondered why that big chunk of land hadn't developed. 

 

One that that was mentioned on your Now.Town FB post in the comments:  Benbrook is a dry city.  They'll never get a developer if the Cheesecake Factory can't serve a drink with dinner.

[elpingüino]

One that that was mentioned on your Now.Town FB post in the comments:  Benbrook is a dry city.  They'll never get a developer if the Cheesecake Factory can't serve a drink with dinner.

I don't think that's correct. I've been to Hoffbrau in Benbrook and it has a large bar, and even that Cracker Barrel serves beer and cocktails now.

[JBB]

They'll never get a developer if the Cheesecake Factory can't serve a drink with dinner.

You need alcohol to help you forget that their food is terrible.

[Jeriat]

 

They'll never get a developer if the Cheesecake Factory can't serve a drink with dinner.

You need alcohol to help you forget that their food is terrible.

 

Who goes to Cheesecake Factory for anything other than cheesecakes? 

[JBB]

I wouldn't even go there for the cheesecake.

[John T Roberts]

Benbrook is not dry.  I was invited out to eat with a couple of friends at 3 Parrots, and one of them had a margarita.  Another friend of mine and I have eaten there while on a bike ride and he had a beer.

 

As for the Cheesecake Factory, it is not one of my favorite restaurants.  I have not eaten there very much, and I have never gone just for the cheesecake.

[Stadtplan]

Per their FB page, Keith House opening is going to be in November...stay tuned.

https://www.facebook.com/keithhousefw

 

Keith House is seeking volunteers:

https://www.voluntee.../org1240686.jsp

[Doohickie]

 

One that that was mentioned on your Now.Town FB post in the comments:  Benbrook is a dry city.  They'll never get a developer if the Cheesecake Factory can't serve a drink with dinner.

I don't think that's correct. I've been to Hoffbrau in Benbrook and it has a large bar, and even that Cracker Barrel serves beer and cocktails now.

I picked it up from one of the FB comments, but before posting I checked Wiki... which, granted, is not always right.  But it says, "In 1971, the residents of Benbrook chose to prohibit all alcohol sales, except for beer to be imbibed off-premises."  https://en.wikipedia...d_alcohol_sales

 

The city's website says, "The City of Benbrook issues the permit to sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption and the license to sell mixed beverages served in restaurants. The permit fee to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption is $30 for one year.  http://www.ci.benbro...verage-Licenses

 

So... somewhere in between I guess?

[Doohickie]

And as for Cheesecake Factory, I just picked a random restaurant.  Sheesh.

[JBB]

It was just a joke.  I was picking Cheescake Factory.  That's all.

[Doohickie]

I think it was the two comments in a row that triggered me.  I started out thinking of a generic chain restaurant and realized most of them are in the Hulen/Bryant Irvin area already so they probably wouldn't want one on I-20 in Benbrook.  CF was the first one I thought of that didn't have a location "right there" already.