12 replies to this topic

[Cody C]

I'm working for Southside Urban Partners (Andrew Blake and Dak Hatfield). We are redeveloping a beautiful brick industrial building on Bryan Avenue (916 Bryan Ave) in the Near Southside just one block east of S. Main Street and just north of Rosedale. If all goes according to plan, after redevelopment the exterior brick will be repaired, the streetscape will have new sidewalks, curbs, and lighting, and the interior will leave the character of the building while adding space ideally suited for creative firms. 

 

The simple curved front roofline, barrel vaulted roof, and beautiful varied brick facades, symmetrical evenly spaced row of small windows facing Bryan Avenue represent an example of the modern style architecture that can be seen elsewhere in the area in the Fort Worth Rec Building on Vickery. The masonry facade, ceramic parapet cap, barrel vaulted roof are a combination of architectural elements no longer used in 21st Century industrial buildings (or even office buildings).

 

We are having trouble finding out about the history of the building. TAD says it was built in 1955 but we believe the building is older than that. There's not much on the inside that gives many clues but there is a fire door that has patents of 1901 and 1903 on the handle. Any help would be much appreciated! 

 

Here are some pictures:

[Cody C]

Looks like the pictures did not show up in my post correctly. Here are some links to the pictures:

https://www.dropbox....an Ave_2014.jpg

https://www.dropbox....an Ave_2014.jpg

https://www.dropbox....0204_153403.jpg

https://www.dropbox.... 8 12 40 AM.jpg

 

[Austin55]

I'd like to see Bryan get a complete makover. The street is crumbling, there's no sidewalks. It could be a beautiful street.

[Cody C]

Agreed. Hopefully this project will be a catalyst for the street. There's a lot of vacant land to the east of the building.

[John S.]

The profile outline is vaguely Spanish Colonial/Mission Revival with the top of the walls capped with what appear to be Spanish type clay tiles. The brickwork is very eclectic with some evidence of brick patterning (deliberate or otherwise) but overall would seem to be bricks used from a variety of sources. Maybe ideas for contrasting brick patterns were being tried out on this building? Perhaps the builders were in the construction trades and these were left-overs from various projects? Most commercial buildings of this type I've seen date from between the World Wars (1920-1940) Patent dates on items can be useful but such fire doors could have been made for decades or even re-purposed from another installation. Sanborn fire maps might put the building into a closer timeframe. Old city directories might also be of help. I'm sure the information is out there. 1955 does seem too late for a building of this form and construction. Good to hear its getting a second lease on life.

[John T Roberts]

I agree with John S.  It looks older than 1955.  Have you checked with Historic Fort Worth?  We have file cabinets full of information on historic buildings.  Another source for you might be a later version of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.  These later versions list the year they were built, which is pretty accurate.  Another way you can track the building through the Sanborn Maps, is to go back and look at each earlier edition.  When you find a map that has a different building on that site, then you can get an estimate on when it was constructed. 

[M C Toyer]

I'm not an expert in these matters but when I viewed the photos then the street view I could accept the 1955 construction date.  I did follow up in checking some other resources I had.

 

First per the TAD the 916 property presently includes three lots that were originally 912, 916, and 920.  The brick building sits primarily on 920; the driveway on the north, dock and pad are primarily on 916, and 912 is vacant.

 

The 1926-27 Sanborn Maps show all 8 lots with dwellings but the southernmost (928) is designated as a boarding house.

 

The 1951 Sanborn shows the dwellings intact at 912 and 916 and a pair of long sheds running perpendicular to the street at 920, where the brick building is presently located.

 

In 1951 the dwellings on the two southernmost lots (924 and 928) are gone and there is an auto repair shop at the back adjacent to the alley.  It does not appear to be the metal building there now. The white stucco building (originally 924) immediately south of the brick building was a neighborhood grocery for many years with $5 a week room rentals upstairs.  Those two lots have been replatted into 3 with one facing Dashwood and another the alley.

 

The brick building was primarily light industrial; the last I saw was camper manufacturer in the late 1970s.

 

The HistoricAerial.Com photos generally confirm the above but are not real clear.

 

M C

[gdvanc]

I agree with what M C sees on HistoricAerials. The building on the 1952 aerial is shorter and quite a bit narrower than the building on the 1956 aerial. And the roof is different.

 

However old it is, it looks like it could be a pretty cool space and I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[Cody C]

Thanks! After looking at the HistoricAerials also, 1955 seems to be right. It really is a great building and will make a cool office space for someone.

[Austin55]

916 BRYAN AVENUE

Developers Dak Hatfield and Andrew Blake plan the adaptive re-use of a 9,400-square-foot building at 916 Bryan for commercial uses. The development, east of South Main Street, will include a new parking lot.

Hatfield and Blake plan to invest $950,000, according to the TIF, which will reimburse $81,000 for street lights, sidewalks, landscaping, and paving, for an 11-1 private-public ratio.

The development is expected to generate $20,000 per year in property tax, the TIF projected.

Construction is expected to start Dec. 31, with completion a year later, the TIF said.

Hatfield and Blake most recently teamed up on the historic Magnolia-May commercial redevelopment on West Magnolia Avenue. Tenants of that project include the Spice and 24 Plates restaurants and Proper, a bar.

 

 

fwbusinesspress.com/fwbp/article/1/7074/Breaking-News/Fort-Worths-Southside-TIF-approves-incentives-for-five-developments.aspx

 

 

 

 

Nice to see plans to fix her up. I was wondering about the brickwork on this building. It seems very varied and parched, theres some inverted triangles in there. Was it built like that or do we know? Cody's picture showing it the best, https://www.dropbox....an Ave_2014.jpg

[Cody C]

Honestly not sure if the multi-colored patterns are original. If I had to guess I would say the building has been repaired a few times. Personally I love the look of it. Really gives it some character. 

[Doohickie]

I thought there was some talk on the forum about 1001 Bryan but I couldn't find anything.  For all of you who used to go there in the old days, you'll remember it used to be Club Tipp Topp Inn and then the Club Nu Flavr .  In December 2015, after extensive restoration, Pouring Glory opened.  They have 55 taps and advertise themselves as a growler filling station, but they're also a respectable bar with a good food menu.
 
I talked to co-founder Kevin von Ehrenfried and he said they did most of the work on the building themselves.  They did a great job.  Oh, and Bud likes them, too.
 

 

 

 

 

[gdvanc]

Definitely looks a lot better on the outside than what's still showing on Google Street View. Nice work. Hopefully I can check it out soon.