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Ridglea Presbyterian Church

Ridglea Historic Churches Endangered

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#1 John T Roberts

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 11:06 AM

Since we found out this week that the Ridglea Presbyterian Church was sold, I thought I would share with you a few pictures that I took of the building.  In 2014, I was allowed to photograph the interior of the sanctuary. 

 

The first phase of the building was constructed in 1948.  It contained a small sanctuary that now serves as a chapel and a two story education wing with administrative offices to the north of the chapel.  This building blended in with the original construction of the Ridglea Village Shopping Area.  In 1958, a larger sanctuary was added to the east of the chapel.  Preston M. Geren Associates were the architects and they chose a more Mid-Century Modern appearance for this addition.  However, it still had a red clay tile roof to match the other Ridglea Buildings.  At that time, the two buildings were each free standing.  About 1965, the education building was expanded by connecting the two buildings on the north and this is the portion that currently faces Camp Bowie Blvd.  In the early 1990's, a bell tower was added on the front of the sanctuary.

 

Chapel from 1948:

ridgleapres-chapel.jpg

 

1958 Main Sanctuary with c.1990 Bell Tower:

ridgleapres.jpg

 

Interior of Sanctuary:

ridgleapres-sanctuary.jpg



#2 Austin55

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 11:40 AM

Has it been confirmed that the building will be torn down?



#3 Dylan

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 01:30 PM

This church was sold to QuickTrip, so we're assuming the church will be torn down and replaced with a generic gas station.

 

It's especially unfortunate when you consider there's a gas station just one intersection down the road.


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#4 McHand

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 05:23 PM

This church was sold to QuickTrip, so we're assuming the church will be torn down and replaced with a generic gas station.

 

It's especially unfortunate when you consider there's a gas station just one intersection down the road.

The church has not been sold to Quick Trip.

 

We were approached by a developer 4 years ago, who wanted to expand a shopping center on the property.  The sale fell through in 2015.  There are no pending offers at the moment.


John, thank you for the beautiful photos of the place I've called home every Sunday since 2012.

 

EDIT: John, I just read in the QT thread that you received word RPC voted to sell.  I don't doubt your source, I just hadn't heard anything.  I'll ask someone tomorrow (9/25).


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#5 Thurman52

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 06:08 PM

From their website sold does not say QT but word it QT. http://www.ridgleapr...-to-a-new-land/

#6 John T Roberts

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Posted 24 September 2016 - 08:24 PM

I was e-mailed the information, which was actually the press release and the text that is on the website.  I did not publish the information until I also saw it on the church's website.  Thurman52 posted the link above. 

 

Yes, a lot of us are making assumptions.  The QuikTrip information was also posted by Thurman52 and it came from the Ridglea Hills Neighborhood Association.  I have tried to make my posts and comments only to the facts that I actually know.  I was hoping that this thread wouldn't actually get into the sale, but comments on the building and the architecture.



#7 Thurman52

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Posted 25 September 2016 - 07:45 AM

Thanks John back to topic. This is great loss to the area I will miss the bells at the hour

#8 McHand

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Posted 25 September 2016 - 10:11 AM

In church now. Church voted to sell, and now the Presbytery must approve.

The truth is, the building has become more of a liability for the membership over the years. As a preservationist, my heart is broken, but as a musician at RPC, I understand the motive.

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#9 Volare

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Posted 25 September 2016 - 03:29 PM

So are they moving? Do they already have a new building?



#10 Doohickie

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Posted 25 September 2016 - 06:52 PM

I think the idea is that after selling the building they will need to take up temporary residence somewhere while they rebuild.


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#11 Urbndwlr

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Posted 07 October 2016 - 09:34 PM

Good grief - please do not sell that church to a gas station!!! 

How in the world does that make financial sense?  (Church pays zero property taxes, only has to maintain its buildings). 

How much could QT possibly be offering them?  Enough to buy/build another building???

 

Also, since that property lies within the Form Based Code zone of Camp Bowie, how would a gas station conform with the Form Based Codes?  I know QT built at Hemphill and Rosedale, which is in a similar district, where the building fronts the street, and pumps/canopies are in the rear. 

 

Anyone know whether the Hemphill/Rosedale QT model would work for this location?

 

Man, I really hope the church is not demolished.  Would be a terrible shame. 

 

I can think of 10 other properties along Camp Bowie I'd rather see removed... Wendy's, Alphagraphics, several retail centers....



#12 John T Roberts

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Posted 08 October 2016 - 07:44 PM

To answer your question about the gas station and the form based codes, I would have to go back and review them again.  We have designed a Camp Bowie building, but it wasn't a gas station.



#13 renamerusk

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Posted 08 October 2016 - 08:36 PM

Man, I really hope the church is not demolished.  Would be a terrible shame.

 

 Well at least, preserve the bell-tower.  A commercial use of this site would be greatly enhanced should the new plans somehow incorporate the tower in the final design.   Instant brand - instant landmark!



#14 Austin55

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Posted 09 November 2016 - 04:37 PM

More info on the sale

http://www.star-tele...e113727484.html

#15 Austin55

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Posted 11 November 2016 - 05:55 PM

RaceTrac is also planning a Camp Bowie location just down the street on Clayton. 



#16 RD Milhollin

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Posted 12 November 2016 - 01:27 AM

I hate to see such a significant building destroyed over an issue like parking. There should have been some mechanism in place to strongly encourage the landowners and businesses the area to work together to assure adequate parking for the area, perhaps some incentive to build a multi-level structure.

 

Outside of that, I am opposed to allowing gasoline sales outside of industrially-zoned areas due to the extreme hazards involved with dispensing and storage, and the potential loss of life to surrounding residents in the event of a disaster. The middle of a crowded residential and shopping area is not the place for bulk sales of a toxic and explosive material.



#17 Doohickie

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Posted 12 November 2016 - 11:28 PM

I am opposed to allowing gasoline sales outside of industrially-zoned areas due to the extreme hazards involved with dispensing and storage, and the potential loss of life to surrounding residents in the event of a disaster. The middle of a crowded residential and shopping area is not the place for bulk sales of a toxic and explosive material.

 

Really?  When's the last time there was a "disaster" at a gas station that injured local residents (aside from episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger)?


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#18 RD Milhollin

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Posted 12 November 2016 - 11:54 PM

http://www.nfpa.org/...-station-safety



#19 Doohickie

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Posted 14 November 2016 - 08:27 AM

That doesn't answer my question.  "When's the last time there was a "disaster" at a gas station that injured local residents?"

 

I did a bit of checking and math and stuff, and a given service station has a 99.999% chance of *not* having a death due to fire in any given year (and presumably any deaths are directly related to people using the service station as opposed to surrounding residents).  The statistics I found say nothing about deaths of people in the surrounding neighborhoods.  In short, your objection is baseless.


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#20 John T Roberts

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Posted 14 November 2016 - 08:28 PM

The case for the RaceTrac is going before the Urban Design Commission on Thursday:

 

UDC-16-35 6495 Camp Bowie Blvd     Camp Bowie Owner/Agent: RaceTrac/Jarod Cox Request approval of a commercial building with waivers from parking lot location, elevation requirements,
 
 



#21 JBB

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Posted 16 November 2016 - 09:58 PM

Gee, I wonder if they'll cave or take a principled stand?  All development is good, amirite?



#22 pmburk

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Posted 10 January 2017 - 02:16 PM

I live in Ridglea Hills, and this has been a hot topic on the neighborhood discussion groups. Yes I would rather have seen the church stay, or another church or business move into the existing building, but I know that was not realistic. I do not believe the building and maintenance were sustainable long-term for the current congregation. The building has far too many major issues, and the parking is terrible. RPC is setting up transition committees to oversee the move and construction of a new facility. I will be sad to see the building demolished. 

 

There was an odd post on a neighborhood facebook group about the sale a few months ago - someone chimed in & said that their family had donated the land for the church in the 1940s, and that there was a stipulation that they could not sell it, but had to return it to the family. I've never heard anything more about it, and assumed it was one of those "family legends gone wrong" type of things. I'm sure Grace Presbytery would have discovered that long ago if it were the case. 



#23 Doohickie

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Posted 10 January 2017 - 02:29 PM

Yeah, that sounds like Title Search 101 kind of stuff.


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#24 Jimmy

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Posted 12 January 2017 - 02:10 PM

I have no idea if this would be a suitable solution for Ridglea Presbyterian - but Bethel United Methodist, located at Southwest Blvd & W. Vickery (2.7 miles away), is holding its last services this weekend before shutting down for good. 



#25 Doohickie

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Posted 12 January 2017 - 03:13 PM

Really?  Hmm.


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#26 Thurman52

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Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:18 PM

QT pulled out. Church is looking at next steps.

#27 Doohickie

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Posted 21 February 2017 - 11:16 AM

I didn't see *that* coming.


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#28 Doohickie

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 08:50 PM

I have no idea if this would be a suitable solution for Ridglea Presbyterian - but Bethel United Methodist, located at Southwest Blvd & W. Vickery (2.7 miles away), is holding its last services this weekend before shutting down for good. 

 

According to Bud Kennedy, that's exactly where they're moving.  https://www.facebook...216081922617864

 

The last service in the current location is on July 29.

 

36931360_10155613777812423_5895263447540

 

The note posted with the event says, "Until our new home is ready for us to move in, beginning Sunday, August 5, we will be meeting at the site of the former John Knox Presbyterian Church at 4350 River Oaks Boulevard."

 

https://www.facebook...94049854620747/


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#29 Doohickie

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 09:14 PM

QT pulled out. Church is looking at next steps.

 
So apparently a firm called MDJ Partners, LLC, bought the property.  Are they associated with QT, or are they putting something else there?


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#30 Austin55

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Posted 13 July 2018 - 12:50 AM

 

 

MDJ Partners is a real estate investment group based in Fort Worth. This will be their third acquisition in the Camp Bowie area. MDJ recently purchased the old Kroger site at Camp Bowie and Clayton

 

http://www.fortworth...901704fba3.html

 

No clue...



#31 John T Roberts

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Posted 13 July 2018 - 07:30 AM

I would rather see the old grocery store demolished and redeveloped before demolishing Ridglea Presbyterian Church.  The church is actually quite nice, and is an architectural landmark.



#32 AndyN

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Posted 13 July 2018 - 11:36 AM

There was an odd post on a neighborhood facebook group about the sale a few months ago - someone chimed in & said that their family had donated the land for the church in the 1940s, and that there was a stipulation that they could not sell it, but had to return it to the family. I've never heard anything more about it, and assumed it was one of those "family legends gone wrong" type of things. I'm sure Grace Presbytery would have discovered that long ago if it were the case. 

 

For what is was worth, from the warranty deed from Anderson Berney Realty Company to Ridglea Presbyterian Church filed in Volume 1657, Page 493 of the deed records:

 

 

For a period of thirty-five (35) years from and after the date of this deed the property hereby conveyed shall be used only for religious, civic, educational or charitable puproses.

 

The deed was executed on the 20th of April, 1943. Looks like that restriction expired in 1978.


Www.fortwortharchitecture.com

#33 John T Roberts

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Posted 13 July 2018 - 12:16 PM

Andy, that was a good find. It's also good to know what the status is on the property.



#34 Austin55

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Posted 29 July 2018 - 07:31 PM

Bud Kennedy is saying that it will be torn down and replaced with mixed use development. Will be sad to see the church leveled, but that is a better fate than a gas station.

It sounds as if the church plans to salvage valuable aspects of the building like stained glass and organs

http://www.ridgleapr...bruary-11-2018/

#35 Thurman52

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Posted 11 October 2018 - 07:04 PM

Building demolition is scheduled for Wednesday the 17th per the neighborhood Facebook group

Stained glass etc has been removed

#36 Doohickie

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Posted 12 October 2018 - 07:55 AM

I noticed that the church building at 183 & Vickery now has a Ridglea Pres sign.


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#37 Austin55

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Posted 16 October 2018 - 02:40 PM

Demo permit is in.



#38 McHand

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Posted 23 October 2018 - 08:12 PM

We are moving to Southwest Blvd. That property has been purchased. We are currently meeting at the former John Knox Presbyterian at Jacksboro Highway & River Oaks Blvd. It is a very interesting split level Tudor revival style, also currently for sale.

Great care was taken to save both organs. They are both in storage. As far as I know, the chapel organ will he moved to our new location. We tried to find a buyer for the sanctuary organ, to no avail. It is in storage for future use.
The stained glass was removed prior to demo, but last I checked, the location of the glass was unknown. At the very least, it was not demoed with the building.

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#39 Ghost Writer in Disguise

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Posted 23 October 2018 - 10:36 PM

1943-01-14 "Expansion Gets Underway

R. C. Pasek, left, session clerk is shown turning the first spade of earth on the site of the Ridglea Presbyterian Church at 6201 Camp Bowie Boulevard, at the ground breaking ceremonies Sunday afternoon. Rev. Thomas W. Currie Jr., pastor, is looking on.--Star-Telegram Photo." 

https://library.uta....e3301ce55c1.jpg

 

Looking west from Westridge: 

https://www.facebook...?type=3

Shared from the Camp Bowie Boulevard Facebook page.



#40 JBB

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Posted 07 November 2018 - 11:03 AM

Saw some Facebook photos yesterday of the demolition moving along at a pretty brisk pace.

#41 txbornviking

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Posted 07 November 2018 - 11:35 AM

Saw some Facebook photos yesterday of the demolition moving along at a pretty brisk pace.

 

I drove by it this morning and I'd say it was 95% rubble and gone...



#42 John T Roberts

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Posted 07 November 2018 - 01:14 PM

There is very little left.  Even though the building was fairly large and built in phases, it was not a structurally complex building.  It was pretty easy to demolish.



#43 Austin55

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Posted 11 June 2021 - 12:13 AM

QT is back.

 

https://cfw.maps.arc...6f6ab1542fca765



#44 John T Roberts

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Posted 11 June 2021 - 07:43 AM

I saw that yesterday, and didn't get a chance to post.



#45 Doohickie

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Posted 12 June 2021 - 01:08 PM

In the meantime, I think the new RPC is remodeled and in use on Vickery and 183.


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#46 John T Roberts

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Posted 12 June 2021 - 01:14 PM

Doohickie, you are correct.  They have been using the building for a little while now.



#47 Nitixope

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Posted 27 July 2021 - 09:28 PM

QT is back.
 
https://cfw.maps.arc...6f6ab1542fca765


QT site plan and renderings attached:

https://www.fortwort...-bowie-blvd.pdf

#48 txbornviking

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Posted 28 July 2021 - 07:26 AM

 

QT is back.
 
https://cfw.maps.arc...6f6ab1542fca765


QT site plan and renderings attached:

https://www.fortwort...-bowie-blvd.pdf

 

 

This project came before the City of Fort Worth's Commercial Board of Adjustments with their July meeting but was continued to August to allow the Urban Design Commission to first way in. 

 

I can say the Board of Adjustments received 92 pages of emails voicing opposition to this project.







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