93 replies to this topic

[AndyN]

I had Torchy's for the first time Monday. Had the monthly special taco, "Mr. Miyagi". It was like eating a box of salt. I hope it was a mistake because it was aweful, but I've never had the Ahi Tuna Taco, so not sure what it was supposed to taste like. The chips and guac was excellent. Bud Kennedy said wait 3 months before trying a new restaurant. I think I will try to adhere to that from here on out.

[mmiller2002]

I don't mind walking around town, where's there's other things to do/see.  But, this place seemed to be cumbersome compared to everywhere else just to pop into a semi-fast food place like Torchy's.

 

Its like going downtown, parking in a garage, just to go to Corner Bakery for a sandwich...

[johnfwd]

Haven't tried Torchy's but have a macro question about the "draw" of this shopping area in the wake of the soon-to-be complete closing of I-30 access to Forest Par Boulevard.  I'm sure the developers didn't anticipate the closure of this major access.  Will it make a difference, or does the surrounding neighborhood provide sufficient market, especially for the restaurants there?

[Doohickie]

Haven't tried Torchy's but have a macro question about the "draw" of this shopping area in the wake of the soon-to-be complete closing of I-30 access to Forest Par Boulevard.  I'm sure the developers didn't anticipate the closure of this major access.  Will it make a difference, or does the surrounding neighborhood provide sufficient market, especially for the restaurants there?

 
Access to Forest Park is not lost.  From-to the east, there is an exit directly from I-30 (albeit with a crossing of Summit).  From-to the west, there is I-30 access to Forest Park via Rosedale.  It's ever-so-slightly less convenient from the east, but probably won't affect that development.

Plus the restaurants will make their money from the captive market of the Hospital District lunch crowd.

[AndyN]

As a tennant in a Forest Park office building, that is not a satisfactory situation. Direct access has been lost by this plan and the businesses and restaurants around here will be negatively affected.

 

With the construction on I-30 and the construction on 7th street bridge, I am beginning to wonder how I am going to get to work sometimes. Oh, sure, I can go through downtown and then take Summit to tenth and then take 10th to Forest Park. That would only add an extra ten minutes to the commute.

[Thurman52]

I guess the next building is on its way up. I see a three story elevator shaft being built on the east side of the development.

[JBB]

I had lunch at Torchy's today.  This was my second visit on a Saturday around 11am.  Service was quick both times even though it was already fairly busy.  I've tried the Republican (grilled sausage), the Democrat (barbacoa), the fried avacodo, and February's monthly special, the Double Wide (chicken fried steak with bacon, cheese, and tomoatoes).  All of them were really good, even if everything other than the Democrat were a little unconventional as far as tacos go.  The Double Wide, as weird as it sounds, was easily my favorite.  My only complaint was that the fried avacado was too cumbersome to pick up so I ended up eating it with a fork.  One other big plus: they serve Maine Root fountain sodas which I've never seen anywhere other than the cafe at Central Market.

 

I noticed the elevator shaft going up for the office building.  The second hotel (I assume Homewoods) looks awful, but maybe it's just a work in progress.  It has a masonry or stucco first floor with this really cheap looking yellow siding on the upper floors. 

[prideftw]

This entire development is unappealing to me. I wish i had millions of dollars to invest because i would much better places than this. I mean why not build more unigue looking hotel buildings? Why not build something that makes people from out of town say ( wow lets go over there). 

[mmiller2002]

It's like an island surrounded by un-walkable streets and railroad tracks.  It hasn't made sense to me why that was a good place for a come-and-go place like Torchy's.  There's not multiple reasons to go there.  unless the new building will also have retail and/or food and drink.

[Doohickie]

I wouldn't write off the area just yet.  Road diet coming to  Forest Park, bike lanes are coming to Rosedale (in case you haven't heard).  I think the city is at least trying.

One other thing regarding the style of building: One may ask why they use boring architecture. There are reasons. Most people would view that style as "contemporary" or "stylish". It's not unpleasant to look at, it's just not very interesting. Okay, fine, but why not make it unique? Well, actually, familiar is what a lot of people like when they're traveling, especially to visit someone in the hospital. You're not there to explore or tour around, you're there to stay at a hotel while your dad is in the hospital. You *want* familiar, uninteresting, boring. You don't want to have to think about it. You want a clean room. Which takes us back to "contemporary" architecture: When someone sees that, they think "new" and "clean" which, again, is what a person staying in the area to attend someone in the hospital is going to want.

[Fort Worthology]

The bike lanes aren't coming to that part of Rosedale - just the part between 8th and South Main.


I never wrote much about Midtown, because it's a pretty forgettable development. It's a collection of suburban-style pad sites and hotels sort of crammed into this arrangement that pays lip service to being in the central city but doesn't really go that far. Though it's combined with the state of the post-TxDOT Rosedale design, which is anti-human in the extreme, so some of the design is at least understandable because Rosedale is not a street one would want to embrace.


A good small example of this relationship between the design and its context: the corner "pedestrian entrance" at Forest Park and Rosedale. In a real urban context, the development would greet this most significant corner with a signature building or feature of some sort, perhaps a large pedestrian plaza, something welcoming and engaging. What they actually built was something else entirely - the two buildings that face that corner aren't anywhere close to the corner at all, they're surrounded by shrubbery like in the suburbs, they turn blank walls to the corner, and the pedestrian infrastructure is a sad little skinny suburban-style sidewalk running between a random set of walls which doesn't do anything to welcome anybody to anything. However, the corner of the intersection itself is terrible as well, with Rosedale especially being massive and further degraded with those sweeping cut-through right turn lanes. The street design actively discourages people from walking the relatively short distance from the neighborhood to Midtown - there's too much pavement to cross (something like nine lanes maybe once you factor in those sweeping turn lanes), and the right turn lanes are designed such that cars can fly through them without slowing down too much making it unsafe and inhospitable for people on foot - and the development's site design further discourages it (though with a context like that, it's hard to blame the developer exactly). And Torchy's greets the street with nothing particularly engaging at all (again, somewhat understandable due to the street design).

Classic example of infrastructure negatively reinforcing site design.

[Joshw]

It's to bad I'll never go to Torchy's by bike. It'd be so easy. Alas....

[Thurman52]

A few comments:  I had the opportunity to speak to small group using the Hilton for team meeeting this week.  The hotel encourages the guest to interact with each other with indoor and outdoor fireplaces, decent bar setup in the lobby.  Most suburban hotels are just lobbies and send you to your room, in my travel expierence.  The decor was standard but they used photos from the local area to tie the hotel back to the city.  Overall, I was pleased. 

 

I parked in the garage, found the short walk across to the hotel entrance easy, Torchy's would have been easy too.  Maybe they should have just left handicapped parking in the surface lot and made everyone walk from the garage. 

 

I am shocked that Ft Worth South having played the role of real estate broker allowed this type development, I figured as their front door from the West, they would have put a bit more focus into the development. 

 

Kevin, I did not realized the bike lanes did not go past 8th Ave, such a waste, could have taken them to the Rosedale overhead and dropped the bike traffic into the Trinity trails. 

[John T Roberts]

Actually, I can ride my bicycle from the house to Torchy's by going up any of the north/south residential streets in Ryan Place and Fairmount, then jump into Berkeley on Windsor Place or on Park Place, then go north on Jerome.  That puts me at the light on the southeast corner of the development.  However, I haven't noticed any bicycle racks within the place.  I may have missed them.

[dfwerdoc]

jason's deli going in here

[mmiller2002]

Are there any residences there?

[John T Roberts]

Dfwerdoc, Jason's will be a great addition to the area.  I live fairly close to the area and I always don't care to fight the Hulen traffice to visit Jason's and Camp Bowie is a long way to go.  However, since my office moved out on the boulevard, I do frequent that Jason's at lunch from time to time.  You seem to have your finger on the pulse of what is happening.

 

There are currently no residential units in this development and with the construction of the two remaining buildings on Rosedale, it appears there won't be any residential.

[John T Roberts]

Jason's Deli is scheduled to open on May 25th.

[Austin55]

The land to the East of midtown along the FWWR tracks was changed to Near Southside zoning. The developer does not have solid plan but wants something mixed use or medical office. 

Interestingly the developer said the project was formerly a dump yard and has 40 feet of trash below the surface so it's a tricky and expensive site to develop. 

[Stadtplan]

Can someone refresh my memory as to the name of this new hotel?

 

A 5 Story 139 room hotel on a 2.458 ac site. Located at the NW corner of the intersection of W Rosedale St & Jerome St.

 

[panthercity]

Can someone refresh my memory as to the name of this new hotel?
 
A 5 Story 139 room hotel on a 2.458 ac site. Located at the NW corner of the intersection of W Rosedale St & Jerome St.
 

Are we talking the site where Simmons Bank is located?

[Stadtplan]

I think they messed up an meant to list NE corner of Jerome and Rosedale because these two tracts (0.88 + 1.52 = 2.4) acres is the only space close to that stated 2.458 acres on this zoning change.  Right next to the railroad track too, just like everything else in Fort Worth.

 

 

https://goo.gl/maps/Gz8JYQ1ncqWGuPzv9

[Austin55]

Yeh its definitely that property. It was for sale recently and already re-zoned a few months ago.

[steave]

What a lovely place for a hotel, next to the railroad tracks. /s

[JBB]

Just like the other two hotels in the development that right next to railroad tracks and seem to be doing just fine?

[Stadtplan]

That is the same line that runs right through Trinity Park over the wooden bridge. Ive watched that train up close and it certainly is loud but moves slowly, sort of a novelty if you only see it once in a while.

What is the frequency of rail traffic through that line? Once a day? Twice a day? Twice a week? Maybe its not as obtrusive as some others.

[JBB]

The line that runs north-south is FWW with little traffic now, but much more frequent if TEXRail ever extends southward (trains will be entering or leaving a station, they barely make noise at full speed).  The UP tracks that border on the north have much more frequent traffic.  If someone wants to build another hotel in Midtown, I think that's a pretty good sign that rail traffic isn't hurting the two existing hotels.

[steave]

How many trains go by there in a given day I wonder? I've been living in FW for about 6 months now, and I've seen the FWWR train once. I didn't realize those tracks were owned by a different local railroad company until then. I had to stop for it when it was crossing Berry street headed south. My work is off Forest Park further south from location so I can hear them going by usually later in the afternoon around 3 or 4 although its hard to tell if that's not just a train on the tracks further north along Rosedale.

 

That said, the frequency of freight trains on a railroad line is usually insider local information. What's relevant is if a hotel guest looks at it on google maps and says "nope" or whoever runs or invests in hotels sees it and says eww. The tracks could be abandoned for all anyone knew and it wouldn't change this.

[JBB]

You do realize there are already 2 hotels across the parking lot, right?

[steave]

Those do not have rooms potentially right next to the rails though. The Homewood Suites is approximately 165' from the nearest corner of the building to the rails per Google Earth's measuring tool and the Hilton Garden Inn is ~300 feet.

[Stadtplan]

I was curious about people's experiences with this and found a few Google reviews for Homewood Suites addressing the railroad tracks.  I've noted several places around Fort Worth right by the tracks and was always curious "how bad is it?"  Appears to be a nuisance but not a deal breaker for most perhaps because a hotel vs apartment is normally a few days.  2:30am is sort of ridiculous to hear a train whistle unless it were the only hotel in town then you get what you get.  I'd be sort of pissed off about making that decision to stay there knowing what other locations I had to choose from.  Threw in one lady's review about the getting bed bug bites...can't believe she still gave them 2-stars, unbelievable.

 

3/5 Stars:

...The main problem and why the lower rating with this location is the train noise.   It is somewhat outside of their control other than investing in sound barriers or beefing up the wall insulation to keep out the train noise (train whistle, train cars  rumbling down the tracks, squeking metal on metal noises, etc.).  I believe it is a safety requirement for the train to blow it's horn 3 times as it approaches an intersection or crossing.  On 2/27/19 @ 6:12 pm and 2/28/19 @ 5:59pm I was in room 316 at the desk and could clearly hear the train whistle blower 3 times.  There are several tracks in the area and travel on two sides of the building, so if you like trains and want to see them this may be what you want, but if you are trying to get to sleep at night and don't want to be awakened at 2;30 am this may not be what you want.  I did stay on the opposite side near the front entrance last time and didn't have these problems.  If you have young children that are very sensitive to noise like this, it could be a disaster for you.

 

4/5 Stars:

....The only downfall was the train track located very nearby that ran 24 hours a day I believe, even late at night. It wasn’t overbearing but quite noticeable however, I would absolutely stay here again. 

 

4/5 Stars:

....Not the best part of town but the immediate area isn't too bad. Also a loud train goes by in the night, didn't wake me up but if you're awake you will be aware there is a train outside. If you have to stay in this area I would definitely recommend this hotel, well-lit parking lot, higher class of clientele.

 

5/5 Stars:

....The location is convenient but does sit on a freight train line, but it is not noticeable unless you are outside....

 

4/5 Stars:

nice place but some rooms are really close to the train rails so during the nights you can't sleep well because the noise

 

-----------------------

(unrelated but concerning)

 

2/5 Stars:

Staff is great,  rooms are functional and comfortable. HOWEVER i got multiple bites all over my body due to bed bugs. I developed an allergic reaction and had to go to urgent care.  I advised staff what happened,  they sent maintenance up to check room. And moved me to a new room right next door.  They never checked with me after I advised them of the allergic reaction,  nor did they have me fill out an incident report until today, a week later.

 

------------------------

 

Here's one from the Hilton Garden Inn from a very optimistic reviewer:

 

5/5 Stars:

...I had a window looking out toward the power station and train lines. Strangely, that is my favorite. I love the angles and metal sculptural purposes of power stations and I adore the sound of trains going at night. It is a Johnny Cash song right there.  Anyway, the trains were not loud, more like a low rumble. Comforting that they still run goods this way and I can be mesmerized, standing at the window of the hotel, just watching them push along....

[JBB]

I still think you guys are reaching.  The regularly sound of car traffic on CTP in I-30 is probably more constant and louder at times than the rail traffic.

[Stadtplan]

I checked the Accela dev listing earlier and it appears they added a name for this new hotel, however I think there's a typo.

 

They are calling it the Bambria Hotel

 

Searches reveal nothing about this name but there is a line of hotels called Cambria Hotels owned by Choice Hotels which seems logical based on their prototypical design.

 

https://www.cambriasouthlakedfw.com/

https://www.cambrianashville.com/

[JBB]

I bet its a type-o.

[steave]

Oh deer...

[Austin55]

I live 600 feet from the FWWR tracks and I'd be surprised if they run more than 20 trains a week on that line. It's very quiet. 

[John T Roberts]

I'm about 533 feet from the BNSF Main Line through Fort Worth and trains run about every 20 minutes, including Amtrak.  Since I grew up with this train, most of the time, I'm not even aware of it when I am home.

[Austin55]

Site plan from upcoming Zoning Meeting

[rriojas71]

Wow that is a lot of parking space

[steave]

As is tradition

[Stadtplan]

New Zoning Change filed for the hotel at Jerome & Rosedale. 

 

https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=

 

Project Description:

Jerome Hotel

Hotel

A 5 story Hotel with 139 rooms

[Stadtplan]

Cambria Hotel Urban Forestry Ph. 1 filing:

https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=

[Stadtplan]

Cambria Hotel TDLR Filing:

 

https://www.tdlr.tex.../TABS2023003494

 

PROJECT

Project Name: Fort Worth, Texas - Cambria Hotels

Project Number: TABS2023003494

Facility Name: Cambria Hotel

Location Address: 2120 W Rosedale St.

Fort Worth, TX 76104

Location County: Tarrant

Start Date: 12/15/2022

Completion Date: 2/8/2024

Estimated Cost: $13,800,000

Type of Work: New Construction

Type of Funds: This project is privately funded, on private land for private use.

Scope of Work: Construction of a new 5 story hotel

Square Footage: 68,535 ft 2

[Stadtplan]

Site plan from upcoming Zoning Meeting

 

I drove past the and Cambria Suites (a.k.a. "Brambria") project the other night and it is underway.  I didn't get a chance to grab a photo yet, looked like a bunch of dirt work so far.