102 replies to this topic

[Doohickie]

At Java with Jungus this morning, Councilman Jordan said that part of the development between Altamesa and McPherson will be reserved for "institutional use" which he further said will likely be an institution of higher learning. In a followup question to his chief of staff, she confirmed that it is a college, it isn't TCC or another 2-year school, but a campus for a large school. Details weren't provided, but they said to watch for a major announcement in October.

I suspect it will be an expansion of Tarlton State's Fort Worth presence to a full-blown campus.

[Jimmy]

Very interesting.  Can't wait to hear more.

[Doohickie]

Jungus is building his own little empire in District 6 

[renamerusk]

I approve of yet another presence by Texas A&M in the Fort Worth Area.  Tarleton State (Agricultural); Texas Wesleyan (Liberal Arts) and A&M Law (Legal). 

[bclaridge]

I approve of yet another presence by Texas A&M in the Fort Worth Area.  Tarleton State (Agricultural); Texas Wesleyan (Liberal Arts) and A&M Law (Legal). 

 

Only Tarleton and A&M Law are affiliated with the public A&M System; Texas Wesleyan is a private university.

 

Anyhow, it is exciting to have a new 4-year college campus (even if it is only a satellite commuter campus of another university) in Fort Worth, especially if it is a public university.  Aside from the mammoth UT Arlington, there are no public 4-year colleges in Tarrant County that are not small satellite campuses (eg. Tarleton).

 

Now if we could only get a university to establish an undergraduate center downtown...

[David Love]

Tarleton State University plans 80-acre campus in Fort Worth

 

Tarleton State University plans to build an 80-acre campus in Fort Worth, after a decades-long relationship with the city.

If built, the school would be the first public university in Fort Worth.

 

http://www.bizjourna...-campus-in.html

 

[Doohickie]

Southwest Ft Worth?  This is what I gleaned from a neighborhood meeting with my councilman.

 

EDIT... yep, that's it.  It was hinted that it was part of the A&M system, which Tarleton State is.

 

EDIT to the EDIT:  Ah yes... here's the thread I started about it back in August.

[David Love]

Southwest Ft Worth?  This is what I gleaned from a neighborhood meeting with my councilman.

 

EDIT... yep, that's it.  It was hinted that it was part of the A&M system, which Tarleton State is.

 

EDIT to the EDIT:  Ah yes... here's the thread I started about it back in August.

 

We can move the thread, or merge, I did a search on Tarleton and found nothing... We can merge the two.

[John T Roberts]

The threads have been merged.  I think this is good for the far Southwest part of the city.  I'm also glad to hear from the Business Press article that they will be putting Granbury Road back in place with an overpass on the parkway and a full entrance/exit.

[renamerusk]

At Java with Jungus this morning, Councilman Jordan said that part of the development between Altamesa and McPherson will be reserved for "institutional use" which he further said will likely be an institution of higher learning....I suspect it will be an expansion of Tarlton State's Fort Worth presence to a full-blown campus.

 

Congratulations..great scoop!

[johnfwd]

Great news!  One of the factors in a city's strength is the prevalence of higher-education institutions.  The more, the better, I say.  Is the phrase "first public university in Fort Worth" entirely accurate, though?  Fort Worth is already host to campuses of U.T. Arlington (Santa Fe annex) and University of North Texas (Health Sciences Center).  Maybe the article's author meant first "four-year" college.

[Doohickie]

 

At Java with Jungus this morning, Councilman Jordan said that part of the development between Altamesa and McPherson will be reserved for "institutional use" which he further said will likely be an institution of higher learning....I suspect it will be an expansion of Tarlton State's Fort Worth presence to a full-blown campus.

 

Congratulations..great scoop!

 

 

Thanks.  I just went to the Java with Jungus meeting and they discussed plans for the development.  In Jordan's speech, he mentioned that the developer was going to donate a large parcel of land for "institutional use."  I asked if that meant a hospital and he replied that it was more along the lines of education, and something brand new for the city.  I asked his aid after the meeting which institution, whether it was another TCC campus and she said it was a 4-year school.  A bit more prodding yielded a link to the A&M system and I put two and two together, guessing Tarleton State.  I could see where the Ft Worth campus might eventually eclipse the Stephenville one.

[Doohickie]

State funding approved by the Texas House.  
 

Major construction projects that have stalled for years at Texas public universities may soon be on the move after the state House gave early approval Thursday to a bond package loaded with more than $3 billion in projects.

Under a plan approved on a 131-13 vote, more than $550 million would flow to higher education facilities in North Texas, helping fund new buildings at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the University of Texas at Arlington and Tarleton State University’s new local campus.
Although lawmakers have been unable to pass similar measures to pump funding into college facilities since 2006, many believe that 2015 is the year for a breakthrough.
“This one will pass,” predicted Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, who indicated that all top state leaders are on board. “Each campus gets money.

[elpingüino]

Update and rendering in Fort Worth Business Press today:

Tarleton Fort Worth campus closer to reality

[Doohickie]

Nice find.

[Austin55]

Concept Video from the architects

 

 

 

These are the same guys behind the new Civil Courthouse, which has tuned out very nice. 

[johnfwd]

Great addition to our city!  I also enjoyed watching some of the recruitment videos.

[Jimmy]

Are the plans for this campus to simply be an outpost of the Stephenville campus, or are their plans for Tarleton-Fort Worth to eventually become it's own entity?  And if that is the case, would there be any consideration to changing the name from "Tarleton State University at Fort Worth" to something more marketable like "The University of Fort Worth" ?

[johnfwd]

The Fort Worth satellite campus is one of several around the state and its expansion will probably not change that status.  Tarleton is part of the A&M System.

[Jimmy]

Yeah, I knew it was just a satellite campus and that Tarleton was part of the A&M system.  I was just wondering if it might go the way of UNT-Dallas, which became its own entity.  

[Mr_Brightside526]

Tarleton State Fort Worth Campus to be open for the first students by January 2019.

[Doohickie]

It says CTP at Granbury Road.  I count at least three locations that fit that description.  Anyone know the actual location of the campus?

 

Edit:  Answering my own question; it appears that this is the spot.  It's where Old Granbury Road stops at the CTP and picks up on the other side.  Maybe the plan all along was that a new road built for the campus would span the Parkway, and Old Granbury will dump into that road on either side of the bridge.

[elpingüino]

If you're ever headed toward Burleson or Cleburne, keep an eye out: There's a sign on the west (north?) side of the CTP that says "Future site of Tarleton State," plus some TSU banners on the streetlights.

[Austin55]

Soon...http://www.tarleton....lay.asp?id=5486

 

[A_Random_Username]

If you're ever headed toward Burleson or Cleburne, keep an eye out: There's a sign on the west (north?) side of the CTP that says "Future site of Tarleton State," plus some TSU banners on the streetlights.

Going south on CTP it will be on the right side of the road. noticed that about a week ago heading into Glen Rose.about where @Doohickie posted about. 

 

It says CTP at Granbury Road.  I count at least three locations that fit that description.  Anyone know the actual location of the campus?

 

Edit:  Answering my own question; it appears that this is the spot.  It's where Old Granbury Road stops at the CTP and picks up on the other side.  Maybe the plan all along was that a new road built for the campus would span the Parkway, and Old Granbury will dump into that road on either side of the bridge.

thats where the sign is, or close to it. its not a very huge sign either, and unless you are a passenger, easily missed.

[pelligrini]

There's a whole lot more information in their Master Plan:

https://www.tarleton...master-plan.pdf

[rriojas71]

Looks Awesome. There is a lot more to their Master Plan than I imagined. I’m impressed.

So it looks like their will be another University with Purple as it’s school colors. I’m wondering if FW should adopt it as their with the city’s logo somehow.

[Dylan]

The labels of Fort Worth and Dallas are placed incorrectly on the first two maps. Fort Worth and Dallas are placed over Denton and McKinney.

 

Looks like a nice campus, but I don't like the rural location or lack of transit. Guess they can't help that.

[pelligrini]

Looks Awesome. There is a lot more to their Master Plan than I imagined. I’m impressed.

So it looks like their will be another University with Purple as it’s school colors. I’m wondering if FW should adopt it as their with the city’s logo somehow.

 

That color adoption would also work with Electricron's TEX-Rail proposal.

http://www.fortworth...c=4787&p=106754

 

The labels of Fort Worth and Dallas are placed incorrectly on the first two maps. Fort Worth and Dallas are placed over Denton and McKinney.

 

Looks like a nice campus, but I don't like the rural location or lack of transit. Guess they can't help that.

 

I bet that the location won't feel so rural in the near future.

[Austin55]

I hope they allow the campus to have some "urban" surroundings. Universitys should be very walkable, as should the surroundings. Compare UNT, UTA, TCU or SMU where students have close access to entertainment & dining and help drive development in the area, to TCC South or DBU, which are far more isolated with no nearby amenities...

[elpingüino]

Maybe the plan all along was that a new road built for the campus would span the Parkway, and Old Granbury will dump into that road on either side of the bridge.

Page 89 of the master plan provides more details on the road configuration. When classes begin in 2019, there won't be a direct connection to Chisholm Trail and traffic will have to use the McPherson exit. But eventually a interchange will be built for Stewart Feltz Road.

[Doohickie]

Page 13 shows "Future Road + Interchange."  Not sure when the interchange will be built, but it's in the plan.

[johnfwd]

One of the two "stakeholders" referred to in the Master Plan is Walton International, a land developer that donated the 80 acres to Tarleton State University for its campus.  Judging by the location near CTP, I believe the chosen site will eventually be an inducement for further infrastructure and economic development.

[RD Milhollin]

The labels of Fort Worth and Dallas are placed incorrectly on the first two maps. Fort Worth and Dallas are placed over Denton and McKinney.

 

Looks like a nice campus, but I don't like the rural location or lack of transit. Guess they can't help that.

 

Rural location or lack of transit; Stephenville or suburban Fort Worth?

[Doohickie]

The labels of Fort Worth and Dallas are placed incorrectly on the first two maps. Fort Worth and Dallas are placed over Denton and McKinney.

 

Looks like a nice campus, but I don't like the rural location or lack of transit. Guess they can't help that.

 

The rail line to DFW Airport will eventually run as far south as Sycamore School Road at the CTP.  It sounds like they could extend it slightly (about three and a half miles) and get to the new campus.  At the very least, they could run a shuttle bus to the stop at Sycamore School.

[Jeriat]

The labels of Fort Worth and Dallas are placed incorrectly on the first two maps. Fort Worth and Dallas are placed over Denton and McKinney.
 
Looks like a nice campus, but I don't like the rural location or lack of transit. Guess they can't help that.

What Doohickie said, and that "rural" location wont look very rural a few years after all of that is built.

[Doohickie]

Yeah.  When North Crowley HS was built, it was commonly called "Middle of Nowhere High."  You wouldn't know that now with the housing that's grown up around it.  I'm sure the college campus and supporting businesses will fill out the area pretty quickly.

[John T Roberts]

Here are another couple of things to think about:

 

• In 1910, the Southwestern Baptist Seminary opened their campus on a hilltop in the middle of nowhere south of the city.  There was not any development around the campus, and I think the nearest developed portion of the city was Jessamine Street on the boundary of what is now Fairmount and Ryan Place.  Ryan Place was not developed until 1911.  The Seminary was built just off of Cleburne Road, which is now McCart.  That was the connection back to the city.
• In 1911, TCU was built on what was then Forest Park Blvd. out in the middle of nowhere, as well.  There was also no development in the area, and I think the building of the Ryan Place addition was also the closest part of the city at that time.

[Doohickie]

Also good examples, but I cited NCHS because it's more recent.

[John T Roberts]

I was going to cite my examples a few days ago, I just had not done it.  However, your NCHS is probably the best one.  The city has definitely grown up around that campus. 

[Jeriat]

Went to NoCro from 2003-07.

I remember seeing nothing but grass south and west of the football fields.

10 years later, it looks just like what the rest of DFW looks like. I expect the same from the Tarleton campus.

[Doohickie]

...although I suspect it will be more urban-ish (apartments and such... maybe some bars).

[bclaridge]

What makes me sad is that this development is building over some of the most pristine prairie land left in the Fort Worth area.  I had hoped that Tarleton would have done something to preserve at least a plot of this prairie, especially for the university's research purposes.

 

Even Walsh Ranch is trying to preserve sections of the prairie in and around their development (by incorporating it into their open spaces), but the Rocky Creek Ranch area (which includes the planned Tarleton campus) has a more well-preserved prairie intact than Walsh does.  If the suburban expansion experiment goes downhill, and people were to start leaving the suburbs en masse, I would at least like an intact native prairie that could be of assistance when it comes to returning any abandoned suburbs to an environment that closely resembles the native ecosystem.  Tandy Hills has an area that fits that criteria, but I would prefer that there be something more substantial that covers more space, as is the case at Rocky Creek Ranch.  In the absence of a suburban abandonment scenario -- restoring a native ecosystem would be low on our priority list in the event of a social collapse -- such a park could be used for research and (limited) recreational purposes.

 

While I have discussed the possibility of developing some of the "empty" land around Fort Worth in the past, I do encourage protecting the native prairie in the areas where it is most intact, or reducing the amount of development (including having more compact, denser developments) that occurs in and around the prairie zones.  Sadly this perspective does not sit well with those looking to make a profit off of real estate.  What we need are more responsible development practices; the Tarleton master plan calls for denser development adjacent to the proposed campus, but without restrictions on developing the surrounding prairie, sprawling subdivisions will cover the areas surrounding the university.  Many people who would be living in this area would surely like to have the open view preserved for the future; to give an anecdotal example, I once recall that when visiting Rolling Hills Park in Benbrook, some of the residents were lamenting the loss of their view of the open prairie to the west of their subdivision due to the new Ventana development. 

 

It would also be good for land values in the area of the new Tarleton campus to have some prairie preserved in the area to ensure open vista looking west, in addition to providing recreational space.  Perhaps there could be some kind of land use restrictions put into place when the city of Fort Worth annexes more land in this area... I know there are very few housing developments surrounding the entirety of Lake Worth in the areas that are part of the city of Fort Worth (and not just in those areas the city has actually designated as parks like Marion Sansom Park and the Fort Worth Nature Center), so I believe that the city has done something like this in the past.

[Austin55]

Construction is underway

 

https://www.bizjourn...-campus-in.html

[Doohickie]

Construction is underway

 

https://www.bizjourn...-campus-in.html

 

You can see the footprint of the first building taking shape in the current Google map satellite view:  https://goo.gl/maps/JWuV5chnPSC2

[elpingüino]

Construction progress as seen at https://www.tarleton...new-campus.html

 

[Doohickie]

I wonder when the CTP exit will go in?

[johnfwd]

I wonder when the CTP exit will go in?

Are there plans for one?

[elpingüino]

Yes, at Stewart Feltz Road, eventually. In this TSU masterplan, search for "interchange". https://www.tarleton...master-plan.pdf

[Doohickie]

Yes, at Stewart Feltz Road, eventually. In this TSU masterplan, search for "interchange". https://www.tarleton...master-plan.pdf

 

While Old Granbury Road is now interrupted by the toll road at this junction and no longer connects to the other side of the development, a new overpass and toll road on and off ramps are planned at this junction to provide access to the site and connectivity to the other side of the development.

 

My guess is the CTP saved some money by cutting off Granbury Road at the knees, knowing that eventually the new Tarleton campus would require it and probably pay for it (at least in part).