680 replies to this topic

[Austin55]

Yes sorry, I meant SE. I always type those out wrong.

 

Agreed, it would have been a nice spot for something different. 

[John T Roberts]

I thought you meant Southeast.  Yes, it would have been nice to have something different there.  A hotel would have been nice.

[Jeriat]

Randomly saw this in Brooklyn and it reminded me of Left Bank, oddly...

[John T Roberts]

Jeriat, I will agree with you in that it does oddly remind me of Left Bank.

[rriojas71]

I remember talking about Left Bank, when the first phase was under construction, with a past co-worker of mine and he said that this whole project was going to be a bust.  I disagreed with him but he was adamant about it saying "No one wants to live by the river".  With the last spot of retail being filled in with Fireside Pies remodel and now this last piece of land possible being developed I wonder what he thinks now.

 

Glad this is turning out to be a successful project.

[JBB]

I would have liked to see this development have a little more variety in the way of the hotel and office portions that were part of the plan early on, but it has turned out nice.  It's hard to believe how much that area between 30 and White Settlement and Montgomery and the river has changed over the last quarter century.

[Jeriat]

I would have liked to see this development have a little more variety in the way of the hotel and office portions that were part of the plan early on, but it has turned out nice.  It's hard to believe how much that area between 30 and White Settlement and Montgomery and the river has changed over the last quarter century.

Yup. 

 

Hopefully, the new owners of Crockett Row can move it along much further than the previous ownership did... 

[Jeriat]

 

New UDC filing for 601 Harrold St. which is one of the last remaining vacant lots along the Trinity at the Left Bank. 

 

Record UDC-2022-118: 

Urban Design Commission

Record Status: Pending

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that's a little more like it.

[Austin55]

GFF appears to have done nice work here. I like it. 

[Austin55]

I'm guessing they'll have plenty of time to make design tweaks since the site is currently being used for staging for the project next door. 

 

[Austin55]

Crane going up at the Endeavor phase II

[Crestline]

Aerial view of the cleared Bexley Phase II site. These are going to have a great view!
 

 

The site today:

 

[Jeriat]

 

Aerial view of the cleared Bexley Phase II site. These are going to have a great view!
 

 

The site today:

 

 

 

...well that was quick. 

[Crestline]

That's news to me too; nice spot for a tower. I wonder how far north residential can get in that pocket without conflicting with the commercial or light industrial up by the bridge. Should residential stay south of Kansas Street or will the whole pocket eventually be transformed?

[Austin55]

The site is also hampered quite a bit by the gas pads. The tower will need to go pretty far on the East side of the site. 

[Stadtplan]

Some construction updates from my bike ride this evening:

Bexley:




Looking south towards the Lang site. Lots of nice old trees.

[Crestline]

I guess it is a tower facing water, maybe that illustrates what they are trying to approve?  Why does this tower need to have a waterfront side vs a non-water front side?  I would design balconies all the way around, why not?

 

Random guess: The floor plans are laid out so that even with only waterfront balconies, every unit gets a balcony. In other words, the tower is slim enough that units extend all the way "front to back" facing the water.

[Austin55]

Image on UDC map updated. Here is it (Image is not very big):

 

 

I count

 

9 floor podium

1 amenity floor

16 floor tower

 

26 floors total. 

[dfwerdoc]

The very missed phillip Poole worked on getting all this zoned MU2. So it all has to be a minimum of 2 stories and a maximum height of 48 feet. It would be a shame if they made it one story but have the outside facade look like it’s two stories like that ugly comerica bank building on the corner of 8th and magnolia.

[Urbndwlr]

Can't get the link to UDC agenda to work but thanks for posting the sketchup model.

The podium does help the tower get up high to look over adjacent buildings.  Not sure after channel arrives if that podium will be more visible though. 

That is a LOT of building mass and expense dedicated to car storage, BTW.   Here's wishing that could be dialed back (save everyone some $$).

 

dfwerdoc: max height of 48 feet?  I thought it was more like 10 stories in MU2. 

id guess that works out to about 275 feet tall. 

 

Also, who is starting a construction project right now? 

Any bankers on here:  is there realistically any way someone could get financing to start that in mid-late 2023? 

Hopefully they have some patience and can wait until interest rates come back down in say 2 years.

[dfwerdoc]

The max was set at 48 feet and from my understanding it was because the sight line from the Amon Carter museum had to be maintained to see the city skyline. There have always been subtleties how decisions have been made in this city

[dfwerdoc]

What a cute downtown the Basses have curated lol

[steave]

So who owns the lot between Greenleaf and Arthur? Is that going to be park space or would something else grow there and cut off this tower's view later?

[Austin55]

The max was set at 48 feet and from my understanding it was because the sight line from the Amon Carter museum had to be maintained to see the city skyline. There have always been subtleties how decisions have been made in this city

 

This property is not in the MU-2 zone but that Panther Island overlay. One block south and it'd be different.  PI-N-3 has a max height of 288 feet. Deco 969 is 315 and one story taller, so this will be cutting it close to that. 

 

 

 

 

I guess the same height restrictions at 120-ft that were applicable to Museum Place Crescent dont apply here.

The 120-foot rule applies to only a 1,000-foot radius around the museum triangle. 
 

Buildings within 1,000 feet of property on the block bounded by University Drive, Lancaster Avenue, Montgomery Street, and Camp Bowie Boulevard, shall have a maximum height of 120 feet.

https://codelibrary...._tx/0-0-0-36082

[dfwerdoc]

The max was set at 48 feet and from my understanding it was because the sight line from the Amon Carter museum had to be maintained to see the city skyline. There have always been subtleties how decisions have been made in this city

 
This property is not in the MU-2 zone but that Panther Island overlay. One block south and it'd be different.  PI-N-3 has a max height of 288 feet. Deco 969 is 315 and one story taller, so this will be cutting it close to that. 
 
 

 
 

I guess the same height restrictions at 120-ft that were applicable to Museum Place Crescent dont apply here.

The 120-foot rule applies to only a 1,000-foot radius around the museum triangle. 
 

Buildings within 1,000 feet of property on the block bounded by University Drive, Lancaster Avenue, Montgomery Street, and Camp Bowie Boulevard, shall have a maximum height of 120 feet.

https://codelibrary...._tx/0-0-0-36082

Not referring to the lot that Centergy is trying to develop but the barbecue place . Super psyched about Centergys vision here and connecting the left bank to white settlement.

[rriojas71]

I guess the same height restrictions at 120-ft that were applicable to Museum Place Crescent dont apply here.

I think this tower is part of the Panther Island zoning district which allows for more height than other zoning outside of "Downtown"

[rriojas71]

So who owns the lot between Greenleaf and Arthur? Is that going to be park space or would something else grow there and cut off this tower's view later?

I think that area will be part of the new park space that is supposed to be west of the channel.  The channel itself will basically be the area between Arthur and S. Commercial.  If you look at the Panther Island Model you can get a better idea of how that is being planned.

 

Edit:  Actually after examining the plan next to the map I had open the channel would actually be between Greenleaf and Arthur meaning that the building with sit alongside the new channel making this an even better project than I first imagined.

[elpingüino]

Star-Telegram, This apartment tower will sit near the riverbank of Fort Worth's future Panther Island

[rriojas71]

I never realized in the project rendering that they have a Rail Station next to the site.  I wish that was actually the case

[Jeriat]

I never realized in the project rendering that they have a Rail Station next to the site.  I wish that was actually the case

Still possible...

[Austin55]

I might be mis-remembering but wasn't the original Left Bank proposal back when the TEXRail route was still being sorted out?

[Austin55]

Place your bets on the highrise! We'll check back in 5 years to see who wins. 

 

A. The project gets built similar to as proposed (~25+ floors)
B. The project gets scaled back but still built as a midrise (~10-25 floors)

C. The project gets scaled back to a stick-framed size building (under 10 floors)

D. The project doesn't get built at all

E. The project is not built but still proposed in some form (as of July 2028)

[NSFW]

F. City makes too many request and developer gives up.

[Jeriat]

F. City makes too many request and developer gives up.

 

No... not with this city council. 

If it was the pre-2021 council with Betsy as mayor, then yes. 

[Stadtplan]

Panorama from the Greenleaf Site:

 

[Crestline]

Place your bets on the highrise! We'll check back in 5 years to see who wins. 

 

A. The project gets built similar to as proposed (~25+ floors)
B. The project gets scaled back but still built as a midrise (~10-25 floors)

C. The project gets scaled back to a stick-framed size building (under 10 floors)

D. The project doesn't get built at all

E. The project is not built but still proposed in some form (as of July 2028)

 

B. The project gets scaled back but still built as a midrise (~10-25 floors)

[rriojas71]

I'll go with B because I am trying my hardest to be optimistic and that's mainly based on what I am hearing about national developers interest in FW and the successful pre-leasing of the Deco tower.

[NSFW]

F. City makes too many request and developer gives up.

 
No... not with this city council. 

If it was the pre-2021 council with Betsy as mayor, then yes. 

Ah, a change in the regime! Good!

[txbornviking]

I might be mis-remembering but wasn't the original Left Bank proposal back when the TEXRail route was still being sorted out?

 

it was an alternative proposal, yes

[Austin55]

A few more views and the staff report

 

You can find the full report on this page: https://cfw.maps.arc...6f6ab1542fca765

 

 

The applicant is requesting a waiver from the Panther Island Form Based Zoning District to allow the narrow side of the high-rise tower to face away from the waterfront. The proposed new high-rise tower includes a residential, commercial, and above ground parking structure. The site has extenuating circumstances because of an existing gas well, located to the west across Harrold St. The Panther Island Form Based Zoning District ordinance requires a building’s narrow side to face the waterfront. This project is the last piece of the Left Bank Development.  Although the Panther Island Standards requires the narrow side of the building to face the waterfront,  the proposed design remains generally consistent with the intent, while providing mitigation to site challenges. The design promotes pedestrian-oriented urban form by placing the building forward closer to the street and connecting sidewalks, therefore promoting walkable spaces. The proposed project encourages a creative design solution to address the site constraints by incorporating the above ground parking structure beneath a podium, breaking the building mass in separate masses and using glass to expose the floor-to-floor dimensions. lastly, the proposed project helps to create a network of distinctive neighborhoods that provide diverse urban housing options. The project will provide a large number of housing units within the district that is critical to Panther Island’s success.   By rotating the residential component, the design is in conformance with the Fire Code requirements because the habitable portion of the building is at least 125’ separation from the existing gas wells. 

 

Given the site constraints noted above, the proposed project is consistent with the general development principles found within the Panther Island Form Based Zoning District Standards and Guidelines.  Staff therefore recommends the following motion:  That the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a waiver from the Panther Island Form Based Zoning District Standards and Guidelines to allow the narrow side of the high-rise tower to face away from the waterfront be approved. 

 

 

 

 

[Big Frog II]

I don't see how in this world the Museums would object to this building from blocking their view.

[rriojas71]

The first rendering is different from the other 2.  Is this just a different alternative?

 

I an assuming it is angled to have a better view of downtown.

[Stadtplan]

The first rendering is different from the other 2.  Is this just a different alternative?

 

I an assuming it is angled to have a better view of downtown.

 

I noticed that too.  Seems to face parallel with the railroad tracks?

[Austin55]

Overhead on Trinity Phase II

 

[John T Roberts]

Nice shot.  The skyline looks really nice.

[Austin55]

By the way - the project is halfway up and I don't think we've seen a rendering of it yet. 

[Urbndwlr]

I remember talking about Left Bank, when the first phase was under construction, with a past co-worker of mine and he said that this whole project was going to be a bust.  I disagreed with him but he was adamant about it saying "No one wants to live by the river".  With the last spot of retail being filled in with Fireside Pies remodel and now this last piece of land possible being developed I wonder what he thinks now.

 

Glad this is turning out to be a successful project.

This is a great example of how often individuals misjudge what is possible and how many people will say "yes".  Maybe your colleague was speaking for himself and assuming the audience of renters would have similar taste to his?  Seems particularly hard to put ourselves in the shoes of people who we don't interact with often (for example a 45 year old person w/ school aged kids might totally misjudge the tastes & decisions of a 25 year old single person - or someone who never had a long time being single after college).  Also, the older people often can be overly influenced by previous decades' biases & attitudes & younger people are often free from them.

[TLA]

I remember talking about Left Bank, when the first phase was under construction, with a past co-worker of mine and he said that this whole project was going to be a bust.  I disagreed with him but he was adamant about it saying "No one wants to live by the river".  With the last spot of retail being filled in with Fireside Pies remodel and now this last piece of land possible being developed I wonder what he thinks now.
 
Glad this is turning out to be a successful project.

This is a great example of how often individuals misjudge what is possible and how many people will say "yes".  Maybe your colleague was speaking for himself and assuming the audience of renters would have similar taste to his?  Seems particularly hard to put ourselves in the shoes of people who we don't interact with often (for example a 45 year old person w/ school aged kids might totally misjudge the tastes & decisions of a 25 year old single person - or someone who never had a long time being single after college).  Also, the older people often can be overly influenced by previous decades' biases & attitudes & younger people are often free from them.

This reminds me of the seemingly monthly posts on the Fort Worth subreddit asking “where should I live in Fort Worth”. The poster gives little info on their age, marital status, if they have kids or their budget. Inevitably, many people say Keller for the Schools or Aledo because it’s new.

On topic, I’ve seen folks unable to fathom you could move to Left Bank, take the bus everyday downtown for work, and walk for your groceries at Tom Thumb.

I think a lot of us forget how diverse the city is at this population. I mean diverse specifically in living arrangement preference/tolerance: multi-generational, roommates into the 30s, empty nesters in the urban core, DINKS for life, recent immigrants, renting a granny flat, etc etc

[hannerhan]

Left Bank retail seems to be WAY busier over the past year. It's good to see.

[Austin55]

Trademark Property Company (Trademark), an investor, developer and operator of mixed-use centers, today announced it will assume leasing and property management for the 114,000-square-foot retail district at Left Bank, a popular mixed-use community in the heart of Fort Worth’s West 7th Street Urban Village. Left Bank marks Trademark’s seventh property in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and 17th property in the firm’s national portfolio. 

https://trademarkpro...t-left-bank/