41 replies to this topic

[Austin55]

8th has always struck me as rather underutilized. The road connects TCU, Near Southside, 3 major hospitals, and downtown's upper westside.

 

In downtown, as Summit, it's seen a lot of residential development occur on or nearby, but hasn't really turned into a walkable corridor. Between 30 and Magnolia is a ton of employees with the hospitals right there, but again just a road and not really anything special going on despite a lot of energy in the area. Between Magnolia and Berry the street is downright dull, a lot of vacant lots, strip malls, and giant unused parking lots.

 

Do you think the road will ever get to be more of a walk-able urban place? 

[Volare]

Lots of rail tracks running parallel take up a lot of valuable land. The first person who figures out how to get the all of the rail outside of the loop will make a lot of money.

[george84]

With the new mixed use development that has wabi house and super chix, plus phase 2 under construction, we are seeing some density now. Hopefully also something good will replace the old retirement building that was demolished. Maybe this will help spur more development

[John T Roberts]

I'm actually old enough to remember 8th Avenue from when I was a kid.  Back then, the street was primarily residential.  It also did not connect into downtown at that time.  The Summit connection was only done, once I-30 was widened and re-routed to the south.  The commercial portions of the street were located at the intersections.  The first major commercial intersection was at Rosedale, but I think it actually had some residential at that intersection.  Then there was another corner of commercial at Magnolia.  The next was at the blocks around W. Allen and Park Place.  A small commercial/industrial area was at Windsor Place/W. Arlington.  From that point south was the old Frisco Railroad Yards on the west side of the street.  There was no development, no sidewalks, nothing there until Stanley intersected with Cleburne Road.  Going back specifically to 8th Avenue, there wasn't any commercial development on the east side of the street south of the commercial area at Windsor/Arlington.  Technically, 8th Avenue continues due south, just after W. Cantey where Cleburne Road splits off.  At W. Berry, there were the 1920s-50s commercial buildings that lined Berry, but they didn't front along 8th.  South of Berry, 8th does continue on and finally ends at W. Seminary Dr., but changes name to James Ave., which is actually a parallel street one block to the west through Ryan Place and Rosemont.  James Ave. continues on south with underutilized commercial.  Crowley Rd. splits from James and becomes a part of the State Farm to Market Road System (FM 731).  FM 731 terminates half way between Burleson and Cleburne at FM 917.  Between Berry and Seminary, 8th is not continuous, because it is separated by the BNSF Railway.  Since it is not a through street between Berry and Seminary, 8th is entirely residential in this area, with the exception of some small industrial between W. Ripy and W. Butler, which is right around the railroad right-of-way.

 

I really don't think 8th Ave. will become more of a walkable urban place south of the commercial area at Allen and Park Place, mainly due to the active historic districts and neigbhorhood associations.  This is just my opinion, but I have lived in the area all of my life, and I know the neighborhoods and the residents pretty well.

[Doohickie]

In the discussion about the Hemphill makeover concerns about traffic were raised.  It strikes me that 8th would be a good alternate route to the west, and I35 to the east.

[Austin55]

According to the fairmount facebook page, a developer is planning a senior living development at the old Massey's site.

[Austin55]

TMA-CHA is designing a new medical office at 2221 8th Ave,

 

[johnfwd]

I like the building design.  I hope the facade doesn't have this murky grayish color.

[Doohickie]

murky grayish color.

 

Oh, you mean "flip house gray"? 

 

That's the location of the recently closed Butler's Antiques.  Does anyone know what that building was build as?

[John T Roberts]

I remember the old Butler's Antiques as Pulliam Pools & Supply store.  They built pools and they also sold pool supplies.

[Doohickie]

Hmmmm.... I guess I can see it.  It's got perplexing architecture.  Modern lines but that big wooden front door on the main part of the building looks so traditional.  Possibly a later change?

[John T Roberts]

The wooden door definitely looks like a later change.

[RD Milhollin]

Hmmmm.... I guess I can see it.  It's got perplexing architecture.  Modern lines but that big wooden front door on the main part of the building looks so traditional.  Possibly a later change?

 

 

That is a great sidewalk! If that could be replicated the length of the street it could be a great pedestrian draw for businesses along that stretch. 

[John T Roberts]

I wish the sidewalks were continuous along 8th Ave.

[Austin55]

I wish the sidewalks were continuous along 8th Ave.

8th might be a good candidate for a complete streets rebuild.

[txbornviking]

 

I wish the sidewalks were continuous along 8th Ave.

8th might be a good candidate for a complete streets rebuild.

 

 

I feel with a protected bike lane/cycletrack 8th could become a nice corridor.

[Austin55]

Another thing about 8th - Trinity Metro's route 6 runs down the street has the 5th highest ridership in the bus, and the highest ridership of any route that runs less than every 15 minutes. All the more reason to improve biking/sidewalk improvements along the street.

[John T Roberts]

Here's a real estate deal on the street.  According to the Fort Worth Business Press, the former grocery store at 1919 8th Ave has been sold to the Health Education Learning Project.  The building is 13,870 square feet in size.  It was built in the 1960's as one of the "new" Worth Food Market grocery stores.  Piggly Wiggly bought the local chain and it operated as a Piggly Wiggly for many years.  Cook Children's Hospital then purchased it for office space, but they vacated a few years ago and left the building vacant.

[Dylan]

Another thing about 8th - Trinity Metro's route 6 runs down the street has the 5th highest ridership in the bus, and the highest ridership of any route that runs less than every 15 minutes. All the more reason to improve biking/sidewalk improvements along the street.

 

Is there updated ridership statistics anywhere? I haven't been able to find anything more recent than 2015 (in the master plan).

[Austin55]

That was where I was sourcing that number.

[Doohickie]

I feel with a protected bike lane/cycletrack 8th could become a nice corridor.

There's already one there... two blocks to the east. It's call Fairmount Avenue.  I've used it for years.

[John T Roberts]

Fairmount is an excellent bike route.  It is wider street due to the old streetcar line that ran down the middle of it.  It has been repaved in concrete and is in good condition.  Because of its location, you can connect to the streets that lead into downtown, or you can head to the far southern limits of the city.

[Austin55]

I see a trend here with more permits popping up on 8th. 

[rriojas71]

I see a trend here with more permits popping up on 8th. 

How can you tell where 8th is on the map?

[Dylan]

The cluster of vertical dots southwest of downtown appears to be along University Drive based on how they line up with the CTP/I-30 split.

[roverone]

I did not apply my finest map-overlay skills, but yes: I'd have to say that it is more likely University than 8th even though on first look, I would have thought it the permits were further east.

 

[RD Milhollin]

The Race Street cluster looks good too.

[Austin55]

Ooph I guess I need to go back to map reading school. My apologies for that, got confused.

[Austin55]

Looks like Near Southside has some plans for the street between Magnolia and Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

Consideration ofa resolution to approve TIF Development Agreement with Near Southside, Inc. for the design and engineering of safety and circulation improvements to 81 1, A venue between Magno I ia and Pennsylvania Avenues. (Michael Brennan, TIF Administrator)

 

D. Consideration of a resolution to approve a TIF Funding Agreement with the City of Fort Worth for the construction of safety and circulation improvements to 81 h A venue between Magnolia and Pennsylvania Avenues. (Michael Brennan, TIF Administrator)

[Austin55]

With Near Southside zoning being considered for Hemphill, I think it should be considered to 8th as well next, at least as far until the Berry Street Initiative area. 

[Urbndwlr]

With Near Southside zoning being considered for Hemphill, I think it should be considered to 8th as well next, at least as far until the Berry Street Initiative area. 

Good call.  There is a lot of potential along there.  

txbornviking had good idea for a cycletrack. 

Like University between Lancaster and White Settlement Rd it needs more good ways for people to get across going east/west. 

TCU should be more connected with Ryan Place - 8th Ave feels like a moat.  Or a wall.  You choose.

[Doohickie]

8th Ave feels like a moat.  Or a wall.  You choose.

I cross it all the time. Cantey, Park Place and Allen are all good crossing points. The reason there aren't more is the rail just west of 8th.

[Urbndwlr]

 

8th Ave feels like a moat.  Or a wall.  You choose.

I cross it all the time. Cantey, Park Place and Allen are all good crossing points. The reason there aren't more is the rail just west of 8th.

 

Good points - I was thinking of points in between - they seem far apart. 

[Austin55]

It was interesting watching the long-vacant home on 8th just south of Elizabeth getting transformed into a hair studio.

 

https://www.google.c...i8192?entry=ttu

 

Up the road a bit, the old Gunn's Cleaners building has been vacated and boarded up for at least a few months now. 

 

https://www.google.c...i8192?entry=ttu

[rriojas71]

8th Avenue needs a road diet south of Park Place.

[John T Roberts]

Urbndwlr, my standard crossing point on 8th Ave. is at W. Arlington/Windsor Place.  You forgot that the street also crosses the railroad tracks.

 

Austin, I have been watching both of those buildings that you have noted.

[TLA]

A road diet would be welcome. I hope to see Park Place / 8th become more residential. Particularly for senior housing, like Everly Place. The close proximity to healthcare as a plus. Tons of food options within a block. The buildings housing McFinns, Mexican Inn, and WineHaus seems historic.

If Cook Children’s sells or develops that large surface lot, a ton of space opens up.

I’ve been wondering what Gunn’s will become.

[John T Roberts]

The buildings you mentioned are over 50 years old and there could be another historic district over there.  The buildings on the west side of 8th Ave. are designated individually as Demolition Delay.  The Fairmount/Southside Local Historic District's boundaries are irregular on its commercial perimeter, but at Park Place, the western boundary is the alley between 8th & Hurley.  This leaves the Mexican Inn as the only undesignated building.  It is interesting to note that the rear Cook Children's Building is within the Fairmount District's boundaries.  The building was built in the 1960s, so it is also definitely old enough.  The building was originally a Buddies Super Market.  Buddies have a lot of history with Fort Worth.  If you are wondering what was on that site before the 1960s, the Parkway Theater terminated the axis with Park Place at that intersection. 

 

I'm also wondering what Gunn's will become.  If I was in charge, I would demolish it and build another residential project there. I would include ground floor retail.

[rriojas71]

Oh Wow... Buddies Supermarket.  I haven't heard that name in so long and totally forgot about that chain.  Were they only local to Fort Worth?

[TLA]

The buildings you mentioned are over 50 years old and there could be another historic district over there.  The buildings on the west side of 8th Ave. are designated individually as Demolition Delay.  The Fairmount/Southside Local Historic District's boundaries are irregular on its commercial perimeter, but at Park Place, the western boundary is the alley between 8th & Hurley.  This leaves the Mexican Inn as the only undesignated building.  It is interesting to note that the rear Cook Children's Building is within the Fairmount District's boundaries.  The building was built in the 1960s, so it is also definitely old enough.  The building was originally a Buddies Super Market.  Buddies have a lot of history with Fort Worth.  If you are wondering what was on that site before the 1960s, the Parkway Theater terminated the axis with Park Place at that intersection. 

 

I'm also wondering what Gunn's will become.  If I was in charge, I would demolish it and build another residential project there. I would include ground floor retail.

 

Oh wow. Thank you for the history. I have some reading to do. I found this Fort Worth Blog on Buddies with lots of historic photos (additional posts on other FTW stores). ** EDIT** Sad to see the owner of this site passed away... https://hometownbyha...ar.com/?p=36920

 

Re: Gunns... TAD still shows the old owner, but there was a recent Transwestern listing -- now pulled -- on LoopNet.

[Doohickie]

8th Avenue needs a road diet south of Park Place.

I would love it if they gave it a road diet all the way to I-20.  I rode that route during the pandemic, all the way from just north of I-20 to Fairmount, out in the traffic lane; it was wild.  I've ridden it a few times very late at night as well, when there was no traffic.

[John T Roberts]

Doohickie, are you referring to 8th Ave./Cleburne Rd./McCart connection to I-20, or 8th Ave./Cleburne Rd./Granbury Rd.?