17 replies to this topic

[John T Roberts]

There are many threads where this link could be placed.  So, I decided to start a new thread.  I saw this on Facebook, so this link is to a shared article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram by Luke Ranker.

 

https://digital.oliv...XC0NiBbm1ZMwsbw

[ramjet]

I would love to meet Luke Ranker, and Tim and Donna Young sometime.  They appear to be the Fort Worth-o-philes like me who see an incredible future for central Fort Worth.  They sound like so many Austinites here who, even if Kim Jong Un dropped a nuclear bomb on downtown (like he threatened one time), they'd still set up a food truck outside the entrance to ACL and tell everyone to move to Austin because it is so terrific.  Thanks, John, for posting this.  And thanks Luke, Tim, and Donna!

[John T Roberts]

I've known Tim and Donna Young for several years and there are at least 12 opportunities in a year to meet them.  They are the organizers of the Downtown Walking Tours held on the Second Saturday of every month at 9:00 AM.  We meet at the Texas & Pacific Lofts Resident's Lounge in the T&P Railway Terminal.  Every month, I am one of their tour guides.  Several other people on the Forum also know Tim and Donna.

 

I have visited with Luke Ranker on the phone and missed my opportunity to meet him.  I asked him to attend one of Historic Fort Worth's Public Affairs Committee Meetings and he accepted.  At the last minute, he called and had to cancel coming to visit with us.

[renamerusk]

This story makes be giddy.

 

It illustrates a sense for the gradual transformation of Downtown into a Residential/Hospitality/Tourism District and a prediction that with more residents and tourism infrastructure in place, the Class A Office Space will follow. A sentiment that I myself ascribed too in the past.

 

By the way, the second and smaller image illustrates why Lancaster Avenue is the superior option to "dash" between Downtown and Cultural District.  I hope that Lancaster Avenue might someday be renamed "Avenue Fort Worth".

[johnfwd]

Good to read an upbeat article about downtown Fort Worth's future and, most notably, published in the "Fort Worth" Star-Telegram.

[Dylan]

This story makes be giddy.

 

It illustrates a sense for the gradual transformation of Downtown into a Residential/Hospitality/Tourism District and a prediction that with more residents and tourism infrastructure in place, the Class A Office Space will follow. A sentiment that I myself ascribed too in the past.

 

By the way, the second and smaller image illustrates why Lancaster Avenue is the superior option to "dash" between Downtown and Cultural District.  I hope that Lancaster Avenue might someday be renamed "Avenue Fort Worth".

 

Having downtown serve as a hospitality/tourism district is a great thing. More residential is great, too. I just hope that there's still room for new office towers as more and more lots are being filled with residential towers.

 

Downtowns across America have traditionally been business districts rather than residential centers. And, DT Fort Worth has a vibrant entertainment district.

 

I suspect the reason for our lack of office development has to do with developers failing to recognize Fort Worth as a metro anchor, rather than our amount of residential or entertainment options.

[roverone]

I've been slow to post to post in this thread, because as anyone who reads my posts knows, I strongly feel like the purpose of a downtown is office / commercial.  Any hospitality / residential is in service of that -- business travel or people who want to live near to their work.

 

To me, the lack of office / commercial, is like a body without a skeleton in a downtown.

 

Most, not all, people in Texas choose to live in residential neighborhoods, and most, not all, tourist choose to go to places with natural wonders or major attractions.

 

I can't see our lack of class A office space filled with class A businesses as anything other than a failure.  A lack total of confidence in our city to support valuable commerce.

[renamerusk]

.... I just hope that there's still room for new office towers as more and more lots are being filled with residential towers......[Downtowns] traditionally been business districts rather than residential centers....I suspect the reason for our lack of office development has to do with developers failing to recognize Fort Worth as a metro anchor

 

It depends on how you describe tradition.  Before the post war era when suburban development, IH for automobiles emptied business districts, retail, hotels, markets, housing was the norm in downtown.  It is evident virtually everywhere that you go that companies are replacing human resources with machines. 

 

I am more skeptical of an office tower boom in Downtown Fort Worth but do believe and would be satisfied with a total of 4- 6 million sf of new state of the art office space is what we require.  And just to be shaming local developers, I call upon Sundance Square,LLC and Ross Perot, Jr., Alliance/Woodbine who are well aware of our needs.

 

As for the sites I think are perfect for new towers, I designate: 1. The Monnigs Block; 2. The Atmos Block; and, 3. The FUMC Block (7th/Macon/Cherry/5th)

[renamerusk]

Good to read an upbeat article about downtown Fort Worth's future....

 

  It also seems that the Youngs are living the near perfect lifestyle..I'm a bit jealous in a sweet way.

[johnfwd]

Over the past several years I've lived in an old residential neighborhood in an old post WWII house bought by my parents (long departed).  I have to put up with noisy neighbors, on occasion.  But I like the big front and back yards, the lawns, bushes, trees and flowers.  Downtown has its entertainment venues and its parks. That's good! But you visit the parks, you don't own the land. Those who like to live downtown are fine with me.  It's just not me.

[Doohickie]

Over the past several years I've lived in an old residential neighborhood in an old post WWII house bought by my parents (long departed).  I have to put up with noisy neighbors, on occasion.  But I like the big front and back yards, the lawns, bushes, trees and flowers.  Downtown has its entertainment venues and its parks. That's good! But you visit the parks, you don't own the land. Those who like to live downtown are fine with me.  It's just not me.

 

Similar situation here, although it's not the house I grew up in.  I'd be willing to try "city life" but we have 3 dogs and it would be tight in an apartment and I like having a yard for the dogs.  I'm not ready, at least not yet, to give up the suburban life.

[roverone]

Despite what I wrote above, I do have friends who live downtown and don't work downtown and they love it -- I think mostly because they are a lot of floors up -- that is something that downtown offers that is hard to come by anywhere else in the city.

 

Some of the aspects of living in the hub of activity seem like they could be satisfied by living at, say Clearfork -- you have restaurants and shops and a theater and the river trails nearby.  For people who like and can afford those kinds of things.

 

I guess with my first sentence of this post I'm giving a reason why the two taller new projects will be a draw for people -- you get to live up high.

[Doohickie]

Some of the aspects of living in the hub of activity seem like they could be satisfied by living at, say Clearfork -- you have restaurants and shops and a theater and the river trails nearby.  For people who like and can afford those kinds of things.

 

Yes, Clearfork, W7th, the Near Southside offer similar amenities with respect the restaurants and entertainment, but downtown puts you in the middle of the action for events like the Main Street Art Festival.  There are other events downtown as well that might be fun to explore and check out without having to worry about parking. 

To a lesser extent, W7th and the Near Southside also offer events including Fortressfest and Arts Goggle, but I think there's more of that kind of thing downtown.

 

Which brings up an interesting thought:  How long before Clearfork starts holding events in their area to rival those in W7th and the Near Southside? 

[JBB]

More residential is great, too. I just hope that there's still room for new office towers as more and more lots are being filled with residential towers.

There are 3 residential high rise projects that are past the approval phase, not a scoop of dirt has turned, and 1 of those projects (Worth) has shown strong signs of being on pretty shaky ground. With all of the vacant/underused/surface parking lots downtown, I think we're a long way from lack of space being a real concern.

[Austin55]

4 if you count the 10 floor Katy Lofts, not exactly in downtown but immediately adjacent.

[Dylan]

 

More residential is great, too. I just hope that there's still room for new office towers as more and more lots are being filled with residential towers.

There are 3 residential high rise projects that are past the approval phase, not a scoop of dirt has turned, and 1 of those projects (Worth) has shown strong signs of being on pretty shaky ground. With all of the vacant/underused/surface parking lots downtown, I think we're a long way from lack of space being a real concern.

 

 

If you consider all of downtown, then yes, there's plenty of space left.

 

But, space to build office towers is slowly disappearing in the heart of downtown (roughly between the courthouse and convention center).

[txbornviking]

4 if you count the 10 floor Katy Lofts, not exactly in downtown but immediately adjacent.

 

has a ground breaking date been set for the HousingSolutions/TrinityMetro Katy Lofts project

? I can't recall.

 

I've been watching the project across from it go vertical and have been curious.

[Austin55]

I haven't heard anything but that's an especially slow moving project with all the Civic entities involved.