DT Fort Worth: T&P Warehouse and Lancaster Ave. Redevelopment

[dfwcre8tive]

FW's Lancaster Ave. sees renaissance
10:47 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 17, 2007
By DARLA MILES / WFAA-TV
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa070717_lj_fortworth.865f6700.html

For years, most of the growth in downtown Fort Worth has been on the north end.

But now that growth is reaching to the south end and east of I-35.

This concentration of redevelopment is along Lancaster Avenue.

West Lancaster today is relatively quiet - there are no shops, no restaurants, there is only a subtle buzz from construction taking place along the street.

But in January, the street should look completely different - there will be ornate light poles that punctuate the refurbishment of the historic buildings along the street.

"If you look at those buildings, they are the 20's art deco. There's something so beautiful and long-lasting about the artistic design in those structures," said Wendy Davis, a Fort Worth City Councilwoman.

One structure in particular, is the old T&P warehouse that has been empty for years. But a developer got the green light on Tuesday to transform the historic building into high-end apartments or condos. This activity is helping a renaissance on East Lancaster. A $1.5 million project is also underway at Oakland and Lancaster - a new grocery store and there are talks of a Starbucks.

"I think when I-30 came in it really was a detriment to that corridor, and it has really suffered in recent years," said Mayor Pro-Term, Kathleen Hicks.

Marshall Grain Pet and Plant has been on Lancaster for 60 years and withstood the economic blight that has taken place in the area. Jim Connelley bought the business two years ago.

"A lot of people in Fort Worth perceive this as a high-crime area," he said.

That's because of the three homeless shelters on Lancasters. Connelley has even considered closing shop. But not yet, not with the new growth that's coming in.

"I think that's great. The more that's done, the better it will be," Connelley said.

[Chasqui]

I saw this story on the news last night - thanks for posting the transcript. They showed some of the renderings which included the narrower alignment for Lancaster with the sculpture. One of things they mentioned particularly caught my attention: that there are THREE homeless shelters in the area. I only know of two - the Day resource center and the Salvation Army. Does anybody know what the third is and if the development plans include any mention of the shelters?

[dfwcre8tive]

Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
Posted on Wed, Jul. 18, 2007
Breathing new life into a historic building
By ANTHONY SPANGLER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/172589.html

The dilapidated T&P Warehouse on the south edge of downtown Fort Worth will get as much as $9.1 million in tax money for renovations and construction of 260 apartments or condominiums under a deal reached with city officials.

The developer, Dallas-based Cleopatra Investments, plans to spend at least $35 million on the initial phase of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2012. A second phase, which would bring the project's overall cost to $75 million, might include retail space on the first floor and landscaping 5 acres of property behind the building.

"It is one of the two bookends to the old post office and key to revitalization of the Lancaster corridor," said City Council member Wendy Davis, who represents the downtown district. "It won't make any difference if we put in new light fixtures and a new street if we can't bring the building back to life."

The Fort Worth council was briefed on the deal Tuesday and is expected to vote formally to approve it in coming weeks. The project would be funded through a special taxing district that was created to spur development along Lancaster.

Historic preservation

It has taken city officials nearly four years to reach an agreement with Cleopatra President Ola Assem. The T&P Warehouse was most recently used as a haunted house and had been leased as a paintball arena but otherwise has been largely vacant since the 1970s.

Assem has been working for several years to develop a project for the building.

"It is hard to say what kind of impact it will have on the Lancaster corridor, but it is definitely positive progress," Assem said. "The land faces 742 feet of Lancaster. That would be a major property on any street. But it is a very important building as far as historic Fort Worth architecture."

The warehouse was built in 1931 along with the T&P depot and the old main post office. The site has a historic designation, so renovations will require approval from the Fort Worth Landmarks Commission and the Downtown Design Review Board; to keep tax credits, the plan must also face scrutiny from the federal park service and the Texas Historical Commission.

Attorneys are expected to finalize next week an agreement that would include clauses to preserve the historic facade of the T&P Warehouse and reduce or eliminate tax incentives should the developer convert the space into condominiums.

Condominiums are unlikely, however, because they would eliminate certain tax benefits available to historic buildings, said Jay Chapa, Fort Worth's deputy economic development director.

Lancaster progress

Council members were also briefed Tuesday on other Lancaster Avenue projects.

Assistant City Manager Dale Fisseler said traffic will be moved to the newly constructed lanes of Lancaster Avenue as early as next month. The street construction could be completed as early as October but most likely will not be finished until early 2008, he said.

And plans were unveiled for six 35-foot-high metal sculptures to be placed in the divided median of the new downtown stretch of Lancaster. The sculptures, which cost $220,000 each, will use metal plates that appear transparent at eye level and use reflected light to appear illuminated.

PHOTOS (http://www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/172590.html)

[Double Wide]

Went to my friends house warming in FW and drove down Lancaster and saw these HUGE sculptures of light. Got home to find out what it was and found this....

Lancaster Avenue of Light

http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2009/02/24/LightSculpture9_t450.jpg

http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2009/02/24/LightSculpture7_t450.jpg
Photo and article from From Pegasusnews

Fort Worth begins erecting “Avenue of Light” on the south side of downtown
BY LAURA SEEWOESTER

The installation of Fort Worth's "Avenue of Light" began Tuesday in the southern area of downtown. The installation, commissioned by Fort Worth Public Art, will consist of six stainless steel sculptures designed by artist Cliff Garten on Lancaster Avenue between Main Street and Lamar. The first two pieces were erected Tuesday. Two more will be installed next week and the final two the following week. The whole installation will be completed around mid-March, says Public Art Director Martha Peters. The city is hoping that the installation will help perpetuate growth along Lancaster and the southern area of downtown Fort Worth.

Each sculpture consists of 100 stainless steel plates, each slightly turned from the preceding plate, and welded together. The plates are designed to create a vanished edge depending on which angle the sculptures are viewed from. When viewed straight-on, each sculpture will seem translucent. The sculptures will have lights shooting up the center as well as lights outside of each sculpture to catch the edges of the metal. Garten's inspiration for the design comes from Fort Worth's Texas & Pacific Terminal on Lancaster. The base of each sculpture matches the design inside the building. Each plate also contains cutouts that match the T&P station design, making every plate different.

Read more here
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/feb/25/fort-worth-begins-erecting-avenue-light-south-side/


Re-direct this if there is a thread about this.
And what other cool stuff is planed for this part of Downtown Cowtown???

[jefffwd]

Wow! Those are spectacular... can't wait to see it finished!

[dfwcre8tive]

Those are huge! Very cool.

[jefffwd]

I just found out that these six sculptures change color. Pretty cool!

Here are a few more pics from last night...

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3600&pid=53717&st=0&#entry53717

[MDE]

Puts this table lamp to shame:

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/MLB1019855.jpg

[dfwcre8tive]

T&P Tavern has opened in the historic T&P Station. Currently they are using a restored art deco kiosk and have a covered patio. They are restoring the historic 1930s cafe space to open later. I can't wait to see what they do with the space!

http://fortworthology.com/2009/04/10/tp-tavern-and-grill

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=7397

[Fort Worthology]

On the sculptures,

I did the official photography for the sculptures' artist during the test lighting last week. Once he's picked the shots he wants, I'll try and share with everybody.

[dfwcre8tive]

The sculptures are now lit. Photos here: http://fortworthology.com/2009/06/26/scenes-from-the-avenue-of-light-ceremony/

[jefffwd]

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/aug/07/fort-worths-tp-warehouse-renovation-blend-resident/

:thumbsup:

[AeroD]

So no more haunted warehouse. Bummer.

[jefffwd]

So no more haunted warehouse. Bummer.

Or Paintball...

[dfwcre8tive]

Finally!

[jefffwd]

T&P warehouse redevelopment plans revealed
Posted Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Redevelopment of the historic Texas & Pacific warehouse on Lancaster Avenue in downtown Fort Worth will include a driveway through the center of the building, a boardwalk along storefronts on the north side of the building, and the restoration and addition of thousands of windows.

The work, a portion of what’s needed to convert the nearly 80-year-old building into 343 apartments, was revealed Thursday at the Downtown Design Review Board meeting. The board approved the developer’s request to change the building’s facade.

The approval is a key nod that pushes the long-awaited redevelopment closer to reality.

Read the full article here >>> Article (http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1740860.html)

[Fort Worthology]

1) Still skeptical that it'll actually happen, and

2) A fracking driveway through the middle of the building? Yeah, that's pleasant. How about a *pedestrian* path and use the existing car access on the east side for cars? Criminy.

[jsoto3]

Merged various threads regarding this building.

[MarkL2023]

2) A fracking driveway through the middle of the building? Yeah, that's pleasant. How about a *pedestrian* path and use the existing car access on the east side for cars? Criminy.


Its a heck of a lot more pleasant than an abandoned warehouse.

[RobertB]

Bashing holes through historic buildings is getting to be a habit (http://www.fwculture.com/montgomeryplaza.htm) in Ft Worth. But it sure beats the tar outta the alternative -- just tearing the suckers down like they do in Dallas. I'll take it.

[jefffwd]

Bashing holes through historic buildings is getting to be a habit (http://www.fwculture.com/montgomeryplaza.htm) in Ft Worth. But it sure beats the tar outta the alternative -- just tearing the suckers down like they do in Dallas. I'll take it.

I watched the Cowboy game last weekend from inside the Montgomery Plaza hole at Boomer Jack's (http://www.boomerjack.com/web/guest/3) ... cool patio, great bar and plenty of TVs... the place was packed! So was the new Pour House across the street.
:cheers:

That reminded me of their website... I know it was posted a long time ago but I thought someone might like to see it again... also, click on the roof deck link (under amenities) it is almost complete! http://www.montgomeryplaza.com/

[Fort Worthology]

Its a heck of a lot more pleasant than an abandoned warehouse.

If we're going to deface a historic building by cutting through it, why not make it a pedestrian path? There's already access to get behind the building for parking.

I hate this "beggars can't be choosers" attitude. This seems like an extremely unnecessary thing to do to the building - so what if it's better than it sitting abandoned? We are allowed to want higher standards from development, especially ones that involve huge historic structures.

[tamtagon]

This seems like an extremely unnecessary thing to do to the building

word

[el Zilcho]

I used to live down the street from an old warehouse turned condos with the center cut out. The project was actually very interesting. (I realize this is quite a different type of warehouse)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9123/apts1.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/apts1.jpg/)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2304/apts2.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/i/apts2.jpg/)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1694/apts3.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/i/apts3.jpg/)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3629/apts4.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/apts4.jpg/)