Fort Worth Gaining on Dallas...Really???

[vman]

Fort Worth Gaining On Dallas In Economic Growth

Tracy Rowlett
Reporting

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS Move over Dallas -- there's a new sheriff coming to North Texas.

Fort Worth is on the move, driven by the economic engine known as the Barnett Shale, and Fort Worth is no longer just "Cowtown."

For as long as most folks can remember, Fort Worth has been known as “Where the West Begins.” Many from Fort Worth like to add that Dallas is where the East peters out.

A World War II vintage film depicts Fort Worth and its biggest booster -- Star-Telegram publisher Amon Carter -- touting the virtues of his city. Carter said of Fort Worth that, "its geographical and strategic location, ideal climate and transportation facilities make it a perfect setup."

Amon Carter didn't care much for Dallas. He editorialized in his newspaper against people in Fort Worth shopping in Dallas. Legend has it, when he was forced to travel to Dallas, he would take a sack lunch with him so he wouldn’t spend a dime there.

Whether it was for corporations relocating their headquarters, baseball teams, government grants or municipal airports, Dallas and Fort Worth competed fiercely against one another for years.

Before the two joined forces to build the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Fort Worth built Carter Field to compete with Dallas Love Field. Billboards urged passengers in both Fort Worth and Dallas to “Fly Carter. It’s smarter.”

Even to this day, it sticks in the craw of long time Fort Worth residents when folks outside the area refer to North Texas as the Dallas area.

That's about to change.

Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief will tell you that "any city would give their eye teeth to be where Fort Worth finds itself right now."

That's because Fort Worth lies on top of a large portion of the Barnett Shale -- the country's biggest gas field: 30-trillion cubic feet of natural gas trapped 6,500 feet beneath the surface of more than a dozen North Texas counties.

If you were to draw a line extending the Appalachian Mountain Range through Texas, the Barnett Shale gas field would lie just to the west of that line in North Texas.

That line also cuts right between Dallas and Tarrant Counties. Only a slice of northwest Dallas County appears to have gas underneath it.

Moncrief attributes it to providence. "I think the Good Lord is the one who decided where the Barnett Shale started and stopped," he said.

Because most of it stops just shy of Dallas, Moncrief made the following observation when he attended meetings of the D-FW Airport Board: "I look at that logo on the wall, DFW, and I wonder just how long it's going to be before it is FWD. And that will happen. Maybe not during my tenure as mayor, but I don't think it will be long thereafter."

The Barnett Shale has made Fort Worth the fastest growing urban center in the country. As of this month, the city has realized almost $19 million from royalties on 27 city-owned leases. That's just the beginning.

Now the debate is focused on what to do with all that money.

Moncrief is cautious. "We don't want to count our chickens before they hatch. We don't want to count those dollars before they're in the bank," he said. "There are going to be times in Fort Worth that aren't as good as they are right now. And when that time comes, that council, that mayor, that staff is going to be faced with a challenge."

To deal with that challenge, Fort Worth has named a committee to invest the revenues in an endowment for the city. Moncrief wants it to be politically tamper proof so future councils can't get to the principle.

But just because Fort Worth is prospering, don't count Dallas completely out.

Despite census data supporting Fort Worth's phenomenal growth, some doubt Fort Worth will ever eclipse Big D.

Trevor Rees-Jones should know. Rees-Jones was the Chief Operating Officer for Chief Oil and Gas, which is one of the large operators in the Shale.

Rees-Jones says there are other ways Dallas will benefit from the Shale. Many Dallasites who own land and mineral rights are already collecting sizeable royalties. The City of Dallas will get half of the royalties from the wells being drilled beneath DFW Airport. Countless others in Dallas will benefit indirectly.

But there's also a downside to the drilling. It’s the inconvenience and disruption of the landscape. Moncrief said, "The rigs are located next to our neighborhoods. They're located next to our parks, our airports, our golf courses."

In Texas, mineral rights supersede surface rights, which means that those who own the minerals can legally have access to drill.

Even though it’s a relatively short period when drilling platforms are erected and drilling begins, it does create a disruption.

Noisy transfer stations, which are erected to deliver the gas to the pipelines, have also been the source of noise pollution.

Rees-Jones says, "It clearly is incumbent upon the oil and gas operators working in the area to work with the neighborhoods in their activities."

It's what some call progress. There is no question the landscape in North Texas will be changed forever by the Barnett Shale. And not everyone will be happy.

While Dallas will see some of the revenue, Fort Worth and other cities west of Dallas will prosper. That could give Fort Worth a much larger voice, making it the most important city in Texas.

As Rees-Jones points out, "You're talking about around 2,000 wells just being drilled just in the next 12 months."

Those wells with inject billions of dollars into the Fort Worth economy. The City of Fort Worth is already looking to stretch its boundaries, encircling other communities as it grows.

The Barnett Shale could produce gas for many years to come. Add that to Fort Worth's better planning, and you have a city that's not only on the move, but clearly has struggling Dallas in its sights.

I think Amon Carter and Mike Moncrief would tell you it's been a long time coming.

I'm Tracy Rowlett and that's my perspective.

(CBS 11 News)

[vman]

I've always felt the "rivalry" between Fort Worth and Dallas was more of a FW mindset. Driving around the two cities, one can easily see, from a business point of view, the two ciities are in total different leauges. I don't thihk Dallas has seen FW as a business rival for a long time.

Dallas is putting up office towers, FW is putting up gas rigs ( a big one right outside of DTFW). I don't see much comparison there.

[msutton]

Is that article for real? What idiots... If Ft. Worth ever beecomes a more successful city than Dallas, it certainly will not be because of natural gas.

If this helps FTW to finally get a decent mass transit infastructure going, though, all the better for everyone in the region.

[BigD5349]

Didn't I read somewhere that Tarrant County is projected to be larger than Dallas County by 2030?

[vman]

Is that article for real? What idiots... If Ft. Worth ever beecomes a more successful city than Dallas, it certainly will not be because of natural gas.

If this helps FTW to finally get a decent mass transit infastructure going, though, all the better for everyone in the region.
I love the quote "but clearly has struggling Dallas in its sights." Face it, I lived in FW and quickly noticed it has a small corporate presence for a city its size and businesses in the city leaned much more toward industrial than "big business". Radioshack, Pier One, and Bombay Co., some of the city's more well known corps..are all seriously struggling. Bombay and RS may not even be around much longer and D.R. Horton is feeling the housing downturn big time. Dallas is seeing it's biggest building boom in years, and the city is still attracting corporate relocations.. I never knew we were "struggling". The two cities move in totally different directions business-wise and they are hardly comparable. Tracy Rowlett still thinks it's 1942.

[St-T]

Please, Tarrant County is a suburb of Dallas. Whatever, Ft Worthless...

How exactly is Dallas struggling?

[elmstreetdallas]

Is Tracy Rowlett a moron, or just senile? Dallas is struggling? Has he been to Dallas lately? Has he seen the dozens and dozens of cranes dotting the skyline?

I find that article despicable. And it's this kind of out-and-out campaign of misinformation directed at the city of Dallas that makes SO many Dallasites despise Fort Worth and its sycophant boosters.

[St-T]

Because most of it stops just shy of Dallas, Moncrief made the following observation when he attended meetings of the D-FW Airport Board: "I look at that logo on the wall, DFW, and I wonder just how long it's going to be before it is FWD. And that will happen. Maybe not during my tenure as mayor, but I don't think it will be long thereafter."

Dallas should stop all cooperation with Ft Worth and do an all-out blitz to recruit corp HQ in FW to Dallas along w/ zero cooperation w/ anything other than the airport and regional transportation.

[elmstreetdallas]

I agree 100% St-T.

Mayor Moncrief is the new Amon Carter. And this is definitely not a friendly rivalry.

[AeroD]

Is Tracy Rowlett a moron, or just senile? Dallas is struggling? Has he been to Dallas lately? Has he seen the dozens and dozens of cranes dotting the skyline?

I find that article despicable. And it's this kind of out-and-out campaign of misinformation directed at the city of Dallas that makes SO many Dallasites despise Fort Worth and its sycophant boosters.

He is a bitter man since he was canned from WFAA. He wishes he could do his news from Victory...instead its from some bland place on I-30.

[vman]

ofSO many Dallasites despise Fort Worth and its sycophant boosters.

Let me say I like Fort Worth alot, although I hated living there. My observations on how Dallas folks feel about FW is that most Dallasites don't hate FW...they rarely even acknowledge its existence. I was shocked at how many people from Dallas have never been to FW, and how little Dallas folk know about what's going on in Cowtown. However, I've always said Fort Worth is obsessed with Dallas and this non-existing rivalry. When I lived in FW, it was Dallas this and Dallas that. It simply hasn't been the other way around since I've been living in Dallas. Did Dallas burn FW so badly that the city has just never gotten over it? I"m sure there's some attributes between the cities where the two can muster up some sort of rivalry, but in terms of big business the rivalry is long over...and Dallas won.

[Haretip]

They used to say the same thing about the Jefferson-Dallas rivalry. Jefferson was the capitol of commerce and trade.

[texastrill]

Thats a funny report.

[Spjz]

Say what you will about Fort Worth, it has far fewer assholes than Dallas ever will.

[texastrill]

Say what you will about Fort Worth, it has far fewer assholes than Dallas ever will.
Funny also.With a lot more truth.

[TexasStar]

Say what you will about Fort Worth, it has far fewer assholes than Dallas ever will.

... to be expected. It is half our size.

[mikedsjr]

Keep it up Moncrief! GO FORT WORTH!

[Spjz]

... to be expected. It is half our size.

...from a proportion standpoint as well.

[vman]

There's a radio show talking about this now. They're saying Fort Worth foks are hillbillies and they'll become rich and live like the Clampetts on the Beverly Hillbillies. Hiliarious.

It seems the only people taking this seriously are a few doey eyed folks from FW...and of course Mr. Rowlett.

[MarkL2023]

Yea I fail to see how some gas will turn FW into Dallas. Houston has had oil for a century and we are bigger, growing faster, etc. O well, wishful thinking I spose. I personally would like to see the cities cooperate so that development might happen between the cities. Imagine if 30 looked like the tollway.

[Lakewooder]

Look what oil has done for Odessa - it still ain't Midland. Same with Longview - it will never be Tyler.

[trolleygirl]

Typical sibling rivalry. Dallas is the older, smarter, prettier, witter and classier older sister. Fort Worth is the gawky, free-spirited, less cautious baby brother who is always trying to catch up but instead keeps stepping in that big puddle of mud and playing in it.

FWTW, I did go see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Bass on Sunday. It was a good show and the Bass is really nice (though it's a far, far cry from the Mort Meyerson....more like a dressier, retro version of SMU's McFarland). My date to the show is a Fort Worth native and all she talks about when I'm in Fort Worth is how great Fort Worth is and how awesome the downton area is and how they are building all these new condos and it's THE hot place to live (snore...). So, we're dressed up in summer outfits and we're standing in the elevator with all these hayseeds in Wranglers and white felt (it's summer!) stetsons. All I could think of was, "Only in Fort Worth." See, it doesn't matter how wealthy from gas Fort Worth stands to become someday, money can't buy style or taste. And that's the difference in Dallas. Even the poor people in this town know how to look good. Keep Dallas pretentious!

[AeroD]

Look what oil has done for Odessa - it still ain't Midland. Same with Longview - it will never be Tyler.

Look what oil has done for Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria.....

[texastrill]

Typical sibling rivalry. Dallas is the older, smarter, prettier, witter and classier older sister. Fort Worth is the gawky, free-spirited, less cautious baby brother who is always trying to catch up but instead keeps stepping in that big puddle of mud and playing in it.

FWTW, I did go see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Bass on Sunday. It was a good show and the Bass is really nice (though it's a far, far cry from the Mort Meyerson....more like a dressier, retro version of SMU's McFarland). My date to the show is a Fort Worth native and all she talks about when I'm in Fort Worth is how great Fort Worth is and how awesome the downton area is and how they are building all these new condos and it's THE hot place to live (snore...). So, we're dressed up in summer outfits and we're standing in the elevator with all these hayseeds in Wranglers and white felt (it's summer!) stetsons. All I could think of was, "Only in Fort Worth." See, it doesn't matter how wealthy from gas Fort Worth stands to become someday, money can't buy style or taste. And that's the difference in Dallas. Even the poor people in this town know how to look good. Keep Dallas pretentious!
So your saying Dickies and houseshoes dont cut it in your town?

[Lakewooder]

Bass Hall was perfect for Hal Holbrook's one man show about Mark Twain I saw a couple of years ago. The interior kind of looks like a kitschy Riverboat -- I was looking for Marlene Dietrich and some saloon dancers to follow...

[tamtagon]

If they're smart, they'll spend all that Barnett Shale gas money an a light rail hook-up with DART. The easier it is to get to Fort Worth, the more people will go, because it is a very nice change from Dallas.

[jefffwd]

If you had seen the story it was an editorial peice called Tracy Rowlett Perspective. It is stupid to get so worked up over an opinion.

I work in Dallas and live in NE Fort Worth... and I have family and friends in both places. There are good and bad things about both cities. I don't really understand the need for the rivalry.

I don't think Fort Worth wants to be Dallas. Sure there are a lot of cranes in Dallas but there are quite a few in FW too.

So, you've got the W... we have a Motel 6
You have Northpark... we have a new Super Wal*Mart
You have the Nasher... we have the world's second longest burning light bulb.

However, at the end of the day we still get to marry our cousins. :Banana09:

[AeroD]

If they're smart, they'll spend all that Barnett Shale gas money an a light rail hook-up with DART. The easier it is to get to Fort Worth, the more people will go, because it is a very nice change from Dallas.

But if that is going to happen, Dallas will need to open up an Embassy in Fort Worth, publish an English-to-Fort Words Dictionary, issue passports for Dallasites, and ensure that all Dallasites have received proper immunizations prior to departing to Ft. Worth.

[tamtagon]

Didn't I read somewhere that Tarrant County is projected to be larger than Dallas County by 2030?

I remember that one. Someone at the S-T took the growth rate from the last 3-4 years, and calculated what the Tarrant population would be if population grew that fast until 2030, which will not happen. Hey, guess what, at the rate Frisco has grown so far this decade, it will be bigger than New York City by the year 2030. haha The saddest thing about it is that while these folks are saying how great it is because Fort Worth and Tarrant County are growing fast , they kinda seem to forget that a big part of it is because Dallas is getting full, and Fort Worth is so close. Whatever, it's funny.

[tamtagon]

If you had seen the story it was an editorial peice called Tracy Rowlett Perspective. It is stupid to get so worked up over an opinion.


It is kinda stupid, but there's really nothing that can be done to stop if from happening. No where but Texas.

[Haretip]

Typical sibling rivalry. Dallas is the older, smarter, prettier, witter and classier older sister. Fort Worth is the gawky, free-spirited, less cautious baby brother who is always trying to catch up but instead keeps stepping in that big puddle of mud and playing in it.

FWTW, I did go see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Bass on Sunday. It was a good show and the Bass is really nice (though it's a far, far cry from the Mort Meyerson....more like a dressier, retro version of SMU's McFarland). My date to the show is a Fort Worth native and all she talks about when I'm in Fort Worth is how great Fort Worth is and how awesome the downton area is and how they are building all these new condos and it's THE hot place to live (snore...). So, we're dressed up in summer outfits and we're standing in the elevator with all these hayseeds in Wranglers and white felt (it's summer!) stetsons. All I could think of was, "Only in Fort Worth." See, it doesn't matter how wealthy from gas Fort Worth stands to become someday, money can't buy style or taste. And that's the difference in Dallas. Even the poor people in this town know how to look good. Keep Dallas pretentious!


Ouch. I am having trouble reading the directions on the fajita rita invitation, or at least the part where it says head east on I-30. ;-)

[PuddinHead]

Ah, Ft Worth the town that truly embraces its inner REDNECK!

[jefffwd]

Typical sibling rivalry. Dallas is the older, smarter, prettier, witter and classier older sister. Fort Worth is the gawky, free-spirited, less cautious baby brother who is always trying to catch up but instead keeps stepping in that big puddle of mud and playing in it.

FWTW, I did go see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Bass on Sunday. It was a good show and the Bass is really nice (though it's a far, far cry from the Mort Meyerson....more like a dressier, retro version of SMU's McFarland). My date to the show is a Fort Worth native and all she talks about when I'm in Fort Worth is how great Fort Worth is and how awesome the downton area is and how they are building all these new condos and it's THE hot place to live (snore...). So, we're dressed up in summer outfits and we're standing in the elevator with all these hayseeds in Wranglers and white felt (it's summer!) stetsons. All I could think of was, "Only in Fort Worth." See, it doesn't matter how wealthy from gas Fort Worth stands to become someday, money can't buy style or taste. And that's the difference in Dallas. Even the poor people in this town know how to look good. Keep Dallas pretentious!

So your summer overalls, buzz cut hair (I'm just guessing) and workboots make you better than the hayseeds as you so eloquently put it. :D

[trolleygirl]

So your summer overalls, buzz cut hair (I'm just guessing) and workboots make you better than the hayseeds as you so eloquently put it. :D

Why don't you ask Haretip. And actually it's a mohawk, and a cute pair of black wedge sliders to go aloing with my 3/4 length caprice pants and black cam with a white Tommy Bahama 3/4 length shirt, black pearl nekalce and matching bracelet. Very stunning.

Hey Harertip, it's Tuesday. Isn't that the night you and my ex usually go out on the town???? Hehehe... In Fort Worth? That I NEVER get invited to??? What do you wear?

[trolleygirl]

Ouch. I am having trouble reading the directions on the fajita rita invitation, or at least the part where it says head east on I-30. ;-)

That's just fine! You already told that you weren't bringing my beer du jour, so you can just stay in Fort Worth for all I care! Besides, I don't think they sell Stella Artois in Fort Worth.

[mikedsjr]

I think we should call this forum the Dallas forum because Fort Worth is not allowed rights in here.

Where is Ctroy to turn this place to what people want it to be. A Dallas lovefest.

[elmstreetdallas]

This isn't about giving Fort Worth "credit for trying to do many things right."

It's about two comments, both made by public figures that are incredibly antagonistic toward Dallas:

"...Moncrief made the following observation when he attended meetings of the D-FW Airport Board: "I look at that logo on the wall, DFW, and I wonder just how long it's going to be before it is FWD. And that will happen. Maybe not during my tenure as mayor, but I don't think it will be long thereafter."

And...

"...Add that to Fort Worth's better planning, and you have a city that's not only on the move, but clearly has struggling Dallas in its sights."

[frankchitown]

A pro-Fort Worth article is to be condemned. Maybe a pro-dallas Tracy Rowlett is trying to create a bash Fort Worth atmosphere.

C'mon...you know perfectly well that if this was simply a pro Ft. Worth article people wouldn't be angry with it. Its the unwarranted jabs at Dallas through the entire piece that sets us off. Personally, it doesn't make me angry with Ft. Worth, it just makes me think Tracy Rowlett is an idiot.

[mikedsjr]

I just erased everything I wrote in this box because I don't want to turn this into what I am making this.

[dallasrookie]

Originally Posted by Spjz
Say what you will about Fort Worth, it has far fewer assholes than Dallas ever will.
... to be expected. It is half our size.

LMAO, now that is funny :2lol:

[rantanamo]

Here's an idea, Why don't Fort Worth people, who are closer to Fort Worth actually post on some Fort Worth issues and development. People give FW plenty of props here, but I have to agree those comments are ridiculous.

as for the FWD thing, its always been stupid to me. Call it FWD if you like. Same place, same stats, same facts. Its old. We should be concentrating all firepower on Houston or San Antonio.

[mikedsjr]

C'mon...you know perfectly well that if this was simply a pro Ft. Worth article people wouldn't be angry with it. Its the unwarranted jabs at Dallas through the entire piece that sets us off. Personally, it doesn't make me angry with Ft. Worth, it just makes me think Tracy Rowlett is an idiot.

If a pro-dallas article comes out to entice Fort Worthians to be angry, do you think you would be agreeing with the whole article? Would you point out all the faults to the article?

[mikedsjr]

rantan, that is true, except I don't think dallas or fort worth should be pointing guns at other cities. They should just do what is best for their own cities and not worry about other big cities.

[frankchitown]

If a pro-dallas article comes out to entice Fort Worthians to be angry, do you think you would be agreeing with the whole article? Would you point out all the faults to the article?

If the article also bashed Ft. Worth I would expect it to anger Ft. Worthians, and I'd be angry at the reporter for showing such classless journalism, making Dallas look bad. Hopefully, a pro-Dallas article could be written without the need to insult another city. If that one made Ft. Worthians angry then I'd have no sympathy, as there's no reason to apologize for success.

[mikedsjr]

frank, fair enough. I think I had a "Wow! I can't believe there doing that" feeling when I watched it, then I thought, "I know what is going to happen in the forum". I knew I shouldn't have opened the thread, but I did. I guess my venting is more my fault than what has been said by others. I knew what to do and I didn't do it.

[Haretip]

Hey Harertip, it's Tuesday. Isn't that the night you and my ex usually go out on the town???? Hehehe... In Fort Worth? That I NEVER get invited to??? What do you wear?

Actually, it's Wednesday nights when they have two dollar forties at the convenience store and spaghetti at the Presbyterian night shelter. IMO, you're always welcome. Maybe we never specifically asked because you are always doing your high-fallutin' Dallas wing-dings, although I am sure you knew the welcome mat is on the porch.

Are you wearing the mohawk again? That really sets off your eyebrow piercing and nose rings.

[kozzy]

Ft Worth is bound to have a population boom with Dallas tearing down all of their ghetto apartments to make way for fancy mixed use developments. :beat:

[TowerGuy]

Because most of it stops just shy of Dallas, Moncrief made the following observation when he attended meetings of the D-FW Airport Board: "I look at that logo on the wall, DFW, and I wonder just how long it's going to be before it is FWD. And that will happen. Maybe not during my tenure as mayor, but I don't think it will be long thereafter."

Dallas should stop all cooperation with Ft Worth and do an all-out blitz to recruit corp HQ in FW to Dallas along w/ zero cooperation w/ anything other than the airport and regional transportation.

I KNOW HUH! Ummmm also, as history recalls, Dallas had to drag Fort Worth by it's testicles to get them to cooperate to build DFW International! Fast forward 30 years at the success the airport is and now Fort Worthless is ready to lay all kinds of claim to it. I know some Fort Worth peeps were mad at what Hollywood called the airport in the movie "Red Eye" (LOL)...Dallas International Airport..and rightly so if you ask me! Yeah, I really think we can retire this thread because it is not even worth saying much more. Most of this is just shock at the sheer ignorance and stupidity AND DESPERATION of that article.
P.S. For the record, both Radio Shack and Pier One (FW's claim to big business) are in imminent danger of going under!!

[Haretip]

I KNOW HUH! Ummmm also, as history recalls, Dallas had to drag Fort Worth by it's testicles to get them to cooperate to build DFW International! Fast forward 30 years at the success the airport is and now Fort Worthless is ready to lay all kinds of claim to it.

As I recall, the feds made the two cities cooperate. I don't remember either city dragging the other, but you're welcome to cite a source.

[cowboyeagle05]

Say what you will about Fort Worth, it has far fewer assholes than Dallas ever will.

By the article they are drilling new ones though ;)