Report to Members & Stakeholders

February 2000

Quorum Architects - The second architectural firm to relocate to the District in the last two years just moved into their newly renovated offices at 707 W. Vickery (corner of Hemphill and Vickery). Quorum took an old Southwestern Bell maintenance garage with its exposed steel roof trusses, large industrial looking windows and garage doors, and converted it to wonderful open space for their growing firm. The most interesting interior feature is a new steel wall that would fit comfortably in a modern art museum. Quorum has additional space in the building that they would like to rent - three suites each with about 3,500 square feet - call 737-5000.

Comprehensive Plan - The City Council will conduct a final public hearing on the new comprehensive plan at 7 pm, March 7. The document has received input from many community entities including Fort Worth South over many months. Once adopted by the Council, the plan will be used as a framework for initiating zoning changes that reflect the plan. Much of the Medical District is proposed as a mixed use growth center, which will permit a mixture of compatible uses on the same property, ie. residential above retail or commercial. Current zoning rules prevent this except under special authority. It's encouraging to see the emphasis placed on the central city redevelopment. District business owner Fran McCarthy of Daedalus Development chairs the Mayor’s Central City Redevelopment Committee, which has done much to advance this agenda.

Forest Park, 121& I-30 - The City Council agreed to take another look at the Forest Park connections to the proposed southwest tollway and I-30. The network of proposed connections is extraordinarily complex, and until recently eliminated eastbound access to I-30 at University and Forest Park except by using the frontage road to the on-ramp east of Summit Avenue.

James Guinn School property - The contract has been awarded to remodel the old school buildings at I-35 and W. Rosedale. $2.2 million will be spent to remodel the building along the frontage road for use by the Business Assistance Center, which would occupy the space in December 2000. An additional $1.3 million is dedicated to remodel the old gym and shop areas for use by Fort Worth Medical & Technology Business Incubator (MedTech Center). Occupancy is projected for June 2001. The MedTech Center is a private, non-profit initiative created in 1998 to encourage Fort Worth entrepreneural enterprises in the medical and technology sectors. The final building on the campus is the two-story structure facing Rosedale. Repairs will be made to its roof and windows, but interior renovation will wait until a tenant is found to lease the space.

Markeen Apartments - Eddie and Mark Vanston have received City approvals to proceed with the renovation of the historic fourteen-unit Markeen Apartments located on the corner of Daggett and St. Louis Streets. There is a 1909 photograph of this brand new apartment building with nothing else in sight. It was one of the first new structures to be built after the fire of 1909 that destroyed most of the near southside.

Kent's Nursing Center - Kent's, which is located east of Trimble Tech High School at 900 W. Leuda, just received the highest rating given any nursing home in Tarrant County by the Texas Department of Human Services. Congratulations to Cheryl Killian and her staff.

JPS Police - Last month's report detailed the extraordinary crime reduction in the District since 1993, and the good work of the FW Police Department. I was reminded that the Hospital District also has 36 commissioned police officers, seven commissioned communication officers, and seven public service officers who provide security and public safety services on the JPS campus and at other Tarrant County Hospital District locations.

Tower Medic Prescription Shoppe - Melvin Musgrove has moved his business to the southeast corner of Hemphill and Magnolia because the widening of Rosedale will consume the available parking at his old location at Eighth and Rosedale. Other business owners along Rosedale are also exploring relocation options as road construction is to begin in less than 12 months.

Moving House - Mickey and Pat Bradley’s house will be rolling down Eighth Avenue shortly after lunch on Monday, March 6. It is moving from the corner of Pruitt and Seventh (south of Thistle Hill) to its new home on a vacant lot at the corner of Arlington and 6^th Avenue in the Fairmount Neighborhood. Cook Children’s donated the structure and the Bradley’s had the vision.

Lawn Sprinkler - It's a first in my memory. A new lawn sprinkler system has just been installed as part of the remodeling of a small apartment building at 1201 S. Lake Street. There is a growing optimism about the revitalization of the District, and a more frequently displayed pride in the appearance of properties.

JPS - The brick office building at the corner of Rosedale and Jennings, which houses the Hospital District’s accounting and legal departments, received a coat of paint last month. The paint was apparently necessary to seal porous walls. It looks much better now than with just the white primer coat that attracted so much attention.

Volunteer Center of Tarrant County - Ann Davis, executive director, has moved the Volunteer Center of Tarrant County to new offices at 805 W. Magnolia. The Center serves as a recruitment and referral resource for individuals and groups in the non-profit sector. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Fun - If you like swing dancing, the sound of a big band, and old fashion neighborhood charm, try Preservation Hall (the old Central Methodist Church) at 1517 Lipscomb on Friday, March 3, from 8 pm to midnight; $7.50 donation to non-profit Preservation Hall, Buddy's Big Band, BYOB, soft drinks available, enter parking lot from Maddox Street.

Membership - There are currently 171 members of Fort Worth South with the recent addition of:

We're beginning a campaign to increase membership by 100 during the calendar year, and to encourage exisiting members to upgrade their membership.