The Star-Telegram will move into new offices in the Commerce Building at Seventh and Throckmorton streets in downtown Fort Worth by October.
Newspaper executives said Friday that the company has leased 64,328 square feet of space in the 19-story, multi-tenant office building at 307 W. Seventh St. They also announced completion of the sale of the newspaper's longtime offices at 400 W. Seventh St. to MorningStar Capital, which is headed by Bob Simpson, co-founder and former chairman of Fort Worth-based XTO Energy, an oil and natural gas company sold to Exxon Mobil Corp. in June.About two years ago, the Star-Telegram offices were put on the market and executives began looking for new quarters in Tarrant County. The sale contract was announced in February."We looked at several places outside of downtown early in the process," but a year ago settled on staying downtown because it is "essential to our news coverage and business," said Gary Wortel, Star-Telegram president and publisher.The Commerce Building "suits our current and future needs," he said.The newspaper, owned by The McClatchy Co., has about 300 employees downtown.The building will be renamed the Star-Telegram Building, with signage on Seventh Street and also on Throckmorton Street. The newspaper becomes the largest tenant in the Oil & Gas/Commerce Building, which is home to more than 80 tenants. The Star-Telegram is leasing a portion of the street level, a mezzanine, and floors four through six, Wortel said.Star-Telegram customers will enter from Throckmorton Street. The street-level space will house human resources and the editorial board offices. The newspaper's executive, administration and finance departments will be on the mezzanine.The newsroom will be on the fourth floor; advertising, marketing and online sales on the fifth floor; and information technology, ad operations, prepress and the photo studio will share the sixth floor.In 2007, RYLB FW Properties in New Jersey bought the 440,000-square-foot Oil &Gas/Commerce Building.The Commerce Building was the Fair Building when it was built in 1930 for the Fair Department Store. The store, which occupied the first six floors, closed in 1963. A year later, the building was sold to Service Life Insurance Co. and the Bank of Commerce, according to historical accounts.The Oil & Gas Building, at 309 W. Seventh St., is 16 stories and was built in 1954. The two buildings share a lobby and entrance on Seventh Street.Todd Burnette and Matt Montague with Jones Lang LaSalle represented the Star-Telegram in the sale and the lease. Darrah Smith with Darrah Smith Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
