List of most endangered sites in Fort Worth gets longer
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
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FORT WORTH -- A nostalgic gathering spot in Marion Sansom Park and Farrington Field, where school athletic competitions have been held for 70 years, are among local sites being added to Historic Fort Worth's list of Most Endangered Places.
In all, six places are being added to the list, including several city properties such as Heritage Park, on the bluff overlooking the Trinity River, and the Will Rogers Auditorium, Coliseum and Pioneer Tower. All Fort Worth neighborhoods that are at least 50 years old were also cited.
"One of my biggest concerns is that we have so little [historic] designation on properties, especially city-owned property," said John Roberts, who served on the organization's committee that selected this year's inductees.
The older neighborhoods, meanwhile, "are under siege by encroaching development," with potentially historic houses being torn down to make room for so-called McMansions, according to Historic Fort Worth.
"The way that Fort Worth's historic houses and appealing, walkable, livable neighborhoods can be preserved is through zoning," the group says. "Creating historic districts protects a neighborhood's sense of place without affecting private property rights."
The city has 11 neighborhoods with historic-district zoning designations, including Fairmount, Elizabeth Boulevard, Carver Heights and Terrell Heights, said Larry Abrigg, the city's preservation officer. The city also conducts extensive reviews of older, potentially historic properties before alterations are made, he said.
"The city is definitely for historic preservation," Abrigg said.
The group will formally announce the list at noon today at the former Swift & Co. building in the Stockyards.
Historic Fort Worth began its endangered-properties list in 2004, adding to it in 2005 and 2007. Many listed properties remain endangered, the group says.
Historic Fort Worth compiles the list to raise awareness of properties that are not designated as historic and are threatened by deterioration, neglect, vandalism, encroaching development or lack of financial resources.
MOST ENDANGERED PLACES
New to list
Inspiration Point in Marion Sansom Park
2501 Roberts Cut-Off Road
Overlooking the Lake Worth dam, the Inspiration Point shelter was built during the 1930s as a New Deal relief project. Only the rock supports remain. The original timber roof and a later concrete tile roof were destroyed. The shelter and walkway below are part of the city's parks system.
Heritage Park
Downtown bluff
Heritage Park was built as a project of the Fort Worth Bicentennial Committee. The city's parks department closed the 112-acre site last summer and has no plans to reopen it.
Will Rogers complex
3301 W. Lancaster Ave.
Amon Carter Sr. promoted the construction of the buildings and grounds for the 1936 Texas Centennial. The $975,000 construction cost was paid with federal city relief funds. The classical revival and moderne styles of the building were designed by the architectural firm of Wyatt C. Hedrick. The Will Rogers complex has been home to the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show since 1944.
Farrington Field
1501 N. University Drive
Local architect Preston Geren designed the 20,000-seat public-school athletic stadium. The Works Progress Administration and the Fort Worth school district funded the $244,000 project in 1938-39. The stadium features bas-relief panels of athletes by local artist Evaline Sellors. The school district is considering spending nearly $750,000 on new seating, new turf, elevator access, press-box improvements and renovations to better comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Fort Worth Public Market Building
1400 Henderson St.
Oklahoma City developer John Harden built the hall in 1930 to provide space for local farmers and vendors. The now-altered interior space was originally all open with a skylight and mezzanines along the east and south walls. The market closed in 1941 but was later used by some businesses. It is vacant.
Forest Park Gates
2300 block of Park Place Avenue at Forest Park Boulevard
The city erected the identical stone towers to flank the entrance to Forest Park. They were designed by Fort Worth architect John Pollard and built by the Bryce Building Co. in 1917-18. The towers were restored in 1980 by the Berkeley Place Association.
Returning to the list
Fort Worth Power and Light Co./TXU Electric Power Plant, 100 to 300 blocks North Main Street
Texas & Pacific Warehouse, 300 block of West Lancaster Avenue
White (Berry) Theater, 3033 Hemphill St.
Ridglea Theater, 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Azle Theater, 2206 Azle Ave.
Source: Historic Fort Worth
New to list
Inspiration Point in Marion Sansom Park, 2501 Roberts Cut-Off Road
Heritage Park, downtown bluff
Will Rogers complex, 3301 W. Lancaster Ave.
Farrington Field, 1501 N. University Drive
Forest Park Gates, 2300 block of Park Place Avenue at Forest Park Boulevard
Fort Worth Public Market Building, 1400 Henderson St.
Source: Historic Fort Worth
sabaker@star-telegram.com
