Fort Worth schools have sold first excess properties. But what about Farrington Field?
Fort Worth school officials have sold four properties — including a landmark former department store and community center, but not the iconic Farrington Field — for nearly $13 million.
“This is the initial phase of the sale of outdated, inefficient facilities that no longer serve the needs of our children or educators,” Superintendent Kent P. Scribner said in a statement. “Their sale can and will support a brighter future for public education in Fort Worth.
“Our goal is to do the right thing for both our students and our taxpayers.”
The district announced this week the sale of these properties:
▪ The Fort Worth ISD Professional Development Center, a former Stripling & Cox department store, at 3150 McCart Avenue for $9 million. Employees and students will be move. The buyer is Strongside Financial Management LLC of Dallas, according to school district documents.
▪ Undeveloped land south of the Lowery Road Elementary School at 840 Cooks Lane for $750,000. The buyer is Brewer & Hale LLC of Euless.
▪ Three acres of surplus land at the northwest corner of Wichita Street and Interstate 20 for $1.7 million. The buyer is Bluewater R&D LLC of Cumming, Ga.
▪ And the Thomas Place Community Center, a school district property operated by the city of Fort Worth, at 4237 Lafayette Ave. It was not on the original list of surplus properties being put up for sale. The buyer is the city of Fort Worth and school officials say it will continue to be operated as a community center. The district will receive $1.4 million.
“Five years ago the District established a Long Range Facilities Master Plan,” Jacinto Ramos Jr., school board president, said in a statement. “The sale of these properties support our plan to both operate efficiently and support student outcomes through improved and equitable learning environments.”
Fort Worth school district officials last year announced a plan to sell underused school-owned properties — including the 80-year-old Farrington Field — and build a new administration building and potentially two football stadiums.
At the time, officials said the sale of all of the properties could generate at least $60 million and lead to the redevelopment and re-purposing of 18,500-seat Farrington Field, which is among the biggest high school stadiums in the state.
“Regarding Farrington Field we have not yet solicited any bids,” said Clint Bond, a spokesman for the school district. “It’s not quite ready to hit the market; that should come later this year.”
Details about the sale of other properties are still being considered, officials said.
The Fort Worth office of the Chicago-based JLL real estate company has been working on a strategic real estate plan for school district.
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
Here are the other properties the school district initially put on a list that could be up for sale:
▪ The school district’s main administration building, 100 N. University Dr.
▪ An administration warehouse, 2901 Shotts St.
▪ Administration security parking lot, 3000 Shotts St.
▪ Service center and maintenance building and service center parking lot, 2808 Tillar St.
▪ CIP and technology building, lot and maintenance additional office and lot, 2801 Cullen St.
▪ Metro Opportunity High School building, 2720 Cullen St.
▪ Service center food service facility, 509/601 E. Northside Dr.
▪ Service center facility, 1300 Rockwood Lane.
▪ Student placement center, 999 N. University Dr.
▪ Farrington Athletic Complex, 1501 S. University Dr.
▪ Billingsley Field House, 1400 Foch St.
▪ The vacant Magnolia Building, 1066 W. Magnolia Ave.
▪ Boulevard Heights Transition Center, including the original Arlington Heights High School building, 5100 El Campo Ave.
