53 homes planned for east Fort Worth despite objections from commercial neighbors
The Fort Worth City Council cleared a path for the construction of 53 single-family homes in an area of east Fort Worth mostly zoned for commercial development.
The property at 1700 E and T Square Streets has been zoned for commercial use for 25 years, but owner Benedict Termini said its location has prevented him from attracting commercial tenants.
Still, the project faced opposition from some of Termini’s commercial neighbors who feared the addition of single- family homes in an area with heavy industry and truck traffic will cause problems.
Rey Oujesky, representing local business Black Wind Inc., said the area has a lot of truck traffic and businesses that generate a lot of noise that might be considered a nuisance to nearby homeowners.
He said the council often gives deference to homeowners when new businesses want to enter residential neighborhoods, and asked them to apply the same deference in this case where businesses were opposing new homeowners.
Still, District 5 council member and Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens said east Fort Worth needs more affordable housing. She said she’s familiar with the neighborhood, and said houses and businesses in the area could peacefully coexist.
District 4 council member Cary Moon, whose district also contains sections of east Fort Worth, said it’s been a struggle to attract residential development in the area.
Moon empathized with the business owners’ concerns, but echoed Bivens on the need for more housing.
Jerry Barton, who represented Termini in front of the city council, said the homes will be priced at $350,000 each. He said the development will generate an estimated $18.5 million in new tax revenue for the city.
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