Fort Worth downtown tour

Fort Worth downtown tour: well-mixed city with old and new

The downtown in Fort Worth. It is the city which old and new one live together. I think mixed very well between old buildings and new buildings. The downtown was not that big but, just big enough to have all functions as a metropolitan. And, while I looked around the city, I think there are many opportunities for adaptive reuse and redevelopment. Actually, I found some builds, which I want to buy and to make Asian style spa and hotel that are very popular in New York.

While I was touring around downtown in Forth Worth, I wonder whether the old buildings can revive or not with redevelopment. Could these build attract people? It's possible but, not that easy.

Back yard of Ashton Depot

The first building we visited is the Ashton Depot next UTA Fort Worth Center. It is beautiful building. It was built 1899. This building was used to Santa Fe Depot and Fort Worth Union Depot. Recently, one developer purchased it and converted to the place for meeting and banquet for the Ashton Hotel. Sometimes, wedding ceremonies were held here. And, the back yard of this building was being planted. I think it is good reuse for an abandoned building to revive this area.

Water Gardens

The essential part of the city for people is park. I really like Fort Worth Water Gardens because I feel this garden cools down the Texas's hot weather inside of downtown in Forth Worth. I heard several family members have died in accident in this park several years ago. The safety issue is very important for a developer to make parks.

Texas & Pacific Railway Terminal

Inside of Texas & Pacific Railway Terminal

                                                                            

The most impressive building is the Texas & Pacific Railway Terminal. It is really gorgeous. The lobby in the first floor looks like inside of French Palace. I can assume how Forth Worth had important position in Central and Western America.

I really want to see revived this building in the future. It can be most valuable office building with redevelopment. Actually, this building was about to convert the rail-themed hotel with 330 rooms. However, the project was scrapped. And, now, the project was preceded to convert this building to apartment. I think this building suit for hotel and office and some retail stores. This building should be redeveloped new building with Mixed used development.

The post office

What is the icon of the city of Fort Worth? I can answer that the icon is the post office. It looks like Greece temple. It is very fascinated building for developers because this building is old but beautiful, and still used as post office. This kind of classic building like art masterpiece makes Forth Worth more attractive to visitors.

Flatiron Buiding

a panther sculpture in Hyde Park

Seoul, which I had lived in South Korea, is very big city like New York. But, there are really a few buildings that are over 100 old because we destructed old building to build new one. But, it is not always right. Historical building in city is very important for the identity of the city. I think the Flatiron Building is one of those historical building that is very valuable. It was built in 1907. It was modeled after the Flatiron Building in New York (1902). This building was the First steel framed building in Fort Worth and the tallest commercial building in North Texas when it was built. It is converting to hotel from apartment. And, recently the former owner donated a panther sculpture that was placed in the adjacent Hyde Park. In last March, the Fort Worth police announced they use a panther sculpture in their batch.

 W.T Waggoner Building

When I see W.T Waggoner Building from far, I thought this building is twin tower. However, this is one building. This building was one of the tallest in Texas. This building is U-shaped on the upper floors. There is some space in the middle of the building. I think this space was helpful for air conditioning because there was no cooling system when it was built. Tallest building but no air conditioning, this is terrible condition for leaser.

I can conclude that Fort Worth is the Western city for cowboy, but modern city that have many opportunities for reuse and redevelopment.