If you want to tour the new Convention Center Parking Garage tonight, there’s still time to attend the tour and symposium. It’s no ordinary garage — the 11-story parking garage features Art Deco-influenced elements on the two main facades and an integrated, interactive public art installation titled “Parking in Color” by artist Christopher Janney was collaboratively designed with architect Brent Byers.
The ribbon-cutting ceremonysymposium begins at 4 p.m. at 1200 Houston St. Tickets are available at the door, including a few tickets that include dinner for $30. For just the symposium and a chance to tour the parking garage with the artist and architect, tix are $15. (Editor’s note: Ribbon-cutting is at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Sorry about the error.)
Thanks for the memo! West Bend, the project which aimed to transform the River Plaza office building on University across from University Park Village into a mixed-use center of retail, hotel, and office space, has been put on hold due to economic conditions, according to our spies. The project had broken ground last summer. It’s now expected that the soonest the project could be completed and open is Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. Temporary parking should be completed in March or April.
As a new morning breaks on Fort Worth, we in Fort Worth can claim yet another thing that Dallas doesn’t have. I know the list of awesomeness is a long one that includes — but is not limited to — more world-class art museums, a thriving downtown and a more awesome rodeo.
Even though this hotel isn’t publicly financed, it will enjoy $89 million in tax incentives over the next two decades. Do you look at this as an investment in the future of downtown or a big piece of corporate welfare? Although the potential for misuse of these type of incentives is great, I’m in favor of this one. Not only will the Omni help bring in more convention business, it will encourage more downtown growth toward Lancaster.
Jack is a 6 month old coonhound pup in need of a loving family and a place to call home. He’s neutered and ready to go to his new family today! Come and visit with Jack at:
Of all residential architectural styles, the poor postwar ranch house may be the most unloved. Perhaps it’s because so many of us grew up in these type houses. Maybe it’s because the ranch house of yesterday went on to devolve into the suburban tract home dreck that we see today. But at it its zenith from the end of World War II until the early 1970s, the ranch house was almost the architectural equivalent of jazz — a uniquely American work of art. This was particularly true in the hands of a master architect, like a Cliff May or a Joseph Eichler.
Of course, many less heralded local architects also created their own variations on this style across the country. In Fort Worth, one of those architects was John Wesley Jones. One excellent examples of Jones’ work is for sale right now at 2800 Colonial Parkway. [Read more]
Update on Crestview Doors, 12.23.08 — the Mid-Century Modern custom door manufacturer run by David and Christiane Erwin that I wrote about a few months back.
Yes, they are ceasing production of new doors. However, they are still doing business, but it a different way.
“We are scaling way back,” David said by email. “The downturn in the economy has forced us to, and in doing so we’ve taken a serious look at how our business affects the environment. Really, we hope every business is doing that right now.
“Our Doorlite Kits are a great example of how we are addressing the environment and the economy. They keep old doors out of the landfill, require less trees to make, require less fuel to ship, are easily repaired, and cost much less than a new door.”
In a post on their blog, Christiane explains the situation and lists some deeply discounted doors for anyone interested.
The historic building at 8th Avenue and Magnolia, known as the Brace Building, is scheduled to come down to make way for a single-story Comerica bank building. The Brace Building’s impending demise is an unfortunate example of what I believe is needless demolition.
I’ve heard before that the Brace Building is not savable, but then, the same thing was said about the east downtown Knights of Pythias Hall, another building “too far gone to save” which is scheduled for restoration and redevelopment into residential units. It is my belief that the building is in fact not too far gone to save - rather, its new owners do not want to make the effort. [Read more]
What’s going on with the TRV? The Tarrant Regional Water District, the Trinity River Vision Authority, the City of Fort Worth and Streams and Valleys Inc., have teamed up to create a 10-year plan known as the Neighborhood and Recreational Enhancement Program (NREP), and we will be presenting the details of this plan at three public meetings.
Meeting one: 6pm, Oct. 15 @ East Regional Library Meeting two: 6pm, Oct 21 @ FW Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce Meeting three: 6pm, Nov. 5 @ Botanic Garden
I came to the Pacific Northwest a day early to tour the Fort Worth Central City - Trinity River scale hydrology model before its dismantling at the conclusion of testing later this year.
(Note from Kevin: The Fort Worth Central City Hydrology Model is a 40:1 scale model of the Trinity River after reconfiguration by the Trinity River Vision, which allows water flow testing of the bypass channel, town lake, and other aspects of the design. It is in Richmond, BC near the Vancouver Airport. Joel’s tour guide is Ken Christison of Northwest Hydraulic Consultants. The video is in two parts and hosted by Vimeo.)
I don't want to give away all our secrets, but the West and Clear team uses just about every Google product available, including a few not even on that list.
If you want to tour the new Convention Center Parking Garage tonight, there’s still time to attend the tour and symposium. It’s no ordinary garage — the 11-story parking garage features Art Deco-influenced elements on the two main facades and an integrated, interactive public art installation titled “Parking in Color” by artist Christopher Janney was collaboratively designed with architect Brent Byers. 
As a new morning breaks on Fort Worth, we in Fort Worth can claim yet another thing that Dallas doesn’t have. I know the list of awesomeness is a long one that includes — but is not limited to — more world-class art museums, a thriving downtown and a more awesome rodeo.
Jack is a 6 month old coonhound pup in need of a loving family and a place to call home. He’s neutered and ready to go to his new family today! Come and visit with Jack at:
Of all residential architectural styles, the poor postwar ranch house may be the most unloved. Perhaps it’s because so many of us grew up in these type houses. Maybe it’s because the ranch house of yesterday went on to devolve into the suburban tract home dreck that we see today. But at it its zenith from the end of World War II until the early 1970s, the ranch house was almost the architectural equivalent of jazz — a uniquely American work of art. This was particularly true in the hands of a master architect, like a 
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