June 7, 2023

Today’s Forecast

92º | Mostly sunny | 20% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:21 a.m. | Sunset 8:35 p.m.

🏗️ A new future for the arts

Fort Worth Community Arts Center is located between The Carter and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. | Photo by FTWtoday

What if the Fort Worth Community Arts Center became a world-class cultural hub? That’s what the 1300 Gendy Task Force thinks it can — and should — be, according to the final report presented at the City Council work session yesterday.

In case you missed it, the city-owned complex at 1300 Gendy Street is in need of $26 million in repairs. For the last four months, a task force met to garner feedback from the community about the future of the facility.

Using that feedback and a building condition assessment, the task force identified three possible strategies:

Restoration | Make necessary repairs and retain existing uses
Renovation | Make necessary repairs, renovate incrementally, and add complementary uses
Redevelopment | Reimagine the site as a world-class cultural hub

The task force recommended redevelopment to utilize the site as a cultural + economic resource and benefit local art organizations. Preserving the 69-year-old building’s historic and architectural significance, while important, did not outrank other criteria.

If the city follows the recommended strategy, it would issue a request for proposals (RFP) to developers and execute a long-term ground lease starting in 2024 or 2025.

The proposals would:

Incorporate the history and architecture of the existing facility
Create an incubator space for emerging artists and arts organizations
Include a theater (if economically feasible)
Cater to existing tenants (if economically feasible)

A five-person evaluation committee would then select a proposal based on its cultural, social, economic, financial, safety, preservation, and architectural qualities — as well as the developer’s experience and budget.

The task force outlined an aggressive timeline to move forward with the project, suggesting that City Council adopt the report by Tuesday, June 13, and issue the RFP by Wednesday, June 21.

If approved, the RFP deadline would be Thursday, Sept. 14 and the city would select the developer no later than Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Events

Wednesday, June 7

Lunchtime Music Series | Wednesday, June 7 | 12-1 p.m. | Burnett Park, 501 W. 7th St., Fort Worth | Free | Grab your lunch and enjoy the spring weather paired with your favorite local artists.

Thursday, June 8

TRWD Public Meeting | Thursday, June 8 | 6:30 p.m. | River Oaks Community Center, 5300 Blackstone Dr., River Oaks | Free | Share your thoughts on the Trinity River Water District’s upcoming Recreational Master Plan.

Friday, June 9

Camping 101 | Friday, June 9 | 9 a.m.-10 a.m. | Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd., Fort Worth | $5 | Learn how to make your next camping experience a breeze — refuge admission not included.

Saturday, June 10

Stockyards Championship Rodeo | Saturday, June 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Cowtown Coliseum, 121 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth | $15-$35 | Watch the wildest show in town as cowboys try to hang on for eight seconds.

Sunday, June 11

Matt Hillyer & Kayla Ray | Sunday, June 11 | 6-8 p.m. | The Post at River East, 2925 Race St., Fort Worth | $20-$80 | Kick back with a beer for a special song swap by local performers.

Events calendar here

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Finance

🪺 How’s your nest egg doing?

Don’t make these seven mistakes when hiring a financial advisor. | Photo by SmartAsset

Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor.

But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Check out these seven secrets comfortable retirees know about hiring one, so you can optimize your savings and get back to the balance that matters most — explore, relax, or both?*

See all 7 secrets

News Notes

Coming Soon

Step aside, Egg McMuffin, there’s a new breakfast sandwich in town. Effin Egg is expected to open in the next two weeks on Magnolia Avenue. Stop by the fast-casual breakfast eatery for an OG egg sandwich with applewood bacon on a brioche bun or a stack of rainbow pancakes.

Travel

Last week, American Airlines launched two new international services from DFW Airport. The Fort Worth-based airline now offers non-stop flights to Rome (~10.5 hours) and Paris (~9.5 hours). The new routes bring American’s daily European flights to 12. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Jobs

Calling foodies — want to train under a Japanese cuisine master Yuzo Toyama? Upcoming Asian fusion restaurant Musume Fort Worth is hosting a job fair today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m to hire all front- and back-of-house positions. The downtown restaurant will open in the Sandman Signature Hotel this summer.

Ranked

Speaking of American Airlines — the group ranked No. 89 on the Fortune 500 list of largest firms in 2022. The airline made $48.971 billion and rose from No. 114 in 2021. Twenty-three other DFW-based companies also made the list.

Learn

Don’t forget to register for the National Juneteenth Museum’s Speaker Series on Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. at I.M. Terrell Academy. Bryan Stevenson — founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of “Just Mercy” — will be the inaugural speaker.

Health

Florida-based healthcare provider Palm Medical Center purchased two local primary care practices. The businesses — Texas Family Medicine and Fort Worth Internal Medicine — will operate under the name Palm Texas and be the first of the company’s Texas expansion.

Edu

Looking for a school with a close-knit family atmosphere, strong academics, and an incredible staff who build relationships with each and every student? Chapel Hill Academy is a tuition-free public charter school operated by Lena Pope. Applications for Fall 2023 are now open.*

Eat

Have a party to plan? Whether it’s a family get-together, special dinner, or corporate event, Mama Angie’s Private Party Room or Patio just might be the perfect spot. Learn more about event rentals (and mouth-watering fajita platters) online.*

The Buy

Turn misplaced keys into a thing of the past with the Apple AirTag. The button-sized tracking device can give you step-by-step directions to your lost keys (or phone…or wallet…) and has a battery life of one year. Pro tip: Put one in your checked luggage and never worry about lost baggage again.*

Shop

Need to find your dad the perfect Father’s Day gift? You’re in luck. Check out gifts from our online store (Six & Main) that will make for a great surprise. From the outdoor explorer to the foodie dad, there’s a present for every type of father. Shop now.

Arts

🎨 Paint the ~~town~~ country purple

The selected alumni are using the leadership skills they learned at TCU to further their chosen fields. | Photo by TCU

TCU is celebrating its 150th anniversary with larger-than-life murals across the US. The hand-painted portraits feature the success stories of alumni who carry on the leadership they learned in Fort Worth.

John Devereaux | New York City

The 32-ft mural features the stage performer and social media personality who graduated in 2012.

Katherine Beattie | Los Angeles

The Hollywood mural features the 2008 alumna who is working to advocate for disability representation in media.

Desmond Bane | Nashville

The NBA Memphis Grizzlies player and 2020 alum is in the paint again — but this time it’s a 45-ft creation on the side of a building on Broadway.

Healthcare leaders | Chicago

The 56-ft group mural features nurse Emma Joy (class of ’21), Dr. Brandon Zsigray ('14), Dr. McKenna Chalman ('23), and Dr. Courtney Sullivan ('17).

Click the button below to read what the alumni are up to these days.

See the murals

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kate

From the editor

Fun fact about me: I love Dairy Queen. My mom used to pick my siblings and me up from school and take us to get a “special snack” on Fridays at the “Texas stop sign.” The Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard has been my go-to for 15+ years.

The fast food chain is looking for its biggest fan. Enter now to be crowned the DQ king or queen — the perks: Free food for a year.

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