07.25.2023

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Today’s Forecast

55º | Mostly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:32 a.m. | Sunset 5:36 p.m.

🏗️ Slowly but surely

Will Panther Island ever be complete? See the project’s behind-the-scenes progress

Some say the Panther Island project will be like San Antonio’s Riverwalk on the north side of town. | Image courtesy of TRWD

Earlier this month, the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) proposed $116.4 million in its 2024 budget + Austin developer Seco Ventures purchased 26 acres for the Panther Island project.

With funding, contracts, and new milestones, a lot has happened this year behind the scenes of the 800-acre waterfront district. Click below for our interactive timeline + keep reading for updates on the comprehensive plan and the corresponding Central City Flood Control Project.

FTW-panther-island-timeline-giphy — Check out our interactive timeline to see the history and future of Panther Island.
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Video by Giphy/Timeline by TimelineJS3

New year, new team

In January, the combined development team — made up of the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TRWD, TCC, Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, Downtown Fort Worth Inc., and Streams & Valleys — hired HR&A Advisors to analyze and consult on the project for $560,000.

HR&A will serve as the project manager and lead the real estate and economic development strategies. The rest of the consulting team includes civil engineer Salcedo Group Inc., urban planner and designer Lake Flato, and community engagement specialist K Strategies.

CDM-Stanley Joint Venture was contracted in May to complete the design of the north bypass channel + contracted yesterday for the design of the south bypass channel.

Federal funding February

In February, the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) received $20 million in federal funds to continue designing the project. The funds will support:

Initial design of gates and pump station
Completed designs of bypass channel and three valley storage sites
Construction of the interior portion of the channel, storage sites, and aquatic mitigation

FTW-panther-island-map — The full project includes both the Central City Flood Control infrastructure plan (left) and the Panther Island mixed-use development district (right).
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Maps courtesy of TRWD

Ongoing work

Currently, the city is working to relocate water and sewer utilities on the Northside in order to make way for future construction. All relocation work must be completed by fall of 2024 to keep the project on schedule. Of the TRWD’s 2024 budget allocation, $88 million will go to paying back the city for this work.

Looking ahead

USACE could begin digging the 1.5-mile north bypass channel that will form the island as early as the end of next year. The channel will cut across the Upstream peninsula, rerouting the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River underneath three bridges that were constructed in 2021.

Events

Tuesday, July 25

60-Day Fitness Challenge | Tuesday, July 25 | 4-5 p.m. | Greenbriar Community Center, 5200 Hemphill St., Fort Worth | $10 | Teens are invited to build muscle and strength with a professional trainer-led fitness challenge.
Silent Book Club | Tuesday, July 25 | 5-8 p.m. | Hotel Dryce, 3621 Byers Ave., Fort Worth | Cost of purchase | Kick back with a beverage and dive into your latest read with other bookworms.

Wednesday, July 26

“Friends” Trivia | Wednesday, July 26 | 7-9 p.m. | Black Dog Retro Arcade, 309 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington | Free | Could you be any more of a “Friends” fan?
“Lives of the Gods” | Wednesday, July 26 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth | $14-$18 | Explore the divinity of Mayan art at this exhibition of nearly 100 rarely seen masterpieces and discoveries — members get in free.

Thursday, July 27

Rockin’ the River | Thursday, July 27 | 5-10 p.m. | Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth | Free | Grab an inner tube and relax in the Trinity River with performances by Carson Jeffery, Dustin Massey, and Bubba Bellin.
TRWD Public Meeting | Thursday, July 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Riverside Community Center, 3700 E. Belknap St., Fort Worth | Free | Share your thoughts on the Trinity River Water District’s upcoming Recreational Master Plan.
Greta Van Fleet | Thursday, July 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $50-$125 | Catch the American rock band’s “Starcatcher World Tour” at one of the highest attended venues in the world.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

A new vegan restaurant and coffee bar is headed to the TCU area. Vida Cafe is the latest enterprise for Belén Hernández, the owner of plant-based taqueria Belenty’s Love. The Italian food concept at 3522 Blue Bonnet Cir. will serve classics like Marsala and pasta primavera but with vegan and diabetes-friendly options. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Development

That’s a wrap for the historic Berry Theater. Despite community pushback to save the 1940s building, Mercy Clinic demolished the theater on Saturday morning to make room for a new medical clinic. (WFAA)

Outdoors

Cyclists are petitioning against a bypass closure near Benbrook Lake. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said the bypass — between North and South Holiday Parks — will close on Sunday, Oct. 1 due to an increase in accidents. ASACE will hold a meeting for cycling organizations on Friday, Aug. 18.

Announced

A newly choreographed gravity-defying show is returning to Funkytown this holiday season. “Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland” will stop at Will Rogers Auditorium on Sunday, Dec. 17. Aerialists and acrobats will perform weightless stunts set to familiar seasonal tunes. Get tickets.

Jobs

Fort Worth ISD is holding a Back-to-School Hiring Extravaganza at the Teaching & Learning Center on Thursday, July 27 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Positions are open for teachers, teacher assistants, operations, and clerical staff. Register now.

Tech

The city’s website is getting a facelift. Scheduled to launch Sunday, July 30, the redesigned homepage will make it easier for residents and visitors to find information. The update will feature a fresh look, streamlined navigation, and user-friendly features.

Number

$1.34 billion. That’s what Fort Worth-based American Airlines profited in the second quarter of 2023. The company reported $14.1 billion in revenue, a 4.7% revenue increase from last year citing high ticket sales + a decrease in the price of fuel.

State

Despite soaring temperatures, Texas is the third cheapest area in the country for energy. A new report from WalletHub revealed that the average Texan spends about $379 per month for energy between electricity, natural gas, and vehicle fuel. Texas falls behind the District of Columbia and New Mexico.

Eat

Haven’t been to brunch at Fat Daddy’s in Mansfield yet? Time to change that — they just launched a brand-new, mouth-watering brunch menu early this summer, available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.*

Arts

✍️ Designs for Dallas

Spanish architecture firm Nieto Sobejano will design the new Dallas Museum of Art

Peruse the final designs online or in the DMA’s mezzanine gallery. | Renderings courtesy of Malcolm Reading Consultants

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is ready for a facelift to the tune of $175 million. Over 26,500 art pieces are housed in the 1984 Edward Larrabee Barnes building in the Dallas Arts District, and the museum is ready to reinvent itself for its next phase.

In February, the museum and Malcolm Reading Consultants launched a design competition and after reviewing 150+ international submissions, the DMA’s Architect Selection Committee narrowed it down to six high-profile finalists.

The final design teams are:

David Chipperfield Architects | London
Diller Scofidio + Renfro | New York
Johnston Marklee | Los Angeles
Michael Maltzan Architecture | Los Angeles
Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos | Madrid
Weiss/Manfredi | New York

The winner is expected to be announced next month, but for now, you can see the concept designs in a free exhibition at the DMA through Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Share your feedback on the design and the museum’s future + check out 14 other museums a little closer to home.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kate

From the editor

Yellowcard’s 2003 hit song “Ocean Avenue” is one of my favorites to sing in the car — don’t ask me why, it just is. The pop-punk band is reviving the chart-topper on Thursday at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Grab tickets for the 7 p.m. celebration of 20 years of screaming “take me a-way-ey-ay-ey-ay” at the top of your lungs.

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