Here’s how north side neighborhoods could be protected as Panther Island is developed
An advisory panel has suggested a wide array of tactics to preserve Fort Worth's Northside and Historic Marine neighborhoods as they face pressure from the development of neighboring Panther Island — everything from tax exemptions, to creation of a special zoning district, to providing more support for small businesses.
The Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Program, in partnership with the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, held a week-long workshop for eight panelists focusing on equitable development strategies. The group presented its findings Friday at Artes De La Rosa at the Rose Marine Theater.
"The area needs opportunity in order to grow and in order to remain an area to be proud of and livable," said Councilman Carlos Flores, who spoke at the presentation. "So we have to embrace some of those changes that it will be for the betterment of all. We just have to do it the right way."
The Advisory Services Program gathers real estate professionals to provide recommendations to address economic development and revitalization, housing attainability, community resilience and more. The panelists asked questions about five main topics as they spoke with residents and stakeholders throughout their stay: minimizing displacement, affordable housing, business diversity, historic and cultural preservation, and implementation of the panel's recommendations.
"Our gift to you is this road map, but you all are responsible for putting this into action in a place that's really important," panelist Omar Gonzalez, director of development for Oxbow Development Group, said at the presentation. "We come and we leave. This is your community, and so please take to heart these recommendations."
Panther Island is a planned waterfront district that will be created by a 1.5-mile channel being built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . The channel will connect two sections of the Trinity River north of downtown as a way to improve the city's flood protection, while also creating an attractive area for development.
The city's Northside and Historic Marine neighborhoods — which are predominantly Hispanic — are sandwiched in between Panther Island and the popular Stockyards district, which is also preparing for significant growth, leading to concerns about the preservation of those neighborhoods and their affordability for current residents and businesses.
Recommendations for preservation
Panelists said Panther Island should be reframed to be viewed as something larger that connects the city, its people and its economy.
The panel recommended various areas to be addressed to preserve Northside and Historic Marine, including tax exemptions, small business support, celebrations of community history and culture, and steps to accommodate multi-generational families living on properties.
Fears of displacement by the development of Panther Island led the panel to suggest creating a neighborhood master plan to guide redevelopment, a zoning overlay to preserve the neighborhood's historical integrity and programs for tenants and homeowners for such things as tax relief and legal aid.
To maintain affordable housing, the panel suggested an affordable housing fund, housing tax increment financing, which would fund the preservation and development of housing, and a community land trust.
Business diversity could be maintained by retaining existing businesses through training and marketing, allowing construction of residential units above retail establishments and supporting entrepreneurs, the panel added.
Recommendations to preserve history and culture included creating a Northside Community Heritage Walk and transforming Marine Park with art from local artists and a recognition of the artist Selena performing at the park in 1993.
The panel recommended formation of a Community Action Committee of residents and community leaders to shepherd its recommendations.
"I always tell people the Northside doesn't need culture, the culture is at the highest level possible," Anette Landeros, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber, said at the presentation. "What we need to do is empower that culture. We need to make sure we preserve that culture and that we create something for everyone to enjoy."
