HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1857INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1857
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 4, 2024
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON REDEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on the redevelopment plans for the Community
Arts Center located at 1300 Gendy Street.
In 2023, the City Council appointed a 1300 Gendy Task Force to oversee research, evaluate options, and
provide advice about the future use of the City -owned property that now houses the Fort Worth Community
Arts Center. The Council eventually accepted the task force's findings and recommendations and,
accordingly, the Economic Development Department, in conjunction with other City departments, drafted an
RFP to solicit proposals for redevelopment of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center in accordance with
Council -approved guidelines. Those evaluation guidelines included:
1. Health and Safety: Impact upon the health and safety of workers and visitors
2. Preservation: Impact upon the preservation of Fort Worth's history
3. Architectural: Impact upon the Cultural District's architectural character
4. Cultural: Impact upon Fort Worth's overall cultural vitality
5. Social: Impact upon the size and diversity of the building's visitor base
6. Economic: Impact upon economic activity in the Cultural District and in Fort Worth as a whole
7. Financial: Impact upon the City's capital and operating budgets
A five -member panel, comprised of two task force members and three department heads, evaluated several
proposals and selected two finalist firms, Garfield Public -Private and Goldenrod. Staff subsequently invited
these firms to prepare more detailed development proposals in consultation with community stakeholders.
After receiving and carefully evaluating their final proposals, it has been determined that neither proposal
fully meets the expectations desired as outlined in the Council's guidelines. As a result, staff is
recommending that the City not advance either proposal, but instead, to reevaluate how we will proceed
with renovation/redevelopment of 1300 Gendy Street in order to better reflect the growth of Fort Worth's
Cultural District and the long-term needs of our city's vibrant arts community.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Robert Sturns, Economic
Development Director, at 817-392-2663 or robert.sturns@fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS