Published by the City of Fort Worth

A remarkable sight greeted drivers rolling down University Drive on Jan. 13: fire on the prairie behind the Fort Worth Botanic Garden-Botanical Research Institute headquarters.

But this was no uncontrolled blaze, and no one was in any danger. In fact, the fire was carefully planned to renew the grassland.

“Fire is a natural part of the prairie ecosystem,” said BRIT Vice President for Education Tracy Friday. “For thousands of years, fires regularly swept the prairies of North America.”

Flames warm the soil, reduce accumulated leaf litter, release nutrients and increase microbial activity.

“After a fire, blackened fields quickly revive with new, green grass and bright, colorful wildflowers,” Friday said. “It’s a remarkable transformation.”

The Fort Worth Fire Department was on scene to ensure the safety of participants. The FWFD wildland team has traveled nationally to respond to wildfires on the West Coast. The highly trained team used January’s prescribed burn as a way to educate the attending organizations on the role they play in wildland management and the importance of regulating and managing wildlife refuge locally.

FWBG-BRIT scientists will use plant and soil data to improve their understanding of prairie ecosystems. At the same time, the organization’s education experts will use photos and videos of the fire to create new teaching materials and programs.

“The burn creates a unique opportunity for students and teachers to view this incredible natural phenomenon through an environmental STEM lens,” Friday said. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Families can learn more by reading books about prairies. One recommended book for preschool and young elementary-age students is The Prairie That Nature Built by Marybeth Lorbiecki. Available from the Fort Worth Public Library, the book includes detailed drawings of the prairie ecosystem along with activities and resources for families.

“We think of fire as destructive. But fire can also renew the natural landscape,” Friday said. “The prescribed burn can help both children and adults understand that sometimes fire is part of a larger process that leads, ultimately, to new growth.”

The FWBG-BRIT prairie is at the corner of Trail Drive and University Drive.

Published by the City of Fort Worth

A City Council-appointed, 11-member Redistricting Task Force presented its proposed redistricting criteria as part of its final report this week.

In 2016, Fort Worth voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to increase the number of City Council members from nine to 11 following the completion of the 2020 Census. The Task Force on Race and Culture in December 2018 recommended the goal of ensuring that the City Council reflects the diverse communities that it represents.

On Tuesday, Redistricting Task Force Chair Lorraine Miller and other members presented 10 criteria for redistricting.

High-priority criteria (not in any particular order):

1. Districts should be approximately equal size. The population of the largest district should be no more than 10% greater than the population of the smallest district.
2. Redistricting should be completed in compliance with the U.S. Constitution, Voting Rights Act, Texas Constitution and other applicable laws, with no packing of minority voters, no fragmentation of minority communities and no retrogression in the ability of minorities to participate in the electoral process.
3. The process should create minority opportunity districts, in compliance with federal law, to further reflect the growing diversity of Fort Worth.
4. The new district alignment should contain communities of interest in single districts. Community of interest is defined as “a local population with shared socio-economic characteristics and political institutions that would benefit from unified representation.”
5. Districts should be contiguous territory.

1. Compact districts, with the goal of attaining a Polsby-Popper ratio of >0.050. Learn more about the Polsby-Popper ratio.
2. Identifiable geographic boundaries.
3. Contain whole voting precincts.
4. Contain whole census blocks or block groups.
5. New districts should not take into consideration the places of residence of incumbents or potential candidates.

The task force also suggested that software training be provided to residents who are interested in the redistricting process, and that proposed redistricting plans submitted by residents be analyzed and presented to the City Council.

The group is urging for transparency in the redistricting process by requiring all map drawing to occur at public meetings, with computer screens visible to all parties.

Upcoming activities for the Redistricting Task Force:

March 9, 7 p.m. The City Council will consider authorizing a contract with outside counsel to review and comment on the proposed criteria.

April 6, 7 p.m. The Council will vote on a resolution accepting the final report and establishing the criteria and procedures.

April through September 2021. City staff will provide software training for interested residents, using unofficial population estimates pending the release of official population counts. During this period, residents may register communities of interest for redistricting purposes, and the city will hire an independent contractor to propose an initial map in compliance with the approved criteria.

In addition, the task force has requested a joint work session with the City Council, to be held sometime in the fall after the U.S. Census Bureau releases block-level population data from the 2020 census. The Census Bureau is expected to release these population counts by Sept. 30, 2021.

Published on March 03, 2021 by the City of Fort Worth

The City Council on Tuesday evening approved several agreements that lead to construction of a major mixed-use development in Fort Worth's Cultural District.

Fort Worth-based Crescent Real Estate LLC said the project will include a premier boutique hotel with a chef-driven restaurant, luxury residential and a Class A office building at the corner of Camp Bowie Boulevard and Van Cliburn Way, adjacent to the city’s museums, Dickies Arena and Will Rogers Coliseum.

The Council approved a lease agreement, with an option to purchase, for two parking garages; sublease agreements for the garages; a hotel room block agreement; and a loan of up to $900,000 through the city’s EPA Revolving Brownfields Loan Program.

“We are excited to bring a first-class mixed-use project to the Cultural District,” said John Goff, chairman of Crescent. “The Crescent brand is known around the country for our luxury hotel, office and residential properties. Now, for the first time, we are coming home. I've lived in Fort Worth since 1981. We are going to build the finest hotel in the city that we hope will become the living room of Fort Worth. We can't wait to bring the Crescent brand to Fort Worth in a major way.”

Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in summer 2021, and the project will open in mid-2023.

“Between the city's nationally renowned museums, Dickie's Arena and the stock show at Will Rogers, Fort Worth's Cultural District is a major destination for residents and tourists alike,” said Fort Worth Director of Economic Development Robert Sturns. “Crescent’s hotel and associated development project fills a real need that's been a priority in this fast-growing part of the city.”

Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued an executive order lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100%. 

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” Abbott said. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100%. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today's announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”

While masks are no longer required statewide, individual businesses may still require patrons to wear masks or follow other sanitary measures in their establishment.

During his remarks, Abbott discussed the advancements that Texas has made that allow the state to open fully and lift the mask mandate, noting the rapid increase of vaccines. Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans, and the state is now administering almost 1 million shots each week.

The executive order rescinds most of the governor's earlier executive orders related to COVID-19. Effective March 10, all businesses of any type may open to 100% capacity. Additionally, the order ends the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.

If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas get above 15% of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, a county judge in that region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies. However, county judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor may any penalties be imposed for failing to wear a face mask.

If restrictions are imposed at a county level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50% for any type of entity.

View fact sheets about the governor’s order:

To learn more about the new order, contact the City of Fort Worth COVID-19 hotline via email or at 817-392-8478.

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As the 13th largest city in the country, Fort Worth continues to compete on a national stage for creative, high-growth businesses. That’s because high-growth companies create jobs, drive innovation and invest dollars into the local economy.

But there’s strong competition for these businesses, especially in Texas.

Between 2016 and 2019, 49 Fort Worth companies made Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the top 5,000 fastest growing companies in America. By comparison, Austin had about seven times as many as Fort Worth with 340 companies, and Dallas had about five times as many as Fort Worth with 254 companies. Even San Antonio weighed in with 86 companies.

Inc. Magazine’s prestigious list is an important national indicator of a city’s economic potential – it’s basically similar to the Forbes 500 list of the largest U.S. companies, but for startups. The three-year median growth rate of companies on the list is an impressive 165%. As local startup resource Sparkyard notes in its in-depth analysis, inclusion on Inc. Magazine’s list “means your company is doing something right and is growing at warp speed.”

But it’s important to note that unlike many similar lists, Inc. Magazine requires companies to apply for potential inclusion on their list.

In other words, Inc. Magazine doesn’t scour the financials of thousands of companies across the nation to compile their data, and instead relies on business owners to reach out if they think their business has shown exponential growth over the past several years.

How many Fort Worth businesses would be on the list, if only local business owners knew to apply?

Eligibility and how to apply

Fort Worth companies are encouraged to submit their information to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in America in order to better showcase Fort Worth’s growing business community to a national audience.

Companies don’t have to be a startup to be part of the Inc. Magazine list. They just have to meet these qualifications:

Companies must have generated revenue by March 31, 2017.

Companies must have made at least $100,000 in revenue in 2017.

Companies must have generated at least $2 million in revenue during 2020.

Companies must be independent, privately held, for-profit entities based in the United States.

Companies must be prepared to submit their financials for the past three years to Inc. Magazine for verification.

Business owners interested in submitting their companies can visit the Inc. Magazine website to learn more, submit their application fee and get started. Early-bird rates are in effect through March 26.

Currently, the highest-ranking Fort Worth company on the Inc. Magazine list of fastest growing companies is Circle L Solar at No. 176, which grew 2,251% between 2016 and 2019.

By: City of Fort Worth

The city’s Transportation and Public Works Department is hosting a community meeting to update the public on the upcoming construction for the West Seventh Street Design and Connectivity project. Please make plans to attend the meeting to hear about the upcoming construction details.

Meeting Details:

Wednesday, March 3 at 6 p. m.

www.Webex.com, select "Join"

Meeting Number: 126 443 7106

Meeting Password: west7th

Phone in number: 469-210-7159

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 25, 2021) — The Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG|BRIT) offers a Spring Plant Sale April 9 through April 11 – online only.

Stock up on spring plants while taking advantage of Garden professional consultations if needed. Members have access to a preview sale April 7-8 as well as a 10 percent discount on their purchase. Order pick-up dates are April 16 through April 18.

“The spring sale is a community favorite for area residents who appreciate our plant selection and friendly advice,” said Bob Byers, VP of horticulture and assistant director. “This year, it’s also an opportunity to replace some of the plants that didn’t survive the February hard freeze.”

To ensure guest safety, the plant sale is offered again virtually. Shoppers will select plants online, and, at checkout, schedule a time to pick up their orders at the Garden. Those with questions about selecting and growing plants will be able to call in and chat with Master Gardeners.

Plants available will include perennials, bulbs, tree and shrubs, all chosen by garden experts. The Garden’s resident citrus specialist, Rob Bauereisen, will also offer a variety of citrus trees and will be available for consultation by phone or email. For more information visit: https://www.fwbg.org/events/springplantsale21

Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®)

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is the oldest public botanic garden in Texas with beautiful theme gardens, including the Fuller Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and the Victor and Cleyone Tinsley Garden, which features plants native to north central Texas. The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) is a nonprofit, international research, education and conservation organization that collects and safeguards plant specimens, studies and protects living plants, and teaches about the importance of conservation and biodiversity to the world. BRIT assumed nonprofit management of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Oct. 1, 2020. The combined organization comprises 120 acres in Fort Worth’s Cultural District two miles west of downtown Fort Worth at 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107.

Winter Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65+, $6 for children 6-15 and free for those under 5.

Parking: Parking is free throughout the campus during regular business hours.

By STEVE BROWN

Real Estate Editor

stevebrown@dallasnews.com

Crescent Real Estate is planning what will be the company’s first major development in its hometown of Fort Worth.

The commercial property firm — which has been a major player in Dallas’ Uptown district — will build a $250 million mixed-use project in Fort Worth’s cultural district.

The development, which will start this summer, includes a 200-room luxury hotel, 160,000-square-foot office building and 175 luxury residential units.

The Museum Place project, located on Camp Bowie Boulevard near the Will Rogers Coliseum and across the street from the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum, will also be the new home for Crescent Real Estate and offices for Contango Oil & Gas.

“We are excited to bring a first-class mixed-use project to the cultural district,” Crescent Real Estate CEO John Goff said in a statement. “The Crescent brand is now known around the country for our luxury hotel, office and residential projects.

“Now, for the first time, we are coming home,” he said. “We are going to build the finest hotel in the city that we hope will become the living room of Fort Worth.”

Crescent Real Estate, which got its start in the mid-1990s, has previously invested in Fort Worth properties.

“We owned a 1 million-square-foot tower in downtown Fort Worth for many years,” Goff said in an interview. “Currently we don’t own a thing there. We never had a development in Fort Worth, and it’s time.”

Several developers have looked at building on the block where Crescent plans its new Fort Worth project.

“I drive by this land every day,” Goff said. “The opportunity to buy came up and we snagged it.”

Crescent doesn’t plan to seek zoning variances for the project, which is scheduled to open in 2023, Goff said. Denver-based OZ Architecture designed the development.

“We went with OZ because we have done a lot of business with them in Denver and Boulder,” Goff said. “They are extremely creative. We really liked the designs they came up with. You have to be very respectful with the wonderful architecture across the street and create something that compliments but doesn’t compete.”

Crescent Real Estate’s most recent Dallas projects include the McKinney & Olive office and retail development in Uptown and the Luminary office building in downtown Dallas’ historic West End.

The company also owns the luxury Crescent Court Hotel and is negotiating to acquire Uptown’s landmark Crescent complex.

“I’ve grown a number of different businesses in Fort Worth including Crescent,” Goff said. “While we have done a lot of work in Dallas, it’s time to put some work in Fort Worth.”

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The Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG | BRIT) announces Patrick Newman as its new CEO and president effective May 1, replacing current president, Ed Schneider, PhD, who is retiring to California.

Newman brings more than 14 years of public gardens experience, serving most recently as executive director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center since 2016, overseeing a $5 million annual budget and supervising a staff of 60 employees and 800 volunteers. Under his direction, the Center increased earned and contributed income, added to its endowment and dramatically increased annual attendance.

“Patrick is the right leader at the right time as we transition toward becoming a world-class botanical organization,” said Board Chair Greg Bird. “After an exhaustive national search that yielded several impressive candidates, the board was delighted to find someone right here in Texas and familiar with positioning a botanical center as a leading cultural destination.”

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Trinity Collaborative Inc. has canceled the Mayfest 2021 festival in the interest of public health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collaborative’s statement:

“It is our social responsibility to continue to place the safety and wellbeing of our patrons, volunteers, vendors, partners and community as our top priority. This difficult decision was made with great care and deliberation after numerous meetings with public health officials. At this time, a gathering as large and populous as Mayfest negates the efforts to minimize the effects of COVID-19. The cancelation will help advance the health of our community, allowing for future opportunities to safely congregate and unite once again. We are enthusiastically planning the 50th anniversary of Mayfest on May 5-8, 2022. Now more than ever, we look forward to connecting people to the river, our parks and each other in a safe, welcoming environment.”

Trinity Collaborative Inc., formally known as Mayfest Inc., recently expanded the organization’s operations to produce other events and introduce new programs in addition to the annual Mayfest festival. Plans are underway for new, exciting developments that support the organization’s mission to raise and contribute funds for the Trinity River, surrounding parks and community programs.