The five-story apartment complex planned for the southwest corner of I-35 and Northside Drive took another step closer to reality.
The Fort Worth City Council approved a zoning change last night that will clear the way for construction. Neighbors will miss the 14 acres of green space that’s long been at that corner adjacent to the Trinity River and offers a terrific view of the downtown skyline, and they worry about increased traffic on neighborhood streets.
The complex will offer 500 apartment units.
Neighbors delayed the zoning change for months while they performed a traffic survey and pressed for more input in the planning.
“The effort was worth it and while we did not prevail, we raised well-reasoned points and discovered items in the project that will require more work,” Willis said in an email today. ” Our point was not that we are anti-development but that we are pro-quality, appropriate, well-placed development. And that the interest of the neighborhood should be considered at the beginning of a project like this, not at the end when an applicant is asking for a zoning change — that situation cost the developer six months of time as the Zoning Commission and then the Council responded to our concerns and delayed the case several times.”
The land has been destined for development but it sits in a flood plain, which increases construction costs and can limit architectural possibilities. The large grassy field is across the street from Mercado Juarez Café and the Country Inn & Suites.
The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association, Charleston Homeowners Association and neighborhoods of the Riverside Alliance all opposed the zoning change.
The city council vote was 6-2 with Kelly Allen Gray and Joel Burns against, and Mayor Betsy Price absent.
