The Fort Worth Community Arts Center will remain closed for the foreseeable future as city officials confirm no decisions have been made about its fate.
Chief Fort Worth spokeswoman Sana Syed said city staff, along with the new economic development director, are determining the scope, budget and engagement process needed to restore the cultural district building. The center closed a year ago because city officials said it needed about $30 million in repairs.
Important to the city's review process is figuring out what city resources might be available for a new proposal. Those dollars have not yet been identified, Syed said. Once the internal review is complete, a timeline will be set for when the city can begin the cleanup, she added.
“Our priority is to ensure a safe and sustainable facility that reflects the needs of Fort Worth’s arts community,” Syed said. “Ultimately, beyond capital funding, any plan must determine how ongoing maintenance and operating costs will be achieved to ensure long-term sustainability.”
The latest update on the Fort Worth Community Arts Center comes days after advocates spoke at the City Council's public comment session to prioritize its revitalization. Some artists expressed disappointment that city leaders did not move forward with leasing the art center to Texas Christian University.
Syed said the city government appreciates those who have come forward to share their views, adding that their input will inform how the city evaluates next steps for the arts center.
“We remain committed to a transparent and inclusive approach going forward,” she said.
Officials say the arts center has deficiencies
TCU officials reached out in April and spent several months evaluating the 77,000-square-foot space, Syed said. The university has been exploring the center as a temporary location when the school's Ed Landreth Hall undergoes renovations next year.
Preliminary rental negotiations began in July. City staff put those discussions on hold on Sept. 3 after “significant questions” emerged about the building’s overall condition and the investments needed to ensure safe use, Syed said.
The community arts center, which opened in 1954, has significant structural, mechanical and safety deficiencies attributed to its age and deferred maintenance. Staff identified issues with outdated electrical and HVAC systems, roof and moisture issues, accessibility and code compliance gaps, and the need for asbestos abatement.
Syed added that the building also requires flood restoration work in the basement.
“Due to these conditions, the facility cannot be used safely without extensive remediation,” she said.
No rental agreement was concluded and no agenda item was prepared for consideration by the city council.
TCU spokesman Greg Staley recently said the university has found other accommodations.
Artists plan to continue their advocacy
Wesley Kirk, a longtime supporter of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, said the city's decision not to restart the redevelopment process soon is his biggest concern.
“They keep moving the goalposts and adding more and more delays so that leaders forget all the impassioned speeches that made them realize we need to preserve them,” he said.
He and other arts advocates are scheduled to meet at The Pool Near Southside on Dec. 17 to gather data on what is needed to renovate the arts center. The city council's decision does not deter his group's efforts to fight for the building's future, Kirk said.
“I firmly believe that the community can push for the change we need and push for the right input we need to make the building a success for the city,” he said.
David Moreno is the Fort Worth Report's arts and culture reporter. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
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