Fort Worth's Evans & Rosedale project is gaining traction once again, with the city's leadership rallying to kickstart the redevelopment of a historic six-acre property near 916 Evans Ave., as per declarations made at a recent public assembly. District 8 Councilmember Chris Nettles spearheaded the gathering with a message of determination, stating, "I know there may be uncertainty here tonight, But we’re here to make things move forward," according to the City of Fort Worth.
The importance of the reinvigoration of this area, which has seen over $30 million in public investment since the late '90s, was underscored by Economic Development Director Robert Sturns who emphasized the project's legacy and its reflection of the community’s aspirations, "Over the years, we could have done any number of things at this site, but it is important to get the fit right," he said and he stressed the significance of honoring the historic neighborhood's narrative of Black-owned business growth, "We understand the history of this area and its long legacy of Black-owned business development, and we want to make sure anything we bring out here is a complement to that history and a complement to the community", as per the City of Fort Worth.
Following the termination of the previous development team's contract in December 2023, the city witnessed a surge of interest from potential developers with Sturns revealing "the phones started ringing and the emails started coming – I think we’re up to 14 or 15 developers that have expressed some level of interest in the site." An expedited Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) will be implemented by the city to sift through these proposals, a step influenced by prior planning and the community's perspective, with the expectation to break ground in 2025 and utilize available American Rescue Plan Act funds earmarked for the endeavor, per the City of Fort Worth.
Mayor Mattie Parker concluded the meeting with remarks about Fort Worth's tradition of public-private partnership success stories, alluding to transformative projects like Dickie's Arena and the new City Hall, "I think we do hard things in the city across Fort Worth," she asserted, pointing to the city staff presence as evidence of serious commitment, "This project will happen." The discourse was enriched by inputs from community representatives such as James Walker, of the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association, and prominent locals including Johnny Lewis and Opal Lee; their engagement reflects the project's deep-rooted community ties, as cited by the City of Fort Worth.
Residents and stakeholders from the Historic Southside are encouraged to have their say in shaping the RFEI by participating in the 2024 Evans & Rosedale Community Survey, their responses are set to complement the selection committee's criteria as they review developer proposals, with an input deadline of February 15, as part of the city's commitment to ensuring the development aligns with the neighborhood's core priorities. The survey's outcomes will not only inform the RFEI but will also bolster future developer proposals with community insights and historical feedback.
