Refacing Wedgwood Square
Many of you have called, emailed, or inquired through the website, regarding the demolition and construction that you've seen going on in Wedgwood Square. Most specifically, there have been a lot of questions about the Wedgwood Bowling Alley and the Granbury Hills (formerly the Cherry Hills / Park Hill) Apartment Complex.
Here is what we know.
In 2003 Wedgwood Square's board began a series of projects that have effected the long-term development of the Wedgwood Square Neighborhood. These initiatives included: Wedgwood Square Business Revitalization, Wedgwood Square - Granbury Road Restoration, Wedgwood Square Neighborhood Empowerment Zoning Application. The long-term goals of these projects included work to Granbury Road, refacing and revitalization, as this is the gateway to our neighborhood and to District 6.
With regard to Wedgwood Square's Business Corridor, Wedgwood Square's Board hoped to see some reorganization of the businesses in the area that might lead to more up-scale businesses. The shopping center boom proved to be less than ideal in our area of Fort Worth; the centers were left set too far back from our main roads or rear-facing our roads, such as Graanbury Road. When the on/exit ramps to S820 were altered, many businesses in this area suffered as a result. One thing Wedgwood Square lacked with certainty, was restaurants. Wedgwood Square Neighborhood Association decoupled its business members from its residential members and formed the Wedgwood Square Business Association, so that our businesses could work to address their own needs more effectively. Wedgwood Square soon met with then City Councilman Clyde Picht, the Zoning Commissioner and with many local neighborhood representatives also effected by Wedgwood Square's Business Corridor to discuss options for revitalizing. Wedgwood Square attended many meetings and filled out applications and completed writing an area report regarding the history and need of our area in order to apply for Neighborhood Empowerment Zoning. Our previous Councilman presented Wedgwood Square's Neighborhood Empowerment Zoning Application to Fort Worth City Council and it was approved. This NEZ designation would lead the way for future redevelopment of the area. The hope was that business such as Sonic, Wendy's, The Coffee Urn, Starbucks, Subway and viable other businesses would find their way to Wedgwood Square. The plan also included hopes to redevelop the empty and vacant Wedgwood Bowling Alley, the old Colonial Cafeteria, and the problematic and dilapidated apartment complex in our Northern corner.
With regard to Granbury Road, Wedgwood Square's Board hoped to see re-surfacing and reorganization of the stretch of Granbury Road from S820 to Hulen Street, as many of the stop signs/stop lights and intersections had become less than optimal due to the evolution of the neighborhoods surrounding this section of road. There was an increase in the number of accidents related to this stretch of road, per information obtained from the Fort Worth Police Department. The road itself had become severely congested from increased traffic, poor traffic light timing, and a lack of other main arterial transportation to further SW neighborhoods in the area, the road itself had become severely degraded and needed serious investment in its resurfacing, and some medians of the heavily traveled road could be planted to increase the aesthetics and absorb some of those toxic car carbons.
Additionally, there were plans put together and submitted to Fort Worth City to address various traffic issues in the area with a traffic plan, to repave other inward Wedgwood Square streets in need, to institute greater public transportation for the area, to improve our Wedgwood Branch Library, to install sidewalks where Wedgwood Square saw heavy foot traffic, and to install adequate street lighting along many of our dark, unlit streets.
Much of what you are seeing in the Wedgwood Square NEZ now was put into motion through discussions, planning, applications, submissions, and designations as far back as 2003.
As man of you know, in 2008 Chesapeake Energy purchased the "Pancho's" Shopping Center, with plans to set up for natural gas drilling. This Northern corner of Wedgwood Square NEZ was already planned to be one of several Light Rail Stations in the SW part of Fort Worth. Fort Worth City and Chesapeake Energy had discussions regarding use of the land that Chesapeake Energy had purchased. In late 2009 / early 2010 Fort Worth City approached the businesses along Granbury Road and Wonder Drive regarding purchase for the future use of the coming Light Rail Station (originally to be under construction in 2010 and running by 2012).
The Wedgwood Animal Hospital, Doughnut shop and Wedgwood Bowling Alley were purchased in cooperation with and through Fort Worth City for the coming development of the Light Rail Station's Parking. In May of 2010 The Wedgwood Bowling Alley, previously vacant due to issues with asbestos, was fenced and demolished. Don't worry Wedgwood VET patrons, we understand Wedgwood Animal Hospital is still open and though moving, the good Doctors will be staying close by and within Wedgwood Square NEZ.
In 2010 The Granbury Hills Apartment Complex was purchased by/through Fort Worth City and in May of 2010 it was vacated and fenced to prepare for its demolition. Current District 6 City Councilperson Jungus Jordan has publicly stated on many occasions that the apartments will be sold to a private developer for future upscale retail and condominium living that will complement the planned Light Rail Station.
As far as other plans put in place by Wedgwood Square's Board in 2003...we're still working on it. Currently Wedgwood Square NEZ is working on designing and installing Wedgwood Square street sign toppers. Want to help? Contact us online and let us know what you are interested in assisting with.
Thank you Wedgwood Square!