On February 14, the Fort Worth City Council approved a resolution appointing a task force on future uses of the City-owned building in the Cultural District at 1300 Gendy Street. This building, currently leased by Arts Fort Worth for use as the Fort Worth Community Arts Center and the W.E. Scott Theater, consists of architecturally significant facilities constructed in three phases:
1954 - The Main Art Gallery designed by Herbert Bayer.
1966 - The W.E. Scott Theater and Solarium designed by Joseph R. Pelich.
1976 - The Art Museum and Porte Cochere designed by O’Neil Ford Associates.
Relying upon a building condition assessment conducted in 2022 by the architectural firm Bennett Partners, the City’s Property Management Department has determined that 1300 Gendy requires repairs with an aggregate cost of approximately $26 million. In view of these repair needs and the scarcity of resources to address them, Mayor Mattie Parker proposed that the City Council appoint a task force on future uses of 1300 Gendy. This task force is charged with the responsibility to perform the following tasks:
Review the 2022 building condition assessment,
Assess existing and potential uses of the building,
Assess potential funding sources for necessary repairs, renovations, and ongoing maintenance,
Conduct one or more public hearings and otherwise receive public comments,
Recommend future uses of the building,
Recommend funding sources for necessary repairs, renovations, and ongoing maintenance, and
Present a final report to the City Council no later than the work session on May 2, 2023.
