Fort Worth Texas Real Estate

Cowtown Cracks Down on Signs

2010-02-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

Cowtown Cracks Down on Signs

As part of a crackdown on signs, city inspectors on Tuesday ordered Kincaid’s Hamburgers on Camp Bowie Boulevard to scrape its name off its front window or face fines of $500 per day.
An ordinance passed two years ago forbids businesses from having signs or lettering that block more than 10 percent of a window. The law, aimed at cleaning up clutter, also limits the use of temporary and permanent signs.

The owner of the iconic hamburger joint, which opened in 1946, said he is puzzled by the order to remove the sign.

"We don't consider it offensive,” said Kincaid’s owner Ron Gentry. “There's nothing about it that would upset anyone. Obviously, the city is upset about it."

At least two other businesses near Kincaid’s also received similar orders.
The owner of a salon was given two days to remove a sign from her window, which advertises the services she sells, such as manicures and facials.

"And I'm like, ‘OK, so you're telling me I have to take it off?’” the owner of Salon One recalled asking the inspector. “And he said, ‘You have to take it off except for three lines.’”

Next door, a small business that sells cupcakes was ordered to remove a temporary sign with two helium-filled balloons out front.

City managers said the inspector was just doing his job, enforcing a law designed to make the city look better.

"We're not trying to negatively impact anyone's business,” said David Hall, assistant manager of Fort Worth’s planning department. “The ultimate goal is compliance with the law, and we'll give people enough time to come into compliance."

He noted that businesses can appeal the orders to the city’s Board of Adjustment.
The owner of Kincaid’s said city leaders should rethink the entire ordinance.

"That signage is very important for these small independent businesses,” Gentry said. “There aren't a lot of chains up and down Camp Bowie… and we need our signage so people can see us."
Several customers echoed his comments and said the advertising is harmless.

“I love the sign, I love the burger, and I see no reason for the sign to go,” said one man.
Hall said the city is enforcing the sign ordinance all over the city, not just along Camp Bowie.

Restaurants find Tarrant County to be a hot market

2010-01-31T21:27:00.000-08:00

By BARRY SHLACHTER

While staff put finishing touches on his new restaurant, Cat City Grill, Vance Martin weighed the relative merits of opening 24 hours after Valentine’s Day.

In this grim economic climate, what’s remarkable is that Martin, owner-chef of Lili’s Bistro just down the street on Fort Worth’s Magnolia Avenue, is expanding his business horizons at all.

And he’s not alone.

Another Magnolia restaurant, Scampi’s, is enlarging its serving area and adding a bar. And new to the Tarrant market are the Cowtown Diner downtown and Wildwood Grill in Southlake, not to mention out-of-town ventures like Cooper’s barbecue, from Llano, opening in the Stockyards. From Austin comes Mandola’s, moving into Arlington, and El Arroyo, in southwest Fort Worth. Add to that Dallas concepts expanding to Fort Worth, like Tillman’s Roadhouse near West Seventh Street.

BJ’s, a California chain featuring beer from Houston’s Saint Arnold microbrewery, added area restaurants at North East Mall in November and yet another at Alliance Town Center.

Houlihan’s, a more refined version of the 1970s chain, is back with geographically wide-ranging dishes in a casual-dining restaurant at Arlington Highlands.

Closings too

But for all the openings, the economy also claimed victims in Dallas-Fort Worth’s ever-more-competitive environment, which boasts a full-service restaurant for every 299 households.

Luby’s, the iconic Texas chain, closed four unprofitable cafeterias around Tarrant County last fall, while in December, Dixie House Cafe pulled out of its downtown location previously occupied by Bennigan’s, which had abandoned all its company-owned stores in summer 2008. Fuego’s was a summer flame-out.

In recent weeks, Ocean Rock, Aventino’s and Ovation served their last meals, unless someone takes over the moribund operations and resurrects the names.

"As an undercapitalized independent we were unprepared for a wobble, unable to withstand the [economic] sting," Mike Musgrove told the Star-Telegram after shutting down Ovation on the west side after 3 1/2 years. He hopes to find a buyer who can reopen it.

Derrick Paez of Aventino’s told a similar tale.

"Between my father and myself we ran out of capital," Paez said of a difficult year. "We made it happen for 11 months and didn’t think we would be closing down over the Christmas break. My daughter’s cancer had a relapse, and we just had enough."

His family planned to make good on about $500 worth of gift cards sold before the closing, said Paez, who acknowledged that the restaurant expansion and slick, New York-inspired makeover he orchestrated two years ago were out of step with local tastes.

"My vision didn’t match up with the marketplace," he said.

In downtown Fort Worth, restaurant receipts dropped 9.8 during the second quarter of 2009, the latest figures available, according to Downtown Fort Worth Inc., citing the Texas comptroller of public accounts.

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Ex-Hicks partner sues over Rangers property sale

2010-01-31T13:12:00.000-08:00

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dallas businessman Tom Hicks is being sued by a former development partner as the Texas Rangers owner seeks to sell the team and some land.

The dispute involves 45 acres near Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, land that Steiner & Associates of Columbus, Ohio, claims it has the right to develop.

A planned shopping, hotel and entertainment district known as Glorypark never materialized.

The lawsuit was filed Jan. 21 in Fort Worth, two days before Hicks announced a deal to sell the Rangers.

Hicks, who has informed Major League Baseball and the partnership group buying the Rangers about the legal action, says the lawsuit has no merit.

Steiner seeks $14.5 million, plus its stake in Glorypark. Steiner spokesman Jason Stanford says Hicks "does not have the right to sell the land without dissolving the partnership."

___

Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com

Barnett Shale air study to be released today

2010-01-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

10:51 AM CST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
By JEFF MOSIER / The Dallas Morning News
jmosier@dallasnews.com

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is expected to release its report on Barnett Shale air emissions at 1 p.m. today.

Earlier this month, the commission announced that no "potentially dangerous" emissions were found in the air at 126 natural gas production sites in Fort Worth.

Agency workers collected samples in mid-December and found no release of volatile organic compounds at most sites. At other locations, the releases were below levels causing short- or long-term harm to health, TCEQ officials said in a written statement.

Agency officials briefed the Fort Worth City Council on the testing and are expected to release results of a larger Barnett Shale air-testing program today.

Fort Worth City Council members requested testing in early December after other test results in more rural areas were released. Some of those tests found high levels of benzene and other toxic chemicals near gas production facilities.

Some gas industry officials have previously said they didn't expect to see high levels of emissions at facilities in Fort Worth. That could be due partly to differences in the composition of the gas in various parts of the Barnett Shale, an underground gas-producing formation in North Texas.

The air around the Fort Worth testing sites was checked for 22 volatile organic compounds, including benzene. The areas tested were gas drilling sites as well as disposal and compressor facilities.

Fort Worth district suspends contract after crash

2010-01-31T13:10:00.001-08:00

01/30/2010

Associated Press

A week after a plane crash killed a teenager and a flight instructor, the Fort Worth public school district has suspended its contract with the company that provided aviation training to high school students.

Classes in aircraft engine maintenance and repair will continue, district spokesman Clint Bond said. However, they won't be conducted by CRP Future Pilots until the program is reviewed.

Eric Schultz, a 15-year-old sophomore at Dunbar High, and Gregory Green, 36, were killed Jan. 23 in the crash of a a two-seat, single-engine light-sport aircraft in Ellis County. Federal aviation officials are investigating.

Bond said flight instruction was not part of CRP's contract. CRP staffers told administrators they had contacted parents about the flying lessons, Bond said.

The Schultz family and parents of other students have spoken out in support of continuing the aviation program and flight school.

___

On the Net: Fort Worth Star-Telegram: http://www.star-telegram.com

Fort Worth Real Estate

Give me land! Multicultural Western museum Fort Worth land

2010-01-28T19:07:00.002-08:00

(Fort Worth) - The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum has all the land it needs for its new museum on the south side of Berry Street, a few blocks east of the Martin Luther King Freeway in Fort Worth.

The group bought 2.6 acres at 3534 S. Berry St. from Raymond Ward of Dallas. That brought its holdings to nine acres.

Jim and Gloria Austin are co-founders of the museum. Jim Austin said the organization at midyear will begin a $6 million capital campaign to renovate a vacant, 31,000-sf grocery store at 3520 E. Berry St. for the museum.

The museum, now nine years old, occupies about 5,600 sf at 3400 Mount Vernon Ave. in east Fort Worth. The group anticipates opening the new location in January 2013.

Remodeled armory will house Fort Worth Police/Gang Unit

2010-01-28T19:07:00.001-08:00

(Fort Worth) - Innovative Developers Inc. in Fort Worth is remodeling the Armory Building at 1289 S. Hemphill St.

The Fort Worth Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing District 2 and Gang Unit will use 18,000 sf of the 27,000-sf building, once home to Niver Western Wear.

The finish-out will provide police with office and conference space, locker rooms and a workout facility. The work is expected to be completed by April 1.

[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

Dirt flies on $3.47 million Lake Worth city facility

2010-01-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

(Lake Worth) - Lake Worth officials broke ground on the city’s new multipurpose complex and animal services facility at 7005 Charbonneau Dr. — the new home of the Lake Worth Public Library and the Lake Worth Senior Center. The 14,500-sf center will include facilities to accommodate community or municipal events and will be available for public use.

The $3.47 million facilities, which are estimated to take 270 days to complete, are being funded by a bond issue approved in September 2008.

The center will double the size of the city’s library and the senior center as well as add a new animal services facility, located at 7209 Comanche Tr., which will be constructed two blocks from the multipurpose center.

Hundreds Line Up To See Joel Osteen In Waxahachie

2010-01-28T18:39:00.000-08:00

He's a leading pastor and best-selling author many times over and Monday evening Joel Osteen visited hundreds of followers in Waxahachie. Though he's one of the most influential people in America and runs the largest church in the country, at his stop at the Hastings Book Store he was very down to earth.

Osteen arrived to spread a message of encouragement, in another bestselling book. The latest publishing is a delight to followers like Barry Wolverton, who was born legally blind. "Of course, I've got a hard time seeing. I was born that way, so I've got all mine [books] on audio," he explained. "I've got just about everything that he's [Osteen] put out; including the brand new one that he put out recently."

From the dozens who stood in line at the book store, to the more than 40,000 followers at Lakewood Church in Houston, Osteen is touching lives.

Charlene Smith says Osteen's message has helped her many times. "He's very inspirational, and it seems like he's talking directly to me." Wolverton says he has been strengthened by the words of the senior pastor. "I went through a critical time at work a couple years ago, and his message has helped pull me through."

Osteen says he and his family are also encouraged when others succeed through the word. "Be inspired, to have their faith challenged and just somebody to be encouraged to dream bigger, believe bigger, to know that no matter where they are they can rise higher," was the message Osteen had.

In his newest work, "It's Your Time", Osteen gives accounts of personal triumph. He and his wife of 22 years, Victoria, took on his father, John Osteen's, ministry in 1999. The couple built their mega church in 2005 and hold major evangelical events throughout the world.

Pastor Osteen says the message is faith-based inspiration. "It's about believing trusting and expecting God's goodness."

Monday Osteen talked with us before greeting followers, taking pictures, and signing copies of his new book.

The author and pastor said his new book is different because different times call for different writing measures. "My first couple of books were more about principle, how to improve your life, how to reach your potential. But it seems like there was so much negativity in the world with the economy and different things happening... I wanted to write a book to just lift people's spirits, and to get them expecting God's goodness… even in a down time."

Even teenagers showed up to see Osteen in Waxahachie. "I have his bible carrier right here, because he's taught me so much about being myself, and everything is possible," 14-year-old Micah Lett said with excitement.

Micah's brother, James, also stood in line, with books in hand, to meet Osteen. "I just now started being a youth leader at church so I can go to church and let them know I actually met and talked to Joel Osteen."

Pastor Osteen says his hope is that his message will help improve the lives, of all who read it. "I would hope that they go away with knowing they can accomplish their God-given dreams, their goals, that they can overcome obstacles. That God is in control of their life. That even when it doesn't seem like things are going their way that they come back to a place of trust and know that God has a plan."

While in Waxahachie Osteen signed about 420 copies of his latest best seller; last week in New York he signed about 1,000 copies.

Source: CBS11.tv

FW Seminary Acquires Dead Sea Scroll Fragments

2010-01-28T18:25:00.000-08:00

Theological Seminary is to unveil three newly acquired biblical Dead Sea Scroll fragments.

The more than 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1940s in caves in Israel overlooking the Dead Sea. The scrolls include the earliest known version of portions of the Hebrew Bible. They have shed light on Judaism and the beginnings of Christianity.

Southwestern spokesman Thomas White said the fragments acquired Tuesday include Scriptures from the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Daniel.

When asked how Southwestern was able to get the fragments, President Paige Patterson said "I can only say that God must have smiled on us."

"Any piece of the Dead Sea Scrolls is significant because it shows us what the state of the Hebrew text of the Bible was 2,000 years ago, which gives us a way to measure whether or not they've been faithfully transmitted over the last 2,000 years," Weston Fields, executive director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation, said in a statement.

"And what they do tell us is that there has been very little change," Fields says. "They show how faithfully the Bible has been transmitted."

"It makes us the center for Dead Sea Scroll research" says Patterson.

Southwestern is one of three U.S. institutions to own scroll fragments and the only evangelical seminary in the nation to have fragments with biblical text, White said. The University of Chicago and Azusa Pacific University in California also have pieces of the scroll.

"If this thing is put together nicely, a display is made, you will find thousands of people flocking to Texas not just to see the Super Bowl, but to see the Dead Sea Scrolls" says scroll expert Peter Flint.

Southwestern purchased its fragments from a private collector for an undisclosed amount and is in negotiation for future pieces.

"We have a lot of hidden treasures that very few people know about here in Fort Worth," White said, noting that the seminary has other ancient documents, including cuneiform tablets.

The scroll fragments will be displayed in a campus library that is part of a 3,500-seat chapel Southwestern is building.

Source: CBS11.tv

Powerball Lottery Comes To Texas January 31st

2010-01-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

The Powerball and Mega Millions nationwide lottery games will launch their partnership this weekend. The largest lottery agreement in U.S. history creates the largest market ever for jackpot games.

On January 31st, the Texas Lottery will start selling Powerball tickets across the state.

Players here in the Lone Star State will have their first chance to win in the Powerball drawing on Wednesday, February 3.

Powerball joins the already-popular Mega Millions game in Texas. "We are excited to add Powerball to our mix of games, and we welcome the new states to Mega Millions," Texas Lottery Commission Deputy Executive Director Gary Grief said in a press release. "As the number of people playing both games increases, we could see jackpots rising higher and faster than ever before."

To mark the introduction of Powerball to Texas, the Texas Lottery is planning special Customer Appreciation Days at stores throughout the state during February.

Check your lottery results anytime at cbs11tv.com/lottery

Source: CBS11tv.com

Storm Moves Through North Texas

2010-01-28T18:22:00.000-08:00

From WFAA.com Weather Blog

As a winter storm moves across North Texas and temperatures drop overnight, WFAA.com will report the latest developments.

7:41p: The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued flood warnings for:
The East Fork of the Trinity River at McKinney in Collin County from late Thursday to late Friday night, or until the warning is canceled

Chambers Creek near Rice in Navarro County from Saturday morning until Sunday evening, or until the warning is canceled

The South Fork of the Sabine River near Quinlan in Hunt and Rockwall counties from late Thursday to late Friday night, or until the warning is canceled

- National Weather Service
6:54p: A powerful storm dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain on Oklahoma and the southern Plains Thursday, disrupting power to thousands of Oklahoma homes and businesses, canceling flights at the state's largest airports and shutting down major highways. Ice accumulations of more than one-half inch and high winds snapped electrical lines across Oklahoma, knocking out electrical power to about 57,000 homes and businesses. It could take five days to restore service to all customers.

- Associated Press
6:03p: Forestburg ISD has delayed Friday's opening until 10 a.m.

- WFAA-TV Staff
6:01p: Witnesses at the Stephenville Nursing Home said a 50-foot chunk of corrugated metal roofing that was picked up by the storm Thursday afternoon and then slammed down on top of the facility's kitchen. "All of a sudden there was this terrible noise," said one witness, who added that the chunks of insulation material flying through the air made it look like it was snowing. That prompted an evacuation of the building's 24 residents to a sister facility in Dublin, about 12 miles away. No one was hurt.

- Chris Hawes in Stephenville
6:00p: This powerful storm is hitting hard in Oklahoma, where many highways have already been shut down. Trees are falling across roads in the Oklahoma City area, where ice is accumulating. We're seeing nothing but rain in North Texas -- a lot of rain. One to two inches of rain has fallen as of 6 p.m. and more rain is on the way, with up to two additional inches in the forecast. We're still looking at an all-rain event in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding counties for the morning rush hour on Friday, but as the system moves through North Texas and temperatures drop, we still could see some very light freezing rain, freezing drizzle and a flake or two of snow by noon in the immediate Dallas Fort-Worth area. A winter weather advisory is in effect from midnight through noon Friday for counties to the north and west of the metro area.

- Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus
5:38p: Gov. Rick Perry has activated Texas military forces to assist local officials with winter storm-related issues.

- WFAA-TV Staff
5:18p: There are no severe storms in North Texas at this time, but there is still a chance of some severe weather with a squall line that is moving southeast of Dallas packing wind up to 50 mph along with heavy rain.

News 8 WeatherBug rainfall totals have already reached 1.45 inches at Wayside Middle School in Fort Worth and 1.41 inches at Forte Junior High in Azle. Heavy snow of up to 1.5 feet has already fallen in the Texas Panhandle. Icy conditions are reported across much of Oklahoma.

Overnight, temperatures in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties are forecast remain above freezing, and morning rush hour drivers should encounter only rain. But by 9 a.m. Friday most of Denton County and a good chunk of Tarrant County will be receiving a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet; some bridges and overpasses could present problems.

By the noon hour, I expect very, very light freezing rain or drizzle, but the storm system will be moving out of the area during the afternoon, and we should be dried out by 6 p.m.
If there is any ice at all in Dallas-Fort Worth, it will be extremely light, with higher amounts the farther northwest you go.

- Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus
5:05p: North Central Texas College locations in Bowie and Graham have canceled all classes for Thursday night because of the winter storm.

- WFAA-TV Staff
5:03p: The administrator at Stephenville Nursing Home confirms that no patients were hurt during the storm that damaged a 50-foot swath of the building's roof. An evacuation plan moved 24 patients by bus to a sister facility. Officials said water damage and roof damage will be repaired as soon as possible, and they are hoping to be back in business early next week. Stephenville residents are urged to switch on their porch lights to let utility workers know which homes and businesses have power.

- Troy Bush and Chris Hawes in Stephenville
4:55p: The City of Fort Worth has issued a Winter Weather Advisory, anticipating that the potential for freezing temperatures combined with precipitation on Thursday night and Friday morning "could cause some problems."

- WFAA-TV Staff
4:30p: There were no injuries reported after wind clocked up to 66 mph blew away a section of the roof at the Stephenville Nursing Home, 2311 West Washington Street. A city official said 24 patients have been evacuated to another facility. A portion of a roof at Tarleton State University in Stephenville was also damaged in the storm, with some flooding and tree damage reported.
- HD Chopper 8 pilot Troy Bush over Stephenville

Upgrade ahead for Fort Worth passenger rail line

2010-01-28T18:16:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON – President Obama and Vice President Biden announced $8 billion in grants today to develop high-speed intercity passenger rail service, including $4 million for Fort Worth for signal improvements to increase the speed of Amtrak's Texas Eagle.

The White House released an outline of the grants in advance of today’s announcement which noted that the Texas Eagle, the daily Chicago to San Antonio line which serves Fort Worth, "will increase operating speed" and "improve on-time performance" between Fort Worth and Austin.

At an event in Florida, Obama and Biden announced the awards that will go toward developing or laying the groundwork for 13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country.

Florida will get $1.25 billion for a new high-speed rail corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando that will later connect to Miami and other communities in central and south Florida.

Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram

North Texans hunker down for an even colder night Thursday

2010-01-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

North Texans on Thursday braved a powerful arctic air mass that pummeled temperatures into the 20s, unleashed single-digit wind-chill values and forced a slippery commute in some locations.

The temperature dropped to 22 degrees with a wind chill of 8 early Thursday morning. By 2:30 p.m. the mercury had climbed to 28 degrees, but the wind chill made it feel like 11.

People got on with their lives, but even colder, more dangerous conditions faced homeless people Thursday night.

Many hunkered down in shelters, makeshift tents and around campfires, anticipating nighttime temperatures expected to bottom out in the low teens, with wind-chill values at zero.

Full Story on Fort Worth Star Telegram

Lockheed Martin leases space in Fort Worth office complex

2009-09-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Lockheed Martin leases space in Fort Worth office complex
By Steve Brown / The Dallas Morning News
September 11, 2009

Developers of a Fort Worth office complex have landed a major tenant. Lockheed Martin Corp. has leased 61,945 square feet of space from Wilcox Development in the Wilcox Plaza at Green Oaks.

The three-story office building at 7000 Calmont Avenue on Fort Worth's west side opened this summer. The space is near Lockheed Martin’s assembly plant and runway.

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Fort Worth Homes

2009-08-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Mays Realty Group is a Fort Worth real estate firm specializing in Tarrant County. A down to earth group of realtors who value communication, ensuring their clients are always informed with accurate and timely information. Their agents come armed with more than just knowledge of real estate. Each agent has served in some type of client-based service profession prior to entering the real estate field.

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Fort Worth Entertainment

2009-08-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a place to go tonight, Fort Worth offers many venues of entertainment and restaurants to enjoy with friends and family. These are places worth visiting whether you live in Fort Worth, a city over, or simply stopping by Fort Worth for the summer.

Fort Worth Entertainment
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Southlake Local Links

Bell, engineering union reach contract agreement

2009-08-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press / Chron.com
August 17, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas — Bell Helicopter has a new three-year contract with a union representing about 175 engineering workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The company said the Bell Production Engineers Association ratified the contract Sunday night by a three-to-one margin. The contract includes a cumulative wage increase of 10.4 percent over the three years of the deal, and each union member will receive a $3,000 cash ratification bonus.

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Batteries Plus positive on plans for Fort Worth market

2009-08-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

By Aleisha Howe / Fort Worth Business Press
August 17, 2009

With one successful location on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth, Hartland, Wis.-based Batteries Plus is charging up to install four to six new locations in the Fort Worth area in coming months.

Batteries Plus, a franchise battery retailer, has targeted the greater Fort Worth area for expansion plans and currently is searching for qualified franchisees.

“Fort Worth is primed for additional Batteries Plus expansion,” said CEO Russ Reynolds. “Our track record in similar markets, coupled with a significant and growing consumer demand for battery products and services, makes Batteries Plus a lucrative opportunity for ambitious entrepreneurs in the Fort Worth area.”

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The future of the past: The C. M. Davis “Aparthomes” in Fort Worth

2009-08-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

By Kevin Buchanan / Pegasus News

In the 1930s, as the Great Depression brought on tough times for the city of Fort Worth, a concrete engineer named Charles M. Davis and his daughter Zoe became interested in transferring that concrete engineering knowledge to the creation of affordable, compact homes. They adapted that engineering work to the Streamline Moderne style and created a series of one-bedroom “Aparthomes” (apartment-homes) in the TCU/Berry Street area. The homes were sponsored by the Portland Cement Association.

Today, four of the C. M. Davis Aparthomes are still standing, and here’s a look at how they are today.

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More Tarrant cities focus on saving trees

2009-08-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

By Elizabeth Campbell / Star-Telegram.com
August 16, 2009

Imagine tree-lined streets and heavily wooded areas seemingly left untouched by development in a city experiencing an explosion of growth.

That is a vision Burleson leaders cling to as rooftops continue to pop up on the horizon and the extension of Southwest Parkway from Fort Worth promises even more.

It’s also why Burleson is considering adopting an ordinance designed to save trees and create green space. But unlike other municipalities, the city is taking an approach that its leaders hope will save its leafy canopies in huge swaths, not one piece of property at a time.

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Dallas-Fort Worth home prices improving slightly

2009-08-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

By Steve Brown / The Dallas Morning News
July 29, 2009

Home values in the Dallas area are showing modest improvements from a low point set in early 2009, according to the latest data released Tuesday.

But Dallas-area prices were still down 4.1 percent in May from a year ago in Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Home Price Index report.

Some analysts are betting that the North Texas market will flatten out later this year after more than two years of steady declines in prices and sales.

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Major Events Put Fort Worth On World Stage

2009-06-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― From golf, to baseball to music Fort Worth has had a variety of events this weekend.

It all translates into big dollars for the city at a time when Fort Worth is facing a budget deficit.

"We are both from Venezuela," says Miguel Angel.
Angel in his wife are in town for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at the Colonial Country Club.
"I'm a golf fan and that's basically the reason why we choose this area," explains Angel.

Golf fans had plenty of options this weekend.

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Dallas, Fort Worth gas prices edge up

2009-06-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

May 28, 2009

Gasoline prices in Texas edged upward in the past week, AAA-Texas said in a report.

The report says Texas gas prices jumped more than six cents in the Lone Star state alone, and climbed nine cents nationwide.

Motorists in Texas are currently paying $2.33 per gallon, which is still below the national average of $2.45 per gallon, but 38 cents higher than what the average Texan was paying last month.

In Dallas, a gallon of gas is now selling for $2.33, up from $2.26 a week ago. In Fort Worth, a gallon of gas is now going for $2.32 per gallon, which is up from $2.24 per gallon.

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The Road Warrior: Wise County gets $37 million for highway project

2009-06-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

By GORDON DICKSON May. 31, 2009

The incredible population growth of Dallas-Fort Worth continues to spread its tentacles north and west.

Not long ago, Wise County was considered a rural enclave and wasn’t even part of the federally recognized metropolitan planning area. Today, it’s the beneficiary of a big ol’ chunk of metropolitan-style highway money.

A $37 million chunk, to be precise. That’s the amount awarded to contractor J.D. Abrams L.P. to widen a two-lane stretch of U.S. 380 to a four-lane, divided highway from Decatur to the Denton County line.

The 10.5-mile project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2011 — and until then motorists can expect delays. The work could begin in weeks.

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DFW schools' later closing dates cause headaches

2009-06-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

By DIANE SMITH and SHIRLEY JINKINS

Gabriel Hinojosa’s last days of second grade at Castleberry Elementary School have been fun-filled.

The 8-year-old took part in May Day, Popsicle Day, Playground Day, Ball Day and Father’s Day Craft Day. But no day brightens his face (complete with a grin missing front teeth) like the last day of school.

"I’m going swimming every day," Hinojosa said of his upcoming summer vacation, which starts Thursday for Castleberry schools. "I wish it was just over already."

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North Texas will have to rely on state for road funding

2009-06-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

June 1, 2009

MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER

Later today, we'll know whether the giant transportation bill that has been deadlocked in the Legislature for the past week is on its way to the governor's desk, or whether Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, has succeeded in talking it to death.

But this much we know for certain: The local-option tax proposal, the one tool North Texas leaders said would give the region a fighting chance to thin out its traffic and clean up its air, is not going to pass. Carona said Sunday: "Local-option is absolutely, positively dead."

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Rise in Tarrant County property values puzzles some homeowners

2009-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

By ANTHONY SPANGLER May. 16, 2009

FORT WORTH — A reeling economy plus rising foreclosures plus a faltering housing market equals higher home values.

Sound like fuzzy math?

Thousands of property owners in Tarrant County may be asking that question. Roughly the same number of homeowners’ values increased as fell, but overall property values rose 4.6 percent in Tarrant County in the past year, according to preliminary data.

Full Story

Dallas-area home foreclosure filings jump 31% from last year

2009-06-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

May 14, 2009 By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

The number of Dallas-Fort Worth area homes scheduled for foreclosure next month jumped by almost a third from a year ago.

But foreclosure filings inched down a bit from the record highs recorded last month.

More than 5,000 homes in the four-county area are threatened with foreclosure at next month's auctions, a rise of 31 percent from a year ago, Addison-based Foreclosure Listing Service said Thursday.

The biggest jumps were in Tarrant and Collin counties, where the volume has risen about 40 percent since last June.

Full story

Texas state parks to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day

2009-06-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

May 29, 2009
PegasusNews.com

Any time is a good time to head outside to hike, camp, backpack, picnic and enjoy other recreational pursuits, but Saturday, June 13, has been designated National Get Outdoors Day to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun.

As a part of the second annual GO Day, more than two dozen Texas state parks are joining federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and recreation industry leaders throughout the nation in hosting a variety of outdoor recreational activities and special events to mark the day.

On the outskirts of San Antonio, for example, Government Canyon State Natural Area is inviting the public to join volunteers for an 8 a.m. guided hike on one of the many canyonland trails. In addition, reservations are being accepted to attend a presentation by an expert in First Aid and CPR on how to hike safely in hot weather with your four-legged companion. "Hot Dogs-Tips on Summer Hiking With Your Pet" will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (210) 688-9055, ext. 291 to reserve your spot.

Full Story

Dallas-Fort Worth: A good place for a fresh start

2009-05-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

By Brendan Case
May 21, 2009

The Dallas-Fort Worth finished second behind Austin in a national ranking of "best cities for a fresh start," compiled by Relocation.com, an online resource for moving services.

To compile the list, Relocation.com looked at consumer requests to move to that city, economic growth prospects, home affordability and a volunteerism rates, which it says help measure community strength.

Full Story

More buyers interested in Forth Worth foreclosed homes

2009-05-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
May 21, 2009

With home foreclosures soaring in most parts of the country, the number of interested buyers of these properties is growing.

More than half – 55 percent - of Americans quizzed for a new survey said they would consider purchasing a previously foreclosed house. That’s up significantly in the last few months, according to the survey which was done by Harris Interactive.

Full Story

Fort Worth to offer up to $25,000 loan for buying local foreclosed homes

2009-04-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

BY ALESHIA HOWE
April 27, 2009

Using a $6.3 million federal grant, the city of Fort Worth is rolling out a Down Payment Assistance Program to help qualified individuals purchase lender-foreclosed homes in seven selected ZIP codes throughout the city.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded the $6.3 million to the Fort Worth Housing and Economic Development Department to provide assistance in the redevelopment of foreclosed homes. The funds come from HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

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Home warranties increase even as home sales fall

2009-04-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

BY ALESHIA HOWE April 27, 2009

Anxious buyers and sellers aren’t the only ones keeping a close eye on the Texas home market these days. After testing its home warranty package in several states throughout the nation, Bedford-based Warrantech Corp. launched its Warrantech Home Assurance Plan in Texas at a time when recession worries seem to be helping the warranty industry.

Warrantech Home Service Co. launched its home assurance plan, hired 17 sales representatives throughout Texas to begin touting the product and has plans to hire at least 10 more in coming months.

Full Story

Fort Worth high school to debut innovative energy program

2009-03-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

The Fort Worth Independent School District and the Independent Petroleum Association of America are joining forces on a forthcoming four-year, high school program that they hope will transform the image of an energy industry job from a “dirty rig” to one in which math and science are an integral part of a technologically advanced career.

This fall, Southwest High School will offer the Southwest Academy for Petroleum Engineering and Technology, a “school within a school” for 50 incoming freshmen who want to learn more about energy and engineering.

Full Story

Find Fort Worth Homes from a Tarrant County Realtor.

Great city key to developing Fort Worth tourism

2009-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Building a city that will attract tourists starts with building a city that will attract residents.

This idea on how to have successful tourism and urban growth was one of many remarks from the mayor of Charleston, S.C., Joseph P. Riley, who was the keynote speaker at Downtown Fort Worth Inc.’s annual meeting March 26.

Riley, who currently is serving his ninth term as mayor of Charleston, explained his work in revitalizing downtown Charleston at the meeting, and offered tips on how Fort Worth can continue to build its downtown and tourism industry.

Full Story

February existing home sales rise by 5.1 percent

2009-03-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2009
By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate Writer

WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes jumped unexpectedly in February by the largest amount in nearly six years as first-time buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures and other distressed properties.

Economists said sales, while still at levels not seen since 1997, may finally be coming back to life after declining sharply following the stock market plunge last autumn.

Read Full Story

Fort Worth Southlake Texas Homes For Sale

Stocks jump on bank plan, rise in home sales

2009-03-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

By TIM PARADIS, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK – Wall Street is getting the good news it wants on the economy's biggest problems: banks and housing.

Investors reignited a two-week rally Monday after hearing the government's plan to help banks remove as much as $1 trillion in bad assets from their books and home sales showed a surprise increase. Major stock indexes jumped as much as 4 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which rose nearly 300 points.

The Treasury Department said its plan would rely on the government's $700 billion financial rescue fund, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as well as private investors.

Full Story March 23, 2009

Accounting mistake may cost North Texas Tollway Authority

2009-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

By GORDON DICKSON

North Texas Tollway Authority officials say they overstated their assets by $105.5 million in a report late last year, an accounting error that could affect the agency’s financial health.

However, officials with the Plano-based agency say they’ve taken steps to prevent such a mistake in the future. The agency is joining with the Texas Transportation Department to build the Southwest Parkway toll road in Fort Worth this year.

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Fort Worth Neighborhoods | TCU Area

2009-03-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

Houses in Fort Worth

TCU is our home team and Mays Realty Group wants to be your home team. We live and work in the TCU neighborhood. We have assisted many TCU faculty, staff and students with relocation to Fort Worth.

Mays Realty Group is a full-service real estate agency specializing in residential, commercial and land in the TCU area and beyond. With an office located in the heart of the TCU community we are able to provide real estate services where and when you need them. Our Broker/Owner, Sharon Mays and a number of our agents are graduates and loyal supporters of TCU. You're likely to find our staff at a university movie screening, sporting event or musical program.

At Mays Realty Group we have experience relocating families and individuals to Fort Worth and the TCU community. We have the resources, background and latest technology at our disposal. Mays Realty is part of an extensive real estate network. We are "in the know" about local properties sometimes before they are on the market and can offer our clients unique real estate opportunities. We offer personalized relocation services - we can assist with a move to the area from near or far. At Mays Realty Group we are committed to providing our clients with unmatched personalized attention. We assist with every phase of your move.

Fort Worth rated among healthiest housing areas

2009-03-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

Fort Worth is one of the healthiest metropolitan areas for housing in the country, according to Builder magazine, in conjunction with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.

Fort Worth ranks third on the list of Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009, after Houston (No. 1) and Austin (No. 2). The study looked at the housing markets in 75 metro areas. In all, five metro areas in Texas made the survey’s top 15 — all at the top. San Antonio was No. 4 and Dallas No. 5.

"When the housing market stages its official recovery, the markets listed on the following pages are likely to lead the parade," according to the Builder magazine article by Boyce Thompson posted this month.

Full Story

Tarrant's top elected leaders cool toward casino legislation

2009-03-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

By DAVE MONTGOMERY

AUSTIN — Legislation to create up to 12 urban casinos in Texas is touted as a potential big moneymaker in lean times, but top Tarrant County elected officials aren’t sold on the plan and appear ready to resist efforts to bring a casino to Fort Worth, saying the potential downsides may outweigh the pluses.

"I would explore other sources of revenue before I would encourage casino gambling in our city," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.

"There are a lot of minuses as far I’m concerned," said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck. "It wouldn’t be at the top of my list."

Full Story

Restaurants Get On Board With Texas Smoking Ban

2009-02-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

A potential statewide ban on indoor smoking is finding new support -- from North Texas restaurants.

Restaurant owners say a statewide ban would simplify confusion over the patchwork of different local ordinances.

Jerry Walker, president of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, lobbied lawmakers in Austin for a statewide law.

"When you can go to one city and have another set of rules in another city, it does affect business," he said.

Gov. Rick Perry opposes to a statewide ban, but Texas lawmakers are considering one.

Full Story

Fort Worth Entertainment

Fort Worth History

2009-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Fort Worth was founded as a military camp in 1849 and named after General Jenkins Worth. The fort was established to protect 19th century settlers from Indian attacks. It grew into a bustling town when it became a stop along the Chisholm Trail. Fort Worth became the center of cattle drives and the ranching industry.

The heyday of the cattle drives was known as Hell's Half Acre, an area of town filled with gambling parlors, saloons, and dance halls. In 1876, the Texas & Pacific Railway connected Fort Worth and transformed the Fort Worth Stockyards into a premier livestock center. When oil was discovered in Texas, Fort Worth was in the middle of it all.

Today, the city is portrayed as more old-fashioned and laid back than its neighbor, Dallas. Known as Cowtown, for its rough-and-rowdy roots, Fort Worth still celebrates its colorful Western heritage today and bills itself as "Where the West Begins."

In more recent years, Fort Worth has been referred to as "Funky Town" by mostly urbanites.

Ft Worth Homes

American Eagle plane makes emergency landing at D/FW Airport

2009-02-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

February 26, 2009
WFAA-TV

An American Eagle passenger jet landed safely at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport today after an alarm was triggered and passengers reported smelling smoke.

Flight 3890 out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, made an emergency landing shortly after 1 p.m., and fire trucks surrounded the plane after it landed.

Officials said a sensor indicated smoke in the cargo compartment, said Jamie Morrison, a CNN producer who was on the plane.

American Airlines flight 2461 also issued an alert on Thursday after smoke was reported and landed safely at the airport.

Source

Dallas - Fort Worth Foreclosures for 2008

2009-02-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

There were more than 20,000 foreclosures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during 2008, mostly in southern and eastern Dallas County, according to data from Foreclosure Listing Service.

See the map here.

Ft Worth Homes

Plans to divide stimulus money among Fort Worth-area projects

2009-02-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – Texas highway officials, carving up federal stimulus money, are endorsing projects that range from a big toll road in Fort Worth to road improvements across North Texas.

Among the ideas:

•$250 million for the DFW Connector toll road project, which would expand State Highways 121 and 114 near Grapevine in Tarrant County.

•$60 million to repair dozens of existing highways in Dallas, Collin, Tarrant and nine other nearby counties.

•$144 million for a new interchange at Interstate 20 and State Highway 121 in Tarrant County.

Full Story

Comedian Lily Tomlin brings her tour to Fort Worth’s Bass Hall

2009-02-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

By JOY TIPPING / The Dallas Morning News

Is 69 the new 39?

"In my case it certainly is," says 69-year-old Lily Tomlin with a laugh. "I've got the same energy as when I was 39, but with a lot more experience.

"A lot." Tomlin, in a recent phone interview, says she has "never stopped touring, never. I've always had an act. I do 40 or 50 dates in a year; I fit them in between whatever else I have going on." She'll bring the current tour to Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth tonight.

Although her career has ranged from stand-up comedy to television and Tony Award-winning theater to Oscar-nominated film work, she says she needs to stay in touch with her fans, and comedy's the best way to do that. "They're like a big family to me, and I have to keep my hand in. Plus, I love to work on the stage more than anything else."

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Live local Fort Worth music for Feb. 27-March 5

2009-02-26T13:56:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY

GLASS CACTUS (Grapevine) Covers: Texas Unlimited Band. 9 p.m. $10. 817-778-2800.

KIRBY'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE (Southlake) Blues, swing: Glennda Hill group. 7 p.m. Free. www.kirbyssteakhouse.com.

SATURDAY

GLASS CACTUS (Grapevine) Disco covers: Le Freak. 9 p.m. $10. 817-778-2800.

KIRBY'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE (Southlake) Jazz: John Adams Trio. 7 p.m. Free. www.kirbyssteakhouse.com.

Koi turn up dead in Fort Worth Japanese Garden after accidental chlorination

2009-02-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

Pegasusnews.com
Feb. 25, 2009

More than 100 Koi fish were discovered dead today in the Japanese Garden pond after the water was accidentally chlorinated overnight.

The garden’s three ponds normally contain about 800 of the brightly colored orange fish that range in size from about six inches to three feet in length.

The accidental chlorination occurred during normal pond cleaning that is carried out every other year.

The procedure involves lowering the water level in the pond and placing two 55-gallon stock tanks filled with raw water in the pool to contain the fish. The tanks are filled with a water line that normally carries raw water, but due to a maintenance procedure at the nearby South Holly Water Treatment Plant, the line also was being injected with tap water. Tap water contains levels of chlorine that are safe for human consumption, but are harmful to Koi fish.

The Japanese Garden is closed to the public today.

Source

Dallas-Fort Worth home prices slide, but not as bad as nationally

2009-02-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

By Andrea Jares

Feb 24, 2009

North Texas home values dropped 4.3 percent between December and a year ago, according to figures released Tuesday morning from the S&P Case-Shiller Price Indices.

The price drop is the second-least severe of all 20 metro areas surveyed. Denver had a 4 percent drop.

Dallas-Fort Worth is also faring better than the national average, which saw an 18.2 percent drop between December 2007 and December 2008.

Full Story

Ft Worth Homes

Dallas-Fort Worth area to have new warning guidelines for storm emergencies

2009-02-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

By BLANCA CANTÚ / The Dallas Morning News
Feb. 24th,2009
North Texas emergency officials announced new guidelines on Monday for outdoor warning systems to establish a standard for notifying residents of severe weather and other potentially catastrophic events across the region.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments formally unveiled the recommendations to kick off severe weather awareness week. Outdoor warning systems are typically referred to as tornado sirens but can be activated for other reasons.

Full Story

Fort Worth stock show: Mustang Magic

2009-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

What: The Mustang Magic event at the Fort Worth stock show allows trainers of wild mustangs to compete for prize money. The horses will be judged on body conditioning and handling with trainers demonstrating a free-style routine that can include jumping and roping. After the event, the mustangs can be adopted by the public.

Where: Inside the Justin Arena on the grounds of the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth

When: 6 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Saturday

Cost: Free with $8 adult or $4 child's stock show admission

Depression-era program helped shape North Texas landscape

2009-01-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

By BILL HANNA
Jan. 23, 2009

FORT WORTH — It doesn’t take long for surviving Civilian Conservation Corps members to relate their experiences from the Great Depression to what’s happening today.

Seventy years ago, these men were employed on back-breaking public works projects across Texas and the United States.

Many of these old-timers believe public works programs similar to the CCC that were started by Franklin D. Roosevelt should be revived in these uncertain times.

Full Story

Fort Worth names new police chief

2008-10-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

FORT WORTH — A veteran of the Phoenix police force was appointed as Fort Worth's new top cop on Tuesday.

Jeff Halstead will take over as chief of the Fort Worth Police Department if he is confirmed by the city council. Halstead most recently served as commander of the Phoenix Homeland Defense Bureau.

He has been a part of the Phoenix force for two decades after working his way up the chain of command from a rank-and-file officer.

Full Story - News 8

DFW Home Prices Drop

2008-10-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

slide in U.S. home prices gained speed in August.

And home prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area dipped lower as well.

Home prices fell by a record 16.6 percent in Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller's monthly housing report.

In the D-FW area, prices fell 2.7 percent in August from a year ago in the benchmark home survey.

Out of the 20 markets Case-Shiller tracks, "13 of them had their annual returns worsen from last month's report," S&P's David M. Blitzer said in the survey. "As seen throughout 2008, the Sun Belt markets are being hit the most."

None of the cities Case-Shiller follows had an increase in home prices from last year.

The sharpest declines were in Las Vegas and Phoenix down more than 30 percent.

The D-FW area had the smallest home price decline of all the cities in the report. But the annual dip in home values here grew slightly from July to August.

Full Story DallasNews.com

Hip Pocket Theatre closes season with 'The Last Lake Rat’ about Lake Worth

2008-10-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

Oct 14, 2008

By PUNCH SHAW

FORT WORTH — What is Lake Worth worth to you?

The answer will probably go a long way toward determining your level of interest in The Last Lake Rat, which opened at Hip Pocket Theatre on Friday night.

This sweet and gentle Valentine to a body of water, and the memories still floating there, was written and directed by Hip Pocket co-founder Johnny Simons. He has subtitled the piece "a handmade home movie musical collage," and that describes it pretty well. This 50-minute work is more a musical revue or song cycle than a stage show.

Full Story

American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation Host Sixth Annual Sky Ball Fundraiser

2008-10-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Oct. 10, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas-- American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation (FWAPF) are once again uniting to support the families of North Texas military personnel and pay tribute to the "Greatest Generation," the veterans of World War II. This year more than 600 American Airlines and American Eagle employee volunteers will help host the sixth annual Sky Ball on Saturday, Oct. 11, at American's Alliance Airport (AFW) maintenance hangar to raise funds to benefit the families of area service men and women. This year's celebration will include a celebrity appearance by actor Gary Sinise, star of CSI-New York and Lt. Dan in the film Forrest Gump.

DK

Full Story

More than 1,000 Louisianans in Tarrant are waiting to return home

2008-09-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Olidge Narcisse is grateful, but he has one big problem with the city of Fort Worth: It’s not home.

Narcisse, 49, who left his home in the New Orleans area Sunday night to avoid Hurricane Gustav, is one of more than 1,000 south Louisiana residents staying in Tarrant County shelters and waiting for the bus ride back home.

"I love the city from what I’ve seen so far," Narcisse said Wednesday afternoon. "But when more money is going out than what is coming in, you begin to miss home."

South Louisiana residents fleeing Gustav began arriving in North Texas on Sunday night. The hurricane hit Monday morning.

Late Tuesday, President Bush authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide individual assistance to Louisiana residents of several parishes. The assistance can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs and other "serious disaster-related expenses," according to FEMA.

Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance, according to the agency.

By late Wednesday, buses, cars packed with sleeping bags and groceries began pulling away from Tarrant County.

full story here

Appeal denied for Texas death row inmate who admitted killing 5 in Tarrant County

2008-08-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Quick - August 18, 2008

A Tarrant County man who confessed to killing five relatives has lost a federal court appeal of his conviction for fatally shooting his two stepchildren while they slept.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholds the conviction of Terry Lee Hankins and moves him a step closer to execution for the 2001 slayings of Kevin Galley, 12, and Ashley Mason, 11. Their bodies, and the body of their mother, 34-year-old Tammy Hankins, were found in their mobile home in Mansfield, about 20 miles southeast of Fort Worth.

After Hankins was arrested in August 2001, he told police where to find the decomposing bodies of his father and half-sister, with whom he had a child and was expecting another. He said he fatally shot Earnie Hankins, 55, and bludgeoned Pearl "Sissy" Sevenstar, 20, in the fall of 2000.

According to court documents, he lied about his sister's whereabouts, saying he had sent her to a home for pregnant mentally-challenged women. However, he had stored her body in a plastic ice chest, then hid it in a car at his father's auto shop.

Full Story

Grand Prairie Man Hit By Lightening at Joe Pool Lake near Dallas

2008-07-16T11:31:00.001-07:00

July 15, 2008 - GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- A Fort Worth man died overnight after he was struck by lightning while camping at Joe Pool Lake, near Dallas.

Police say Dexter Leonard was hit Tuesday evening while rushing to load his camping gear in his car after a storm broke over Lynn Creek Park at the south Grand Prairie lake. He was taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital in nearby Arlington, where he died early Wednesday. Full Story

Fort Worth Named Top 10 Places to Live & Launch 2008

2008-04-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Fort Worth Named Top 10 Places to Live & Launch in 2008 by Fortune Small Business.
Chosen based on economic conditions and natural natural beauty as well as nearby cultural centers.

Report: Dallas-Fort Worth won't see big home price declines

2008-04-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Report: Dallas-Fort Worth won't see big home price declines
11:08 PM CDT on Thursday, April 10, 2008
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
stevebrown@dallasnews.com

While North Texas' housing market decline has accelerated in recent months, analysts are still betting that the Dallas-Fort Worth area won't see measurable price declines.

Indeed, the latest report from mortgage insurance firm PMI Group says that D-FW is one of the last places in the country likely to see a drop in home prices during the next couple of years.

There's less than a 1 percent chance that home prices will fall here, according to PMI's spring risk index report, which was released Thursday.

At the same time, PMI says that 13 of the nation's top housing markets have more than a 60 percent likelihood of home price declines.

Full Story

Storms Damage Businesses & Homes in DFW

2008-04-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

HURST, Texas — Hundreds of Texans spent Thursday cleaning up from overnight storms that snapped utility poles, peeled roofs from buildings and sent trees crashing into homes in West Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Full Story

April 10, 2008, 8:41PM

Fort Worth is a Launching Pad for business

2008-04-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Fortune Magazine has named Fort Worth as a "launching pad for businesses."

Students interested in starting a business will not have to go far to find a start.
Fortune Small Business recently ranked Fort Worth the ninth-best place in the nation to "live and launch" a business. David Minor, director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center, said this designation will attract students to Neeley's entrepreneurship program. Minor said the ranking shows Fort Worth has a vibrant entrepreneurial environment and will boost the reputation of the entrepreneurship program. "It's now a destination school for entrepreneurs," Minor said.
Brad Hancock, assistant director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center, said Fort Worth has always been a maverick, and this designation shows that its pioneering, spirited atmosphere is now being recognized.

Fort Worth Approves Change in Deal with Bank

2008-03-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

"Fort Worth will be giving its bankers a smaller cut of gas drilling revenues under a new agreement unanimously approved Tuesday with JPMorgan Chase, which handles the city's mineral leases."

Full Story

For homes for sale in Fort Worth, Mansfield and Cedar Hill with our MLS Listings.

Rainwater's 'Single Worst Investment'

2008-03-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes even billionaires make bone-headed moves. Richard Rainwater, the legendary Fort Worth investor, has seen a 70% decline in just two months on some $100 million he put into troubled home lender Thornburg Mortgage . Rainwater calls it the "the single worst investment of my career.

Full Story

Get the best Fort Worth home for sale only from the premier Fort Worth homebuilder.

Fort Worth May Back Down from Planned Fees for Developers

2008-03-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

"A consensus is building among land developers and city staffers that would scale back the proposed road impact fees on new construction in Fort Worth.

New homes in most of Fort Worth would see an impact fee of $1,500 under the proposal, with lower fees in two regions of town and no fee in most neighborhoods inside Loop 820. Under the original proposal, the area inside Loop 820 would have been largely exempt, but the fees in other areas would have ranged from a few hundred dollars to a maximum of $6,102."

Full Story

Banks in D-FW Feel the Pinch of Weaker Loans

2008-03-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

"After a decade-long run of growth, Dallas-Fort Worth banks were reminded in 2007 that what goes up can come down."

Full Story

Learn more of Dallas and Fort Worth from your DFW Realtor.

The Dolly Johnson - 45th Annual Antique Show

2008-03-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

March 8-9, 2008
Will Rogers Memorial Center
3400 Burnett-Tandy
Fort Worth, TX 76107

"For a new spin on presidential politics, the March 8-9 Dolly Johnson Antique Show will feature “Antiques and Their Presidents” at the 45th annual show in Fort Worth Texas. Over 50 exhibitors from across the nation will arrive at the Will Rogers Memorial Center with American antique furniture and accessories, including many treasures identified by presidential eras, from Washington to Ike."

Fort Worth News Sources

2008-02-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

Eagle Mountain Lake

2008-02-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

Eagle Mountain Lake is a popular lake located in Tarrant County bordering Azle and Fort Worth. Many people live along Eagle Mountain Lake, as there are many master planned communities and new homebuilders offering custom homes in the Eagle Mountain Lake area.

Location: On the West Fork Trinity River, just north of Fort Worth and Lake Worth in Tarrant

County Surface area: 8,738 acresMaximum depth: 47 feetImpounded: 1932

Water Conditions
Current Lake Level

Conservation Pool

Elevation: 649 ft. msl
Fluctuation: 2-9 feet
Normal Clarity: Clear in the lower end near the dam, stained in the upper end
Reservoir Controlling Authority
Tarrant Regional Water District
10201 North Shore Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76135
(817) 237-8585

Aquatic Vegetation
Very little at present; controlling authority has initiated attempts to establish native aquatic vegetation in the reservoir.

Predominant Fish Species
Largemouth bass
Spotted bass
Channel catfish
White bass
White crappie
Lake Records-->Stocking History

Statewide regulations apply to all fishes.
Angling Opportunities
Eagle Mountain has most of Texas' most popular sport fishes including largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, and white crappie.

Eagle Mountain Lake

Homes near Eagle Mountain Lake

History Maker Homes Happy Hour - Fort Worth TX

2008-02-20T14:40:00.001-08:00

Valley Brook Estates - Fort Worth Texas by History Maker Homes is having a Happy Hour Feb. 21, 2008 from 4:30 - 6:30 to toast the unveiling of our new model and welcome center.

Fort Worth Home Builders

UFO in Fort Worth Texas

2008-01-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

FORT WORTH, Texas - Faced with reports of a massive UFO that was being chased by jet fighters, Air Force Reserve officials have reversed themselves and now say their fighters were training nearby the night dozens of Stephenville-area residents reported seeing the unearthly air show two weeks ago. (Full Story)

Home Sales Drop Biggest in 19 Years

2008-01-13T11:00:00.001-08:00

North Texas new-home sales fell by the largest amount in 18 years in 2007, according to figures released Friday by the housing-tracking firm Residential Strategies.A glut of inventory, tougher requirements for loans in the last half of the year and a fiercely competitive market all contributed to the worst nose dive since the real estate crash of the late 1980s. Fort Worth Star Telegram

Bass Hall - Things to Do in Fort Worth Texas Jan. 2008

2008-01-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Bass Hall houses the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concert. The 2,056-seat hall features lively entertainment throughout the year.

Events for 01/13/2008 to 03/13/2008
Rhapsody on PaganiniMiguel Harth-Bedoya, ConductorYevgeny Sudbin, PianoPresented by: Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Dates / Times:
Sunday, 01/13/2008 2:00 PM
ALPHA REVwith The Fieros (formerly The Valentines)Presented by: Bass HallPerformance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street

Play! A Video Game SymphonyMiguel Harth-Bedoya, ConductorPresented by: Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Dates / Times:
Saturday, 01/19/2008 8:00 PM

An Evening with Vickie WinansPresented by: Bass HallCo-presented by:The Greater Fort Worth Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee
Dates / Times:
Monday, 01/21/2008 7:00 PM

John HammondPresented by: Bass HallPerformance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street
Dates / Times:
Saturday, 01/26/2008 8:00 PM

André Watts, pianoPresented by: Cliburn Concerts
Dates / Times:
Thursday, 01/31/2008 7:30 PM

Fort Worth Real Estate

Fort Worth puts inspection info online

2008-01-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

Biz Journals The city of Fort Worth's Web site is adding information about inspection reports for restaurants, day care facilities and pools.

Fort Worth Real Estate
Fort Worth Homes

Livestock Show Rodeo in Fort Worth

2008-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Saddle up, Fort Worth, it's rodeo time! Dallas Morning News - Dallas, TX, USA The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show Rodeo in Fort Worth is about to launch its 24-day run at the Will Rogers Coliseum Complex.

Fort Worth News for November 2007

2007-11-21T11:06:00.001-08:00

Nov. 20, 20007 - Fort Worth stops adding flouride to drinking water due to nationwide shortage of the tooth decay fighting compound. Fort Worth Star Telegram. Part of the reason for the shortage of Flouride is due to Hurricane Katrina, which "disrupted production of the phosphate fertilizers that are the source of most of the fluoride used in drinking water."

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Lake Granbury - Fort Worth's Hottest New Area

2007-08-08T22:18:00.001-07:00

Lake Granbury is actually in Hood County, but it's still very close to Fort Worth and could be considered a suburb of Fort Worth. The Granbury TX area is alive with new construction, new homebuilders and real estate transactions as folks flock to the area for fishing, boating, hunting and outdoor excursions. The area is popular among retirees and vacationers alike for it's pristine country vistas and down-home atmosphere. The Lake Granbury square is especially popular, as are the handful of bed and breakfasts in the small town. If you're considering purchasing Lake Property in Texas, Lake Granbury may have the waterfront property of your dreams!!!

Fort Worth School Districts

2007-02-11T21:39:00.000-08:00

Aledo ISD
Arlington ISD
Azle ISD
Birdville ISD
Burleson ISD
Carroll ISD
Castleberry ISD
Crowley ISD
Eagle Saginaw ISD
Everman ISD
Forth Worth ISD
Godley ISD
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Keller ISD
Kennedale ISD
Lake Worth ISD
Mansfield ISD
Masonic Home ISD
Northwest ISD
White Settlement ISD

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Trends in Home Home Decor

2007-02-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

Buying a brand new homes? If you're both lucky and rich your walls will be bathed in rich hues that make family and friends sit and stay a spell. If you're really blessed you have the gobs of faux finish spattered about with a burnt umber gloss for the aged plaster patina. If you're like the rest of us, sometimes lucky and rich in spirit, you're starring at those white walls wondering how to make winter white look wow. Brrrrr

Brand new homes sometimes come with pretty colors, but for the most part it's more economical to paint after your house is built. If you're not an interior designer, what can you do to assure your walls welcome you and yours? Here's a few tips from someone just like you--me. Only I have taken the time to write down my wall ponders for your benefit. This is not the decorator's gospel... it's just a normal gal's guide to making her four walls pop.

1. Choose warm colors. If I've learned anything in my life, it's that you want a warm and inviting feeling in a house, unless you are an ultra modern condo dweller. Warm colors with hints of red, orange and yellow remind us of warm sunlight as opposed to cold colors that make you think of being freezing...(who wants that at home?) Neutral colors are just that--neutral, boring, plain and are good for walls as a type of visual relief.

Paint colors for 2007

Fort Worth Real Estate Blog News

2007-01-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

(Fort Worth) - Sundance Square officials unveiled architectural plans and renderings for The Carnegie, a new 16-story office building under development in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. The 280,000-square-foot Class A building will open June 2008. Occupancy in Sundance Square, including the 33-story Wells Fargo Tower and the 38-story D.R. Horton Tower, has exceeded 97 percent in the past 18 months. This is the first new building to be constructed in Sundance Square since 2002. EOG Resources Inc., who currently occupies over 50,000 square feet in the Chase Bank and the Woolworth buildings, has leased six floors of the building. Located across from the Fort Worth Central Library on West Third, The Carnegie's first floor will offer 12,549 square feet of retail space. Sundance Square is a 20-block commercial, residential, entertainment and retail district. Sundance Square currently boasts three Class A office addresses consisting of more than 2 million square feet of office space.

[Businesswire]

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