FORT WORTH, Texas — The city of Fort Worth is giving the community a chance to weigh in on the future of Panther Island after unveiling its new plan earlier this month.
During a community meeting held Thursday evening at the Rose Marine Theater in Fort Worth, city leaders, stakeholders and people who live near the manmade island had the opportunity to discuss the project and view the city’s new plan for it.
The city plans to develop 193 acres of public and private developable land. In all, the island stretches more than 380 acres.
The new vision plans for a one-of-a kind waterfront district filled with greenspace, similar to the San Antonio River Walk. There are plans for a walkable and connected pedestrian environment, access to bike routes and active canals with stormwater strategies.
While some neighbors told WFAA they support growth, they’re worried it’ll raise their property taxes and price them out of the area.
Richard Perez, a lifelong resident of the Historic Marine Neighborhood said he feels a sense of guarded optimism.
“It can either be good for us or bad for us,” Perez said. “We’re for development, but we’re for the right kind of development.”
District 2 Councilmember Carlos Flores, whose district includes Northside and the areas surrounding Panther Island, said equitable development is top of mind as plans begin to take shape.
“We’re very cognizant of that, because we have to look at this also not just from a redevelopment lens, but an equity lens and opportunities for all," Flores said. "There was never anyone living in the area to begin with, so there is no displacement. We’re trying to get input from the community, and we have some good data that can mitigate those effects, because we do want the surrounding areas to benefit from the development.”
Gladys Guevara, vice president of the Northside Neighborhood Association, attended the meeting Thursday and said communication and transparency with the community about the development will be key moving forward.
“I welcome the development, it’s just not forgetting about our legacy as a Hispanic community itself,” Guevara said. “Of course we want progression, it’s just, can that progression sustain that community itself at the same pace the city is looking for?”
Thursday’s community meeting, which was open to the public, was one of several the city will hold moving forward.
Transparency about development plans is what Perez said he is hoping for.
“We’re in the loop, the city is listening to us, but as far as making decisions based on what we want, we don’t know yet,” Perez said. “To be continued, we’ll see how it goes.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin construction on a canal to connect two sections of the Trinity River as early as next year.
There’s still no word on when exactly crews will break ground on the development side of the project.