City Council: Vote makes more room for downtown loft project

Burnett Lofts rendering

The Fort Worth City Council, at its Aug. 28 meeting, approved making room for a new lofts development by adopting an ordinance vacating a portion of West 13th Street downtown for the Burnett Lofts. They also agreed to waive any and all purchase fee value in accordance with city policy.

Gorrondona and Associates, on behalf of Burnett Lofts FW LLC, requested vacation of this portion of right-of-way to be replatted with the adjoining property for the new, 245 unit, multi-family development. The project, a partnership between Catalyst Urban Development LLC and homebuilder Lennar, is set to be a mixed-use, residential development on Lancaster Avenue, including apartments, amenity spaces, restaurant sites and retail spaces. The City Plan Commission recommended approval of this request at its meeting on July 25, and an acceptable final plat has been received.

The city does not own any fee interest in the rights-of-way or own any property adjacent to the rights-of-way, and did not expend any city funds to purchase the right-of-way easement. In accordance with the city’s policy regarding street and alley vacation transactions, staff recommended waiving the fair market value or any portion thereof connected to the purchase price of this right-of-way easement.