Fort Worth Real Estate Blog

Real Estate Group Planning To Renovate Statler Hilton

2011-03-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM)

By Bud Gillett, CBS 11 News

– It was one of Conrad Hilton’s earliest and most prized successes: The Statler Hilton Hotel, long a landmark on Commerce Street at the eastern end of Downtown Dallas.

But it’s been closed down for a decade, considered an eyesore. Now, a San Antonio firm wants to restore the icon to its former glory.

“It was contemporary for its time but it is very classic,” said UNT Dallas graduate student Suzanne Larkin, as she bought her lunch at the park between the hotel and her classroom.

The Statler Hilton was a marvel when it opened in 1956: 21-inch TVs in all of its 1001 rooms; a heliport. Today, some of the rooms appear stuck in the ’50s.

It nearly faced the wrecking ball.

But now comes Ricchi Investments, which wants to renovate the inside while maintaining its Mid-Century modernism exterior.

“We’re very happy about the Statler Hilton,” said CEO Leo Trevino at a mid-afternoon news conference formalizing announcement of the sale. “We feel a responsibility to bring it back like the ’50s.”

The developer has also purchased the old Dallas Library adjacent to the Statler and will work it into the renovation plans.

The commitment answers prayers both for preservationists and those who wanteconomic development in the east end of downtown.

“It’s important for downtown, it’s important for Dallas, and the reality is it’s going to allow for more development for downtown,” said John Crawford, CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc. “So to see a re-development going on down here – I think this is going to be another arrow in the quiver of downtown that things – that all the right decisions are being made that everybody’s looking for.”

The Statler news would complete a 360-degree renaissance in Dallas.

The Mercantile building has been reclaimed for residential housing. The old Titche’s Department Store is now the home of UNT-Dallas. The former Municipal Building is the future home of the UNT Law School. And now, the Statler Hilton.

In baseball parlance, Dallas has hit for the cycle.

It’s also good news for people who live and work or go to school downtown.

“I think it would bring a lot more ‘community’ feel to the area,” downtown resident Abbey Dewey said as she shared lunch with her friend Matthew Roney. “I think that’s a great idea. I think in, like, five to 10 years it’ll have a lot different feel to it with a lot more people living here.”

Larkin added her approval of the idea. “It’s sad to see a vacant building and when it comes to life you sort of bring new culture into the area.”

Crawford said it feels like it’s helping fulfill a promise made to downtown.

“If you look back six, seven, eight years ago, many things that were kind of vision in some peoples’ minds? Most of those things are now reality. This is kind of frosting on the cake,” he said.

Landlords of Fort Worth Apartments for rent - Give a gift To You Tenant..... Good Real Estate Advice

2009-11-25T09:02:00.001-08:00

Renting a fort worth apartment or a real estate rental property ? You should be, because apparently more of us are renting cheap Fort Worth Apartments as falling house prices and slack demand drags down Western civilisation.So if you are in your studio-based bedsit hovel, or a luxury five-bed pad, do you regret that stipulation of no children (not really), no DSS (probably not) and no pets (sob)? How many times have you thought that life would be more complete with a furry little friend from another species, only to be thwarted by the landlord/managing agent combination?

Gifts for renters pining for companionship dont get any better than an animatronic Guinea Pig.To some, he may be little more than a battery compartment with a small wig, but to many he could be a friend and companion for life or at least until the landlord comes for an inspection. Some of these cyborg rodents are really advanced with all sorts of electronic wizardry to make them truly interactive virtual pets and not just brilliant gifts for women, who as we all know have a soft spot for small furry things.

Some have sensors in the eyes (the rodents, not women of course!) so they can shuffle about the place without bumping into things, which is probably more than you could manage after a few Stellas! Some are scarily real for what are fundamentally toys. They have different moods and if you don't play with them they get lonely and scared and hide in a dark place.

Some react to voices and sounds and come running when you call and theres even some that you have to feed with their own special carrot.Aside from those slightly freaky, Rise of the Machines attributes, animatronic animals are the perfect rental pet - no litter, no pee or poop behind the sofa, no scattered sawdust and easily put in a cupboard when the landlord comes to call.Oh yea, and when you go on extended holiday they dont die on you either!

if you are looking for an fort worth apartment rentals contact your local Fort Worth Apartment Locators

Charles Street will stay Dry! Liquor store in Hebron won't open

2009-11-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

Majestic Liquors toyed with the idea of placing a large store of spirits in Hebron on Charles Street.

It might have drawn customers from the wealthy 'burbs of Carrollton, Plano and Frisco.

But it drew anger, too, from those who live in little Hebron.

The president of the Fort Worth-based firm said today they've cancelled their option to purchase property on Charles Street. That venue is near a high school and churches, as so many noted in this cyberspace.

Instead, Majestic will proceed with a plan to place a Majestic store on Dozier Road, said Majestic president Ben Lanford. Many permits are already in place, Lanford said.

All this came about because of a May election in a small patch of political real estate governed by a Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2. The political cartography can be seen here

And when voters there gave a yes to going "wet" for spirits, or hard liquor, it changed the commercial cartography of the region, too. Most of the bigger 'burbs nearby are merely damp. That means you can only buy beer and wine for off-premises consumption, but can't purchase bottles of Johnny Walker Red, Black or Blue or alcohol known as hard liquor.

Already, in the first six months since the election, a new liquor store selling hard liquor opened in Hebron.

Kind readers, let us know what you think of the latest move.