City of Fort Worth Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission – October 12, 2026

The Fort Worth Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission met in open session on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 2:07 p.m., after confirming a quorum. The commission handled five cases: a demolition certificate of appropriateness under economic hardship, two appeals of historic preservation officer decisions, a historic site tax exemption recommendation, and a new-construction COA that was continued. The meeting was a recorded public hearing available on the city website.

Minutes

• The commission corrected the previous meeting date to September 14, 2026, and approved the minutes with two abstentions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• In the Bong Drive demolition case, Michael Forbes of TriNight Construction Management spoke for the applicant. He said the applicant has been without the home for six months, wants to rebuild rather than sell, and believes the foundation and MEP systems have more damage than the staff report recognizes.
• Danielle Tucker spoke in support of denying the Cannon Street COA. She described the historic character of the Terrell Heights neighborhood and urged the commission to protect historic districts from owners and developers who do not follow preservation rules.
• On the Ellis Avenue case, owner Deval Patel spoke in favor of his appeal. He said he had preserved or restored the other wooden windows, wanted a service window to support future hotel bar or merchandise service, and preferred natural stone in the proposed planters over concrete forms.
• On the College Avenue school case, Barbara Crawdy, representing the Fairmount Neighborhood Association and its Historic Preservation Committee, asked the commission to postpone the window-replacement decision until the committee could review details. She noted the Carter Riverside High School window project as a possible model and supported the proposed rear additions. Martin Dahl, representing Historic Fort Worth, supported staff’s conditional approval and asked that final window design be reviewed. Carl Crawley, representing Fort Worth ISD, and Tim McMinn of the Presidio Group explained the project, said 30 days would be enough to return with final window designs, and noted Texas Education Agency protective-film and high-impact-glass requirements.

Discussion Items

5536 Bong Drive — HCLC-26-247

• Staff reported that the circa 1953 contributing structure in the Carver Heights Historic District was the subject of a demolition COA under the unreasonable economic hardship criteria, after an earlier demolition denial in August under the loss of significance criteria. The property was purchased by the family in 1962 for $6,825, has no debt service, and has appraised values around $70,000 in recent TAD data. Staff said demolition would cost $12,700, while rehabilitation estimates were $149,000 on the low end and $198,500 on the high end, with $150,000 in secured financing. Staff determined the structure was not damaged beyond repair and could be sold at a profit or rehabilitated, so no unreasonable economic hardship existed. Staff recommended denial. A letter from the Historic Carver Heights Neighborhood Association supported demolition.
• The applicant’s representative argued that the family wants to move back into the home, selling is not an option, and the actual foundation and MEP condition is worse than staff assessed.
• The commission voted to approve the demolition COA; the final announced tally was 6–2. The applicant will still need to return for a COA for any new construction.

1021 East Cannon Street — HCLC-26-242

• Staff reported that a notice of violation was issued on August 25, 2026, for exterior work without a COA. The applicant later received a building permit and the work was completed before preservation review. The applicant declined a compliance agreement, the COA was denied, and the applicant appealed.
• The replacement windows were Ply Gem vinyl units; no photographs were taken before removal. The front bay window was changed from its historic configuration to paired windows, the new windows lack trim and sills, and the new vertical siding terminates at the ground without a skirt. Staff concluded the work does not meet the design guidelines or the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
• The commission voted unanimously to deny the COA without prejudice.

2415 Ellis Avenue — HCLC-26-258

• Staff reported that the owner of the circa 1940 Hotel Texas in the Stockyards Historic Urban Form-Based Code District appealed the historic preservation officer’s decision on a proposal to replace historic wood windows with a steel slider window on the West Exchange Avenue primary facade and to add multicolored stone planters at the front. Staff recommended denial without prejudice because preservation and replacement-in-kind are preferred and the proposed planters were not compatible with the simple historic streetscape.
• Owner Deval Patel said he had restored the other historic wooden windows, positioned the slider to avoid changing the opening, and planned planters combining concrete and natural stone.
• The commission voted 8–0 to deny the appeal without prejudice, allowing the owner to continue working with staff on compatible alternatives.

801 West Shaw Street — HCLC-26-259

• Staff reported that eligible work at the former Our Lady of Victory Academy, constructed circa 1909 in the late Gothic Revival style, had been completed and met the 20 percent expenditure threshold for the historic site tax exemption. The property is designated highly significant endangered, so the exemption would be for 15 years. Staff recommended certification and a recommendation to City Council to approve the exemption.
• No public testimony was offered. The commission voted 8–0 to certify the work and recommend City Council approval.

1419 College Avenue — HCLC-26-248

• Staff reported on a COA for the former De Zavala Elementary School, built about 1913–1914 and now used by Daggett Montessori School. The proposal would remove non-historic window infills, install new Marvin Ultimate Double Hung G2 windows based on historic images, replace the failing roof with a modified bitumen system, and construct two additions at the rear for a science classroom and administrative space. Staff noted that window detail drawings had not yet been provided.
• Public testimony raised concerns about the window materials and appearance and asked for time to review final designs. The applicant indicated the design was substantially complete and could be submitted within 30 days.
• Commissioners expressed concern about approving the case without the window details and moved to continue the case to the November 2026 HCLC meeting rather than decide it that day. The motion passed, with no opposing vote noted.

Key Outcomes

• The September 14, 2026 meeting minutes were approved with two abstentions.
• 5536 Bong Drive: demolition COA approved 6–2.
• 1021 East Cannon Street: COA denied without prejudice unanimously.
• 2415 Ellis Avenue: appeal denied without prejudice 8–0.
• 801 West Shaw Street: eligible work certified and City Council recommended to approve the 15-year historic site tax exemption 8–0.
• 1419 College Avenue: continued to November 2026 so final window designs can be reviewed.