Fort Worth City Council voted this week to designate the Fort Worth Power and Light Co. as a historically significant endangered structure. This move is expected to help preserve this part of the city’s industrial past.
The city addressed the vote in a Wednesday blog post. According to the post, under the newly approved designation, the property now qualifies for a 15-year site tax exemption. That incentive exceeds the standard 10-year exemption that the city typically offers historic sites.
The extended benefit is meant to encourage preservation and stimulate interest among potential developers or owners who might reimagine the space while retaining the historic character.
Built in 1912, the Fort Worth Power and Light Co. is located north of the Trinity River. The steam-driven power plant used the Trinity to generate electricity for homes, downtown buildings, and the Stockyards meatpacking plants.
It served as one of the city’s primary power-generation facilities, supplying the majority of the electricity that fueled the city’s growth, industry and modern infrastructure.
The building sits at the crossroads of Panther Island and the Northside community, which the city hopes will create an opportunity for creative reuse. The city believes it could turn into a cultural or entertainment venue or a mixed-use development.
City leaders hope the endangered status will safeguard that period of Fort Worth’s history while sparking innovation from those who might want to restore and transform it into something new.