Panther Island
A team led by national real estate expert HR&A Advisors has been selected to provide analysis and consulting services that will guide the future development of Panther Island.
HR&A will serve as project manager and lead for real estate and economic development strategies.
The rest of its consulting team will include civil engineering firm Salcedo Group Inc.; urban planning and design firm Lake Flato; and community engagement and outreach firm K Strategies.
The value of the consulting contract with the city is $560,000, according to the Fort Worth Report.
HR&A has previously worked on similar districts and waterfront projects throughout the country, such as the Anacostia River waterfront revitalization in Washington, D.C., Buffalo Bayou in Houston, the Ion Innovation District near Rice University, Broadway Station in Denver, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, and the master plan for the University of Texas’ research campus.
“The pieces are really coming together for Panther Island,” said Robert Sturns, economic development director for the city of Fort Worth, in a statement. “Local partners and the business community are making a strong economic development push at the district, but we want to be smart about how we do it.
Work with the HR&A team should be completed by the end of the year, according to a press release.
Stakeholder and community engagement will be incorporated throughout all phases of the project, which will start with an assessment of existing conditions, plans and regulations; then shift its focus to development strategies, implementation and governance.
“The expertise and market knowledge that HR&A and their team will bring to the table over the next several months is critical to making sure that we have a complete picture of what’s possible for Panther Island,” Sturns said. “That way, we can make the most of this opportunity and ensure that it makes the kind of impact that has been envisioned for so many years.”
Last year, several important milestones were reached in the continued development of Panther Island, including the allocation of $403 million from the federal government to provide funding for the central city flood control project.