The City of Fort Worth is holding off on moving forward with the rezoning of a portion of the Hemphill corridor after area residents expressed concerns over gentrification and the raising of property taxes.
The rezoning would affect the area along South Hemphill Street from West Allen Avenue on the north, down to West Felix Street on the south. It’s currently a mix of various zoning designations, so the city wants to create a more uniform district that is “intended to guide expected growth along the corridor in a contextual manner,” according to a city staff report. The area would be zoned mixed use — that is, for residential and commercial uses — under the name “Near Southside General Urban.”
However, nearby residents — including the group Hemphill No Se Vende (which translates to “Hemphill Is Not for Sale,” a nod to the area’s predominantly Hispanic community) — voiced concerns over the rezoning, saying development could raise property taxes, force out current residents and business owners, and, ultimately, lead to gentrification.
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