City Of Fort Worth: City Council Designates $3.5 Million For Far Westside Neighborhood

Dallas TX

15 December, 2021

3:59 PM

Description

Press release from City of Fort Worth: December 15, 2021 City Council has chosen the Las Vegas Trail area to receive the next round of neighborhood improvement strategy funds. Beginning in January, the city will work with the community to decide how to spend $3.5 million to improve residents' quality of life. The Las Vegas Trail area is home to more than 13,700 residents in a 1.69-square-mile area. The neighborhood in far west Fort Worth includes modest single-family homes and more than 30 apartment complexes. Other data that factored into choosing Las Vegas Trail for improvements in 2022 include its 33% poverty rate, 10% unemployment rate and higher than average crime rate. In addition, the area is considered a food desert, with 82% of area residents living at least a mile from access to fresh food. "We've made some great strides in revitalizing the Las Vegas Trail community, but there is still much work to do," said District 3 Councilmember Michael Crain, who represents the area. "The Neighborhood Improvement grant will allow us to amplify those efforts and create real change in the area. I encourage residents, businesses, nonprofits and all those interested in helping make lives better to be involved in the process." Las Vegas Trail is the sixth area chosen as part of an ongoing city strategy to improve public safety and infrastructure, spur economic development and improve neighborhood appearance. The city has invested $14.7 million in five previous target areas, including Stop Six, Ash Crescent, Northside, Rosemont and Como. "In each area, we've listened to residents to learn what they needed most," said Victor Turner, director of Neighborhood Services, the department that administers the program. "Then we work with multiple city departments to get results." Turner said all five target areas have seen a decrease in crime and increases in both the number and value of building permits — a sign of revitalization. Funding for the neighborhood improvement program is allocated from the city's general fund to pay for capital projects, improve public safety and attract private investment in underserved neighborhoods. "It's been a multiyear effort over there, and we're not done yet," Crain said, referring to city activities going back as far as 2017. The city acquired a five-acre property from the YMCA in 2019, secured a three-year lease agreement with the nonprofit LVTRise to deliver community services and sought private matching funds to renovate and open Rise Community Center in 2020. Park & Recreation renovated nearby Calmont Park to add a walking trail, basketball courts and other amenities. The Fort Worth Housing Finance Corporation funded a neighborhood transformation plan that kicked off in November 2021. A federal grant will help pay for a Head Start Early Learning Center, expected to open in 2023. "I want to coordinate the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy funds with the LVTRise transformation plan, the new Public Improvement District and the Housing Finance Corporation to make sure we're getting our biggest bang for the buck," said Crain. The Neighborhood Services Department will meet with leaders of the Western Hills North Neighborhood Association and LVTRise in January to begin planning. A meeting with the entire community will be scheduled in February, when residents will vote on the types of improvements they want to see in their neighborhood. Work will begin in April. Learn more about the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy.      Photo: Rise Community Center, shown here in an architect's rendering, is open and serving residents. Phase two is expected to be completed in 2022.     Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.   This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.