Mecca Of Multifamily Development Near Downtown Clashes With Fort Worth's Past, Cemetery Association Says

Arlington TX

06 May, 2022

7:56 PM

Description

By Sandra Sadek, Fort Worth Report May 6, 2022 A 6.5-acre plot of land nestled between multi-family buildings easily could be mistaken for a park if it weren't for the scattered historic Victorian-style headstones and plaques. Many of them mark the final resting spots of Fort Worth's founders. Pioneers Rest Cemetery, generally thought to be Fort Worth's oldest public cemetery, paints a picture of the settlers who helped establish the city throughout its early years. Members of the Pioneers Rest Cemetery Association, which maintains the cemetery, believe many of the graves extend beyond the current perimeter. The possible burial places are of the people who worked to build this area, according to the association. Now, the association worries a new five-story, 172-unit apartment building planned along the southern border of the cemetery could disturb the city's storied past. "One of the things we can't do is stop progress. But we can at least be respectful of our history," John Roberts, chairman of the public affairs committee for Historic Fort Worth Inc., said. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.