FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth City Council has voted to designate one of the city’s oldest power plants as a historically significant endangered structure, aiming to preserve a key piece of the city’s industrial history while encouraging future redevelopment.
The facility, located along the Trinity River just north of downtown near Panther Island and the Northside neighborhood, first opened in 1912 and served as one of Fort Worth’s primary power-generation sites for more than four decades. City officials say the plant helped fuel the growth of Fort Worth’s early industry and infrastructure, and its red-brick structure has remained a recognizable landmark for over a century.
Under the new designation, the property qualifies for a 15-year site tax exemption, an increase from the typical 10-year incentive for historic sites. City leaders say the extended exemption is intended to attract developers interested in preserving the structure while finding new uses for the space.
Officials note the building’s location positions it as a strong candidate for redevelopment, sitting between the growing Panther Island project and the established Northside community. Its riverfront setting and industrial design could support a range of future uses, including cultural, entertainment, or mixed-use development.
City leaders say the designation is meant to both protect the site’s historical significance and encourage innovative redevelopment that maintains its character.
The effort was led by members of the City Council as part of a broader push to preserve Fort Worth’s historic landmarks.
