Historic Fort Worth Public Market set for a major makeover

Fort Worth, Texas - Taking a page from its rich history, the Fort Worth Public Market on Henderson Street, just a bit southwest from downtown, is ready to bring back its old excitement. This beautiful old building, which became part of the city's story in 1930, used to draw many visitors from all around, catching their interest with its charm.

Sadly, the promising start of the Market was stopped suddenly by the hard times of the Great Depression. This led to a big drop in the economy, which left the once busy market almost empty. For many years after, there was a real threat that the building might be knocked down, which would erase its historical importance.

Still, this classic Spanish Colonial Revival-style building has stood strong through all the ups and downs, and it's now officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Even though its closed-up windows show the wear and tear of time, the building remains.

Now, a new start is around the corner for this old building, thanks to a company in Fort Worth called Wilks Development, according to Dallas Metro News.

"We really desire to have that sense of community when you walk in you’re going to get the history of it,” said Kyle Wilks, who is the President and CEO of Wilks Development. “You’re going to see the historic relevance of it but bring it into today’s time and usefulness.”

Wilks Development is planning to spend $58 million to renovate the old building. Their plan is to turn it into a lively place full of small shops and coffee spots.

“We’re going to keep its name as the Public Market and this is going to be a place for community so you can go in and grab a coffee, grab a drink you can hang out with your friends,” Wilks said.

A big part of this project is also to add a five-story building for seniors to live in, called The Harden, named after the person who first developed the property.

“You can have this place with … different generations to come together, have discussions and sit down, talk,” Wilks said. “That’s our vision.”

This project aims to bring back the Public Market as an important place for the community, connecting downtown and the Southside in Fort Worth. After almost a hundred years, this beautiful building is getting ready for a new purpose.

“The day that will be the happiest is when we get these locks off these doors and open it up more,” Wilks said.

The plan also includes making the outside of the Market look better by adding green spaces, which will help connect all the different parts of the project. The work on this project is expected to take two years, marking a new chapter for the historic Fort Worth Public Market.