Fort Worth Fire, Property Taxes, and Holiday Events Roundup

Good morning, this is Fort Worth Local Pulse for Thursday, December 11, and we are glad you are with us. We start on the east side, where Fort Worth firefighters are still keeping watch after that three alarm apartment fire yesterday on Gazebo Lane near Trinity Boulevard and 360. According to CBS Texas, up to 60 of our neighbors from 16 units are displaced, but there are no injuries, and the Red Cross and property managers are helping families find temporary housing. Crews are expected to stay on scene much of the day as investigators work to confirm the cause. As we head out this morning, we are looking at cool, breezy conditions with clouds hanging around and a small chance of light showers mainly east of downtown. Temperatures stay in the 50s and low 60s, so we may want a light jacket if we are walking around Sundance Square or along the Trinity Trails. This afternoon stays dry for most of us, and we are on track for a clearer, slightly warmer Friday. From City Hall, we continue to feel the impact of the state debate over property taxes. The Texas Tribune reports that Governor Greg Abbott, speaking recently in Fort Worth, is pushing a plan that would require voters to approve nearly all city property tax increases. That would put more decisions about funding police, fire, and street repairs directly in our hands, but it could also tighten the budget for fast growing cities like ours. On the business and jobs front, Porsche Cars North America has opened a new parts distribution and technical training center here in Fort Worth, a more than 300 thousand square foot facility that creates a couple dozen full time jobs and supports dealerships across Texas and the region. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics also lists fresh openings this week, including mid level supply chain and engineering roles at the west Fort Worth plant, keeping our local aerospace job market strong. Looking at food and retail, Atlanta based Smalls Sliders has signed a deal to bring five new burger spots to north Fort Worth, adding more quick dining options along our growing corridors. At DFW Airport, Community Impact reports new Whataburger and Raising Canes locations are coming to Terminal B, giving travelers a taste of Texas comfort food before they even leave the gate. In real estate and small business news, developer Ron Sturgeon is highlighting how his earlier Box Office Warehouse Suites project in the Fort Worth Design District helped micro businesses get affordable space, and he is now expanding that shipping container retail concept to south Arlington. That means more options ahead for our local solo entrepreneurs looking to move out of the garage and into a storefront. For culture and events, Fort Worth Weekly notes that tonight we can head over to Arts Fifth Avenue on 5th Avenue just south of downtown for Cake and Prose, a live reading of A Christmas Carol from 7 to 9, with cake at intermission and local music to close out the evening. Later this week, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.