Where I Live: From the ’burbs to urban living, move to downtown Fort Worth is life-changing

December 8,2024

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See full Fort Worth Report article by The FWR Staff here.

Who would have imagined that this couple of suburbanites who raised a family in their large dream home near Lake Arlington would end up living in an 800-square-foot leased unit a few blocks east of Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth? Not us. Never!

But now we cannot imagine living anywhere else.

When my husband’s degenerating vision necessitated the end to driving and working, we could no longer maintain a lifestyle with a two-story house and yard in a neighborhood not adjacent to stores or other businesses, with no sidewalks and very limited walkability. We researched 55+ communities and put down a large deposit on one in south Fort Worth. 

We had previously been on the waiting list for what was then called Hillside Community Center near downtown Fort Worth. We unexpectedly received a call that there was an opening. It checked all our boxes. It was walkable and had some handicapped accessible units with ramps, bathroom rails and covered reserved parking. Most of all, it is composed of triplexes and was not a high rise/condo or apartment complex — a dealbreaker for my husband.

We also desired some grass, trees and an outdoor patio to relax, entertain and expand our living space. We loved that it was part of a diverse area that felt like a neighborhood. We forfeited (sigh) our other deposit and immediately accepted the lease at Hillside, now named Jennings Place. An unexpected delight has been the diverse and caring people that share our block.

Our nearest neighbors include a lovely young family with a new baby, a veteran who recently finished a graduate degree at TCU and several other retirees like ourselves who check in on us. Though we happily pay market rate, we celebrate the fact that there is also assistance to afford families the opportunity to rear their children in a safe and peaceful residential locale.

Living downtown has enriched our lives with so many opportunities for an active lifestyle, volunteer opportunities, cultural and spiritual activities, a busy social life and public transportation — including ease of airport access.

The ability to walk almost everywhere has improved our health as well as giving my husband much needed independence. The downtown YMCA provides Silver Sneaker programs, weight rooms, yoga, pool access, and the facility even provides a place for members to play mah-jongg and socialize. (We can also utilize our community pool and workout center.) Those killer steps at Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus have been my personal physical therapy since a recent hip surgery.

Social and cultural activities abound downtown. Friends and relatives ask what we do here. There is not enough space to list all the activities we have personally participated in or attended, but here are some of our favorites within walking distance of our home.

• Musicals, symphony concerts and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at Bass Hall. 
• Live theater at Circle Theatre and the amazing Jubilee Theatre.
• Live music and summer movies in Sundance Square.
• Movies at the AMC Palace 9 Theatre.
• Noon music, movie nights, Zumba, yoga and family holiday celebrations at Burk Burnett Park (thanks KayLee Pratt and Downtown Fort Worth Inc. for great Burnett Park programming).
• Special events including Main Street Arts Festival and the holiday Parade of Lights.
• Free monthly historical walking tours of downtown (thank you Tim D. Young, Realtor).
• Monthly networking events at restaurants, bars and hotels sponsored by Fort Worth Downtown Neighborhood Alliance to facilitate residents connecting with one another while supporting local businesses.
• Sid Richardson Museum, which offers special events like monthly Tea & Talk sessions in addition to free admission to view the extensive collection of fine Western artwork.
• Churches of many denominations in a 15-minute walking radius. We joined the historic First Christian Church, and the proximity has allowed us to become more fully involved.
• Classes for senior adults and continuing education courses at Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus.
• A multitude of patios, restaurants and coffee shops where we always encounter other downtowners. 

We had not considered that an urban environment would be such a source of so many fulfilling volunteer opportunities. My spouse volunteers each weekday at the Community Eye Clinic on Taylor Street. This is a hidden philanthropic gem in our city. Year to date in 2024, the clinic has served 4,600-plus patients, provided 2,700 pairs of glasses and contributed $600,000 of charitable care. As a family that understands the importance of vision care, we are honored to support an organization that works to provide for the needs of an underserved population.

I serve on the board of the Downtown Neighborhood Alliance and am on the Livable Cities committee, sponsored by Downtown Fort Worth Inc. I have also volunteered at Bass Hall for musicals and the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, the Parade of Lights, Pictures with Santa and movie nights at Burnett Park and the Main Street Arts Festival. All of these build personal and community connections and we feel invested in local affairs.

One of the life-changing advantages of our urban lifestyle is convenient public transportation. After not utilizing public transportation for 40-plus years, we now appreciate it and use it frequently. We can walk to the Intermodal Transportation Center on Jones Street to avail ourselves of easy access to buses, trains and even car rental. 

We are able to ride buses to the Northside/Stockyards or West 7th area. (The Dash to West 7th makes grocery and other shopping a breeze.) Molly the Trolley, now the Blue Line, provides free rides around the downtown perimeter. 

Best of all is the train service. Why drive and try to park in Dallas, Grapevine or Dallas Fort Worth International Airport? The TRE is our go-to mode for Stars and Mavericks games or concerts at the American Airlines Center because it drops you off at the venue. TEXRail deposits us right at DFW Terminal B for our frequent flights to visit our grandson. We also ride TEXRail to Grapevine for dining, wine festivals and holiday events. Bonus: The train is only $1.25 for a senior day pass. (Only $2 for you young folks!) What a deal for so much convenience.

What a full life downtown Fort Worth has provided for us. As I mentioned previously, we never imagined living here but now cannot imagine living anywhere else.

Cindy Brennan lives with her husband, Peck, in downtown Fort Worth. 

This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Locations Mentioned: AMC Palace 9 Theatre, Bass Performance Hall, Burnett Park, Community Eye Clinic, First Christian Church, Sid Richardson Museum, Sundance Square Plaza, Tarrant County College- Trinity River Campus, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth