Fort Worth has received new honors for two of its historic preservation projects. Fort Worth is one of several cities that have received awards this year from the American Planning Association.
The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) recently announced its Texas Planning Awards for 2023, featuring multiple initiatives and people from around the state. Fort Worth received the Planning Landmark Award for its Stockyards Horse and Mule Barns and a “Great Places” public space recognition for Mule Alley.
The Horse and Mule Barns were originally constructed in 1912 and were designed by Klipstein & Rathmann Architects as fireproof structures. The barns are included on the National Register of Historic Places and are recognized as being among the “finest stables in the world,” according to the nomination document.
“With an original construction cost of $300,000 and a mission design, they were some of the finest stables in the world. They helped make Fort Worth the country’s largest horse and mule market during the early 20th century, providing millions of cavalry animals for both world wars,” per the document.
Work has begun to restore the barns, repairing structural damage and replacing missing bricks, wood windows, steel, and more, according to a release from the city. Mule Alley completed its preservation and rehabilitation project in 2021.
“These improvements created a pedestrian-oriented streetscape while respecting the historic context between the Horse and Mule Barns. This reimagined public space helps promote social interaction and a sense of community for both locals and visitors to the Stockyards and Fort Worth,” read the release.
Justin Newhart, manager of preservation & design for Fort Worth, had written a letter to APA’s awards jury supporting the nomination of the Horse & Mule Barns and Mule Alley for the award.
“The rehabilitation of the Horse & Mule Barns and Mule Alley is a major preservation achievement for Fort Worth. The project was able to bring together a diverse array of stakeholders to create an innovative, forward-thinking rehabilitation project that exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties,” read the letter. “Mule Alley now serves as a pedestrian-friendly environment in what was once a parking lot, and is highly compatible with the surrounding historic context.”
These historic areas of the city are not the only ones that will see preservation efforts. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, located in the Stockyards since the 1940s, is set to receive $2 million in renovations, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
