An elementary school in Fort Worth that’s endured structural issues and fire damage is slated to become a city park after its demolition.
S.S. Dillow Elementary in the Fort Worth Independent School District was approved for demolition and asbestos abatement by the school board on Tuesday night, and officials will negotiate with the City of Fort Worth to turn the property into a public park. The school in East Fort Worth on Avenue N was permanently closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year due to structural issues related to a suspected water leak beneath the slab foundation of the building. Last month, a 2-alarm fire caused further damage to the building, which took two and half hours to contain with more than 80 firefighters responding to the blaze.
Fort Worth ISD records note that the fire “further increased the severity of the situation and underscored the urgency to act on this request and proceed with abatement and demolition,” which will cost the district up to $1,035,000.
School board members unanimously approved this action without discussion, in addition to authorizing negotiations and entering into a lease agreement with the City of Fort Worth for the park conversion. District records noted that the property could be reverted to a school facility in the future “should demographic trends dictate the need for additional enrollment capacity in the area.”…