Fort Worth Stockyards, Grand Canyon On Endangered Places List

Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter

WASHINGTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — The National Trust for Historic Preservation has put the Fort Worth Stockyards, Grand Canyon and a former gay nightclub in West Hollywood on its annual list of America's 11 most endangered historic places.

Last year, the Fort Worth Planning and Zoning Commission voted in favor of a multi-million dollar construction project near The Stockyards. A subsequent vote by the Fort Worth City Council approving zoning changes to area paved the way for the $175 million development.

The project, known as the Fort Worth Stockyards Heritage Plan, would change The Stockyards area from heavy industrial zoning to mixed-use development.

Historic Fort Worth Incorporated Executive Director Jerre Tracy is urging the Fort Worth City Council to create a historic district for The Stockyards. "It's the only way to protect and preserve what we know of today as the Stockyards… the historic building."

Many people think that since The Stockyards is a popular area and sees visitors from around the world, there's no way it would be demolished. Tracy says that idea is wrong. "It's not about tourism and it's not about the locals who love The Stockyards. Tourism is strong in The Stockyards. We have about three million a year there. Without local designation as a local historic district our Stockyards will be vulnerable to demolition."

Among those who were against the plan was Concho Minick, president of Billy Bob's Texas. Last year Minick said the proposal moved too quickly and gave no assurances in writing that historic preservation would be maintained. "If we're going to commit public funds, let's have a process where the public has more input into what happens to The Stockyards," Minick said. "Let's do it in a way that benefits the entirety of the Stockyards and not just one developer."

The Holt Hickman family of Fort Worth is partnering with Majestic Realty out of California for the plan.

Fort Worth City Councilman Sal Espino supported the plan, said last year said the city would do what is necessary for preservation. "You will see us moving forward, but with a process and safeguards in place to protect the Western integrity and feel of The Stockyards."

Tracy says despite safeguards the vast majority of The Stockyards is potentially at risk of demolition. "Only 10-percent of the buildings in The Stockyards are locally landmarked. So that means 90-percent of what you think of, and anybody who visits The Stockyards sees as The Stockyards, could be gone today, tomorrow, or the next day. It's all up to the property owner."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation endangered historic places list, made public late Tuesday night, seeks to bring attention to U.S. sites of architectural, cultural and natural heritage that the National Trust deems at risk due to neglect, development or an uncertain future. The list has been published annually for 28 years.

Here's what's on the trust's 2015 list:

—Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas, where a multi-million dollar development is planned.

—A.G. Gaston Motel, Birmingham, Alabama, now vacant, which served as a "war room" for civil rights leaders.

—Carrollton Courthouse, New Orleans, now vacant, one of the area's "most significant landmarks outside of the French Quarter," according to the trust.

—Chautauqua Amphitheater, Chautauqua, New York. A plan to demolish and rebuild the aged amphitheater is controversial among preservationists.

—East Point Historic Civic Block, East Point, Georgia, a neglected downtown block.

—The Grand Canyon, which the trust characterized as threatened by "proposals ranging from tourist resorts to mining."

—Little Havana, Miami, potentially threatened by zoning changes and lack of protection for historic buildings.

—Oak Flat, Superior, Arizona, a sacred tribal site, potentially threatened by mining.

—Old U.S. Mint, San Francisco, which the trust described as neglected.

—South Street Seaport, New York. The National Trust said the neighborhood would be altered by development proposals.

—The Factory, West Hollywood, California. A hotel and retail project is proposed for the site of the former gay nightclub.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)