Money & Trees

The Trinity River has oddly been a focal point for my blogs, from training and running the Cowtown Marathon to riding e-bikes during sunset or going for walks at sunrise. Today, I will be adding to that collection by reflecting on something new. 

I'm in a class called Real Estate Valuation, and the class is working on a real, tangible project for a local Fort Worth developer. We have to come up with design ideas, projected financials, logistics, legal feasibility, and potential risks. The property happens to be right on the Trinity River, adjacent to Wood Shed Smokehouse and across the water from Colonial Golf Course. The land is relatively flat and filled with large trees, which is a rare sight in Fort Worth. 

The developer actually stated that he does not want to tear up the land and remove all the trees to put in a maximally productive multi-story building, but instead wants to give the Fort Worth community something meaningful. Pasted below is one of our concept ideas, which preserves most of the trees and sets up a relatively small and natural concert venue. Of course, it's likely not even close to being Abbey-approved, but for a business project, it's a lot gentler than the average development. 

Upon working on this assignment, and in connection with this class, I've been thinking a lot about how we can enjoy, integrate, protect, and steward nature. There will always be clashes between human comfort and gain and preserving nature, but I'm also motivated by technology and ideas that people are coming up with. The second image below is our group meeting on the site, walking the property, and brainstorming. 

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