Resources

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Texas Industrial Security, the PID security contractor, can be reached at 817-335-3046. Please see Safety and Security Brochure here for additional details.

The Fort Worth Police Department has two Homeless Liaison Officers assigned to East Lancaster Avenue. You can call these officers directly for any concerns:

  • All of Fort Worth: Officer Rachel Bockman 817-266-5923

  • East Lancaster (East Side Fort Worth): Officer Brent Martinez 817-944-7903

The Fort Worth Police Department has Neighborhood Patrol Officers (NPOs), who can help deal with crime trends, but they often depend on details from those owners.  We encourage owners to get to know their NPO.  Names and phone numbers for East Lancaster Avenue NPOs are:

  • 1800-2599 E Lancaster: Officer Victor Tapia 817-994-5729

  • 2600-3699 E Lancaster: Officer Michael Chavez 817-988-1435

  • 3700-4699 E Lancaster: Officer Zachary Board 817-988-1019

  • 4700-5650 E Lancaster: Officer Elise Espinoza 817-584-2185

  • 5651-6099 E Lancaster: Officer Roger Cannon 817-994-8479

FINANCIAL HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND DEVELOPERS

The city of Fort Worth offers grants, fee waivers, and tax abatement programs for eligible East Lancaster Avenue businesses, property owners, and developers that include but not limited to:  

  • Neighborhood Empowerment Zone

    • Tax abatements and development and impact fee waivers for eligible Residential, Multi-Family, Commercial, Industrial, Community Facilities and Mixed-Use projects.

  • Façade Improvement Program

    • Reimbursement of $1 for every $3 spent up to $30,000 for eligible business or property owners located within an Urban Village or located along commercial corridors within one half mile of one of the three designated Urban Villages on East Lancaster.

  • Chapter 380 Grants – Catalytic Development Incentive

    • 380 grants for projects located along East Lancaster (specifically, Designated Investment Zones, Revitalization Areas, and Urban Villages) that are Mixed-Use, create a hub of entrepreneurial activity, fill a gap in the neighborhood (such as a grocery store in food desert), or create significant job opportunities and commit to at least $5 million in investments.

  • Chapter 380 Grants – Surface Parking Lot Redevelopment Incentive

    • 380 grants for the redevelopment of surface parking lots located along East Lancaster that support compatible businesses in the Central Business District and associated commercial corridors. In order to be considered for 380 Grants, a project must redevelop a surface parking lot in the Central Business District that occupies at least 30% of the area of the City block on which it is located. For developments that include multiple lots owned by unrelated parties, the grant amount increase to up to 45%.

For more information about these and additional programs for small businesses, property owners, and developers, contact the Fort Worth Economic Development Department at 817-392-2610. 

PROJECT FINANCING      

·  Community Development Financial Institutions

  • CDFIs specialize in providing flexible, affordable, and patient financing and support to small business owners, affordable housing developers, nonprofits, consumers, and commercial real estate in historically underserved communities. Loan amounts can range from $250,000 to $5 million.

SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURIAL RESOURCES 

  • Business Assistance Center – coaching & mentoring, community development lending, training (for starting and growing a business, pivoting a business, minority certifications, accounting, sales and marketing strategies, etc.), technology support and development, and more.

  • Sparkyard.co – personalized business action plans for next steps, online database of local resources, and more!

HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDIT

You may be eligible for a 10% tax credit for the rehabilitation of a non-historic, non-residential building built before 1936.

  • Non-historic means the building must not be a certified historic structure.  (A certified historic structure is a building that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or a building that is located within a Registered Historic District that has been certified by the National Park Services as contributing to the historic significance of the district).

  • At least 50% of the building’s exterior walls existing at the time of the rehabilitation began must remain in place as exterior walls at the conclusion of the work.

  • At least 75% of the building’s existing exterior walls must remain in place as exterior or interior walls.

  • At least 75% of the buildings internal structural framework must remain in place.

  • The tax credit must be claimed on IRS form 3468 for the tax year in which the rehabilitated building is placed in service.  There is no formal review process for rehabilitation for non-historic buildings.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS  

The impression the public forms regarding East Lancaster Avenue is primarily visual.  Property owners who look at their property with “new eyes” may find some relatively inexpensive things that will improve the property’s appearance and safety, or which may reduce liability:  

  • Repainting the building exterior.

  • Repairing or updating exterior lighting.

  • Replacing/repositioning parking bumpers.

  • Resealing/re-striping the parking lot.

  • Removing unnecessary items, such as old pay phone cabinets, poles, etc.

  • Repainting sign structures and/or getting new inserts to update their appearance.

  • Proactively managing trash and trash receptacles.

  • Reducing visual clutter as seen from the street.