Red Alert: Smith-Swinney Motor Co. Building to be demolished

A depressing bit of news to report today: the Smith-Swinney Motor Company Building, the elegant ’20s structure at 7th & Henderson that was once home to car dealers back in 7th Street’s “Automobile Row” era that sold Hudsons and Essexes, is due to be demolished soon. A bit of backstory:

Last year, a demolition permit was filed by the building’s owner. The building was under 180-day Demolition Delay, and a meeting was held with the owner to see if the buildign could be saved. Three proposals were given by architects to redevelop the building, but the owner never moved forward on any of them. After allowing the building’s Demo Delay to run out, and after allowing it to sit for several more months with its roof rotting away, a new demo permit has been filed on the building. Since the original Demo Delay has already run out, that means the building can be demolished at any time.

This is a terrible disappointment. The building could have served as a nice piece of a redevlopment of that corner (the actual corner lot is vacant, and the old Goodyear store behind the building is also empty). Now, with it being demolished, the future is uncertain. Is there something new on the way? If so, will it be of quality urban design? These questions remain unanswered. Above all else, though, this building should not be demolished, and Fort Worthology is very sad at this latest turn of events. When this building is demolished, only two “Automobile Row” buildings will remain standing: the Firestone service center across the street, and the old Packard dealer down the block. We will bring you more info as it becomes available.