Proposed Levee Project Covers 1843 Treaty Site

By Kim Brewer
Star-Telegram Writer

Two Arlington real estate developers will be asked to preserve the integrity of an important historical site in a proposed 2,100-acre project along the Trinity River, says the Tarrant County Historical Commission chairman.

"From the standpoint of preserving the site, there's not much there except the historical marker," Duane Gage said Thursday of Bird's Fort, where an 1843 peace treaty was signed by some of Tarrant County's pioneers and 10 Indian leaders. "What we would like for them to do is develop some sort of theme to preserve the marker and heritage. We wouldn't want to block the development."

The site of Bird's Fort is part of a 111-acre tract owned by Charles D. Armentrout of Dallas. Although Armentrout has refused to sell the land to the developers of the mixed-use real estate project, he may be forced to relinquish the property if the project gains the approval of several governmental bodies.

Armentrout, 70, said he has a sentimental attachment to the property, which has been in his family for decades.

But the two developers want to transform Armintrout's land and almost 2,000 adjoining acres into a $1 billion project including shopping centers, office complexes, homes and apartments. The plan already has the support of the Arlington City Couneil, the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district and most of Armentrout's neighboring property owners.

Thursday, the developers sought approval of their project from the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Commissioners postponed action until their meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Approval also is needed from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Water Commission.

The developers, Gary Sibley and Jimmy Wolf of Meridian Services Corp., bought out Armentrout's neighbors long ago, but Armentrout held out. He enjoys taking schoolchildren on tours of the Bird's Fort site. No part of the fort remains today, but a monument and historical marker commemorate it.

"I didn't know whether this (development) was going to go through or not,"Armentrout said in a telephone interview Thursday. "I knew they were buying land but I had no reason to sell. I've always enjoyed going out there and working around the place. Just because somebody wants to buy your land doesn't mean you have to sell it."

The developers have asked county commissioners to establish a governmental entity known as the North Arlington Levee Improvement District. The district would encompass 2,100 acres of flood plain-bordered by Farm Road 157 on the west, Texas Highway 360 on the east, the Trinity River on the south and a Rock Island Railroad line on the north.