UT Southwestern is looking to grow its Moncrief Cancer Institute in Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood.
Before its plan can become a reality, the medical center has to navigate several government entities for the nod on one major request that is necessary for the expansion: to permanently close a block of South Jennings Avenue.
Representatives for UT Southwestern and the Moncrief Cancer Institute spoke to Fort Worth’s Urban Design Commission on June 20, seeking approval for the proposal. The commission enforces the city’s design standards and guidelines for new construction and renovations.
UT Southwestern currently owns a parcel across the street from the Moncrief Cancer Institute and intends to use the property and the vacated portion of South Jennings Avenue to expand by nearly 65,000 square feet to accommodate a new radiation oncology facility and parking garage.
Dr. Keith Argenbright, medical director of the Moncrief Cancer Institute, said the new services will fill a need for cancer patients in Tarrant County, as “now is the time to complete our treatment offerings with radiation therapy.”
The Urban Design Commission voted 7-0 to approve the street closure recommendation. The proposal will now head to the City Plan Commission for the next approval before Fort Worth City Council members cast final votes at a later date.
Before casting her vote, Urban Design Commissioner Cheryl West, who represents District 2, shared concerns about the possible street congestion that could occur if that portion of South Jennings Avenue is cut off.
Members of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, located at 509 W. Magnolia Ave., would experience traffic issues, she said.
“You’ve got a Catholic church on the corner of Jennings and Magnolia and it’s really difficult when there’s all these people coming out at one time,” West said. “Jennings was a way for them to go north, and now everyone either has to turn left or right.”
Argenbright said UT Southwestern plans to fund the installation of traffic signals to facilitate street access and encourage traffic on Grainger Street.
In May 2009, UT Southwestern received approval from the Urban Design Commission to close a block of May Street and build the Moncrief Cancer Institute, which officially opened its doors in 2012.
The Moncrief Cancer Institute offers medical and surgical oncology, chemotherapy, imaging and a mixing pharmacy. The institute has provided more than 14,000 cancer screenings in total, according to Argenbright.
Mike Brennan, president of Near Southside, Inc., said the nonprofit supports the Moncrief Cancer Institute expansion.
“This one-block stretch of Jennings is not the most important part of Jennings from a circulation standpoint,” Brennan said at the June 20 meeting. “We want to work with UT Southwestern to make sure that any negative impacts are minimized. We feel very strongly that this is a huge benefit.”
David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
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