Fort Worth officials reported that the city has initiated or finished 36 of the 41 recommendations outlined in its Neighborhood Conservation Plan and Housing Affordability Strategy. The update was presented to the Community Development Committee by the Neighborhood Services Department. This strategy serves as a five-year roadmap designed to address distressed neighborhoods and improve housing affordability.
A previous progress report from January 2025 indicated that 23 of the recommendations had been started or completed at that time.
Kacey Thomas, the neighborhood services director, stated that the department has made meaningful progress toward the plan's goals. She attributed delays in implementation to staffing shortages, limited funding, and competing priorities.
Thomas emphasized a commitment to maintaining momentum, stating, “We are going to be more proactive in working with our departments and our external organizations to make sure we really are keeping our eye on the ball.” She added that the goal is to ensure the report does not remain inactive but continues to drive meaningful activity.
The 41 recommendations are divided between the Neighborhood Conservation Plan, which accounts for 17 items, and the Housing Affordability Strategy, which covers the remaining 24. Thomas reported that 16 of the 17 Neighborhood Conservation Plan recommendations have been started or completed. One specific effort involves mapping vacant residential lots and developing a database of undeveloped city-owned parcels to identify opportunities for residential development.
Additionally, the Open Space Conservation Program has acquired more than 500 acres to provide equitable access to natural areas in underserved communities.
The only Neighborhood Conservation Plan recommendation not yet started is the Neighborhood Strategy Revitalization Areas initiative. This strategy aims to provide flexibility in using Community Development Block Grant funds to accelerate neighborhood improvements. Thomas noted that the department has identified areas such as Las Vegas Trail and Woodhaven as potential candidates and intends to move forward with the initiative in the coming years.
