Sundance Square Plaza to Open by November

Work progressing on two multistory additions to downtown

In less than 90 days, Fort Worth's Sundance Square will open its new plaza.

If you haven't visited Sundance Square recently, you're missing out on the progress in the redevelopment.

For more than a year now, construction crews have been busy turning two old surface parking lots into buildings and a new central downtown plaza.

Welders, cranes and jackhammers continue to work throughout the construction zone, but the Commerce Building and Westbrook Building are progressing toward the planned Nov. 1 grand opening celebration.

"You can really see the buildings formed up now," Sundance Square President & CEO Johnny Campbell. "You're beginning to see the grade of the plaza and how it's all going to fit together, and it gives a sense of space and just how much room and opportunity there's going to be in the plaza for programming and gathering."

A lot of the windows are already in place. The water fountain feature in front of the Westbrook appears ready just for concrete, and the clock tower still needs some work. Work that should wrap up in the next three months.

"Actually, [it's] 81 days, but I don't want you to think we're obsessing over the opening date," Campbell said.

Those living, working and visiting the area are just as excited for the work's completion. Some are just happy to see the lane and sidewalk closures come to an end, but others are excited to see the finished product.

"Construction is very difficult," Campbell said. "It's messy and, when you're doing construction in a tight, busy downtown, it just magnifies all of those issues."

When the grand opening celebration gets underway those first few days in November, not a single retail outlet will be empty. Last week, it was announced that the final spot had been filled.

"It's going to be a really crowded job site, I think, in the next few months to get them ready," Campbell said.

While everyone is ready and eager for the estimated $100 million renovations to be complete, work on the Cassidy Building will continue until 2014. Work has started but won't get fully underway until a sidewalk reopens along Houston Street.

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