A rebirth for Fort Worth's tornado tower

[TexasStooge]

By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8

FORT WORTH, Texas - Five years ago Monday, a tornado roared through Tarrant County killing five people and damaging or destroying many properties.

The Bank One Tower near Sundance Square took a direct hit.

Today though, the 31-year-old structure at 500 Throckmorton has a new name—the Tower—and a new purpose.

Michele Prince is thrilled to finally live at The Tower, now a luxurious 37-story condominium. She gushes over the 30-foot floor-to-ceiling windows that open up on her sixth-floor view of downtown Fort Worth.

On March 28, 2000, a devastating tornado knocked out most of the windows in the office building, forcing out 1,700 Bank One workers.

Prince was driving downtown when the storm roared into downtown Fort Worth. She jumped out of her car and took shelter under a bridge.

"The tornado came through and I'm holding on to a steel beam and I go vertical," she recalled. "It had gone just over us. Sounded like 100 trucks, semis, coming through and the whole bridge shook."

Windows were shattered and businesses struggled to recover. Asbestos made it difficult to tear down or rebuild the Bank One building, and its boarded-up facade became an eyesore towering over the downtown area.

In 2001, the building was scheduled to be demolished in what would have been the nation's largest implosion. Those plans were delayed due to the expense of the project—and the delay gave developers time to come up with an alternative.

Five years after the storm, the office tower has been transformed into 294 condo units. The windows that replaced the shattered originals are stronger.

But the idea of living in Tarrant County's tallest residence pushed aside any fears of a weather sequel for Prince, who is one of the first three residents.

"The openness, the windows—it's fantastic," she said. "I love the idea of walking to work. I grew up in a small town and walked everywhere."

By July, about 400 people will call The Tower home. All the units are sold except for four—the penthouses.
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The Tower's Official Site: http://www.livingatthetower.com/

[Miss Mary]

I don't think I'd want to live in this tower, 24/7 but visiting someone who lives there would be neat. If there wasn't a Tornado Watch or Warning!!!

30 foot high windows! I think I'll take my two story home, thank you very much. But I can picture young singles or newly marrieds wanting to live here.

Mary

[Skywatch_NC]

I don't think I'd want to live in this tower, 24/7 but visiting someone who lives there would be neat. If there wasn't a Tornado Watch or Warning!!!

30 foot high windows! I think I'll take my two story home, thank you very much. But I can picture young singles or newly marrieds wanting to live here.

Mary

TOO much risk of flying glass...even with improved windows.

Eric

[depotoo]

that tornado was headed straight for us when we lived in tx - missed us by a couple of miles when it decided to veer south.