NEWS RELEASES

Business Press
July 24, 2006
By Aleshia Howe

A few minutes with …Tom Struhs, founder, The Struhs Co.

In his first venture into residential projects, local developer Tom Struhs has been hard at work on the Trinity Bluffs project for three years. Trinity Bluffs, located along Samuels Avenue at the edge of downtown, is in its second phase and has already begun making sizable contributions to the city. Struhs recently spoke with city council reporter Aleshia Howe.

Why did you want to invest in the Samuels Avenue area?

The Trinity River and the Trinity Bluff are why Fort Worth was built. They are a vital part of this city and that’s also why I am gifting the city the bluff. That way, when you look back at the city toward the north, you will always see that bluff.

What is the best part of the Trinity Bluff development for the city?

We have basically accelerated in our effort to help jump-start Trinity River Vision because this development will give some needed money upfront to the Trinity River Vision TIF.

What was the hardest part of working on the recent Economic Development Agreement?

The Economic Development Agreement is basically something that will help us boost the Trinity Uptown area. It will help us make it bigger and better sooner. We can build a better product, grander in scale and sooner, which is important for the Trinity TIF.

What is the hardest part of being a developer that most people don’t see?

The risk. The financial risk that is involved is paralyzing. We didn’t go to the city and say, ‘Hey, we’ll invest in all this blighted land if you will help us financially.’ We already bought all the land and financed it and put our own cash into it and we’re totally at risk. We did the zoning, cleared blighted properties, maintained a good relationship with Historic Fort Worth and with Sundance Square and then approached the city. In normal developments, the last 20 percent of development is where you get your money out. The rest is all expense, debt and worry.

We’re excited about it. We believe in it and my intense belief is that we’re doing the right thing at the right time for the city and delivering something needed is certainly my confidence, and it’s what lets me sleep at night.

Contact Howe at ahowe@bizpress.net.