Fort Worth to decide fate of community center for new National Juneteenth Museum

FORT WORTH, Texas — On Wednesday, the Fort Worth City Council will vote on whether or not to approve the demolition of a neighborhood community center to build the National Juneteenth Museum in its place.

Despite acquiring land in the Historic Southside Neighborhood, the museum has been unable to acquire key plots necessary for its original plans. The museum now wants to use the site of the Southside Community Center at 959 E. Rosedale St.

The nearby community center would allow the museum to stay within the neighborhood and close to the corner where civil rights icon Opal Lee, “The Grandmother of Juneteenth,” began showcasing her collection of Juneteenth artifacts and memorabilia in 2005. 

Fort Worth would lease the land to the museum for $1 a year for 40 years, according to city officials.

The offer to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the city comes as the 60-year-old Southside Community Center is in dire need of major repairs. The center has also served as an early voting site which would also go away.

District 8 Council Member Chris Nettles, who represents the area, said services provided by the community center would move a couple of blocks northeast to the Hazel Harvey Peace Center. However, services would not be relocated until the National Juneteenth Museum is fully funded and ready to break ground.

Organizers said the museum would serve as a cultural center and include a performance theater, a food hall and a business incubator.

Museum officials previously said they hope to break ground in time for a 2026 grand opening, the year Opal Lee will turn 100 years old.