Fort Worth – Transform 1012 N. Main Street, a local nonprofit coalition, is moving forward with its ambitious project to convert the former Northside Ku Klux Klan headquarters into a community cultural hub. The organization hosted its third and final listening session on Saturday at the Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts, showcasing design renderings and gathering additional input from residents.
Remembering the past, building a hopeful future
Interim executive director Kelly Allen Gray emphasized the importance of acknowledging history while creating a brighter future. “In a time when many call for changing names and removing monuments, erasing the past makes it disappear,” Gray told the Fort Worth Report. “We want to ensure remembrance of the past, but the future is not dark, full of hurt and anger, it is bright.”
Design and programming details
The Transform 1012 Center will retain the building’s original 1924 frame and add a new interior across three levels. Planned amenities include a 250‑seat theater, two dance rehearsal rooms, classrooms, galleries, and an outdoor reflection space. A dedicated gallery will explore the history of race relations in North Texas, featuring a permanent exhibition, rotating interpretive displays and educational programming.
The architecture team—Studio Barnes, ch_studio, GFFdesign and JIMA Studio—has prepared renderings that blend the historic façade with modern, flexible spaces. Construction is slated to begin in early 2028, with an anticipated opening in 2029.
Funding progress
Transform 1012 has secured more than $13 million toward its $70 million capital campaign. The coalition still needs $55 million to fund construction, and the organization continues to seek donations from individuals, foundations and corporate partners.
Community involvement and oral history
North Texas Histories / Historias de North Texas, a consulting team, used the listening session to collect memories about the building and shape the center’s role in racial healing. They will supplement the oral‑history collection with a community survey, panel discussions, additional listening sessions, story circles and individual interviews. The resulting report will guide the center’s programming and ensure that community voices remain central.
Facilitator and exhibit lead Lance Wheeler explained, “Racial healing has to take place with everybody in the community. We wanted to make sure everyone had a seat at the table, not just figuratively, but literally, asking what they remember of the building, how they feel about racial healing, and what direction this building should take.”
Local leadership
Co‑chair Roman Ramírez, who grew up in the Northside neighborhood, recalled once describing the former Klan building as “ugly” and forgotten. After joining Transform 1012, he recognized its potential. “The building I once saw as forgotten now holds the possibility of becoming a place for creativity, belonging, opportunity and healing,” Ramírez said. “Preserving it gives us a chance to tell the truth about its past while creating a future shaped by the people it once excluded.”
The project also reflects a broader movement in Fort Worth to repurpose historic structures for community benefit, aligning with the city’s emphasis on cultural enrichment, family‑friendly spaces and faith‑grounded values.
Next steps
Transform 1012 will continue to host listening sessions, collect oral histories and refine its design as fundraising progresses. The organization aims to open the Transform 1012 Center in 2029, offering a permanent venue for artistic expression, education and racial reconciliation in the heart of Fort Worth.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
