HISTORY

Westcliff is approximately four to six miles southwest of the Fort Worth Central Business District, and was part of the 1867 Thomas B. Taylor Survey. Common usage calls the properties immediately south of Bellaire Drive South and Texas Christian University part of Westcliff, though that area was originally known as Bellaire Heights. Westcliff extends to Loop 820 on the south.

Records indicate that Ivy Trammel sold a large portion of this land to Dorothea Darren in 1941.

Another early owner of this land in 1906, was W. D. Reynolds of the Reynolds Cattle Company. In 1938, Eva M. Gale sold some of the land to Mattie Lee Wells and Madge Kirby Ferrell, who platted and dedicated some of the area, giving it the legal description of Ferrell-Wells Addition.

In 1945, J. E. Foster bought the land and changed a street originally platted as Carb Avenue to Biddison. He built the Westcliff shopping center in 1945 and formed the Westcliff Company, which along with the Riverside Development Corporation, developed Westcliff from north to south between 1945 and 1965.

Four homes along a lane at the western edge of Westcliff Road South are on land originally owned by the Edwards Ranch. The deed restrictions here specified that these homes must face west, a provision designed to keep the Edwards family from having to look at the back doors. Therefore the backs of these homes are facing the lane at the end of Westcliff Road South.

Early deed restrictions on Westcliff were originally binding for 20 years, after which time they were automatically extended every ten years unless a majority of owners submitted a revision request. Deed restrictions are intended to ensure that the value of the properties are not undermined by undesirable factors. Restrictions stipulated that no old house could be moved on an existing lot, and that homes must be at least 1150 square feet for one story, or 900 square feet on the ground floor for one-and-a-half story homes. Exterior surfaces were also required to be fireproof.

As development of Westcliff continued southward, to Encanto and Manderly in 1949, to Willow Lake and further south in 1974, deed restrictions changed slightly, increasing minimum home sizes.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION

Trees abound in the older part of Westcliff. Homes are predominantly one story cottages with detached garages. There are no sidewalks and very few basements. As you go south through the newer areas, the homes change to ranch style with two car attached garages and to townhomes in the Willow Lake area.

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

The newly formed and very active Foster Park Neighborhood Association has already been instrumental in keeping the fire station on South Hills Avenue fully manned, and in getting lights for Foster Park. Picnics in Foster Park will be a regular event and Crime Watch areas established. The Westcliff West Association sponsors a July 4th parade every year, usually along with the Foster Park Association.

SCHOOLS

Elementary
Tanglewood, 3060 Overton Pk. Dr. W., 817-922-6815
Westcliff, 4300 Clay Ave., 922-6850, for children living east of Trail Lake and south of
South Drive.

Middle
W. P. McLean, 3816 Stadium Dr., 817-922-6830

High School
R. L. Paschal, 3001 Forest Park Blvd., 817-922-6600

OTHER INFORMATION

Nearest fire station: 3501 South Hills Ave., 817-871-6800, emergencies 911
Nearest medical facilities: Baylor All Saints Medical Center, 1400 8th Ave., 817-927-6102, or All Saints and Harris Hospitals in City View
Nearest Post Office: Trinity River Station, 4450 Oak Park Lane, 817-926-3497
Nearest Grocery Shopping: Westcliff Center
Nearest Mall: Hulen Mall
Nearest Park: Foster Park near Trail Lake and South Drive intersection
City Council District Number 9 or 3
School District Number 5
Voting Precinct Number: 4103, 1117, 4130 depending on the section of Westcliff


This information was conceived, researched and written by Wini Klein, REALTOR®, for the Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS®, with assistance from the City of Fort Worth Planning Department, Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County, Historic Fort Worth, Inc., Texas Christian University, Junior League, Fort Worth Independent School District, Tarrant County Tax Office, League of Neighborhoods and encouragement from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

© 1999, 2007, Wini Klein


Berkley Place | Bluebonnet Hills | Colonial/Bellaire | Fairmount | Mistletoe Heights
Overton Park | Park Hill | Ryan Place | South Hills | Stonegate | Candleridge | Wedgewood
Tanglewood | TCU Area | University Place | University West | Westcliff