Provided by Holland Creative
The historic Riverside Baptist Church will live on in the community as Cielo Place.
Saigebrook Development and Accolade Property Management announced Friday the formal unveiling of Cielo Place with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The occasion will take place in the renovated sanctuary of the former Riverside Baptist Church, today reimagined and rejuvenated as a mixed-income housing community at 3111 Race Street in Fort Worth.
Texas state Rep. Ramon Romero, District 9 City Councilmember Elizabeth M. Beck, investor partners, and project leadership will make remarks.
Riverside Baptist Church was initially designed and built by architects Easterwood and Easterwood in 1924 and expanded in 1951 and 1958. In 2020, the building was awarded inclusion on the National Register for Historic Places.
Cielo Place will consist of 91 total units with a mix of studio; one-bedroom, one-bath; two-bedroom, two-bath, and three-bedroom, two-bath options.
Miller-Slayton Architects and Interior Design firm Ink & Oro were charged with the job of preserving and maintaining the integrity of the historical architecture and design while infusing it with modern amenities.
Many small and intentional elements were kept and restored throughout the building to harken back to its original purpose and design.
“Cielo Place provided a unique opportunity to preserve history while creating new opportunities for the community,” said Lisa Stephens, owner and president of Saigebrook Development. As we peeled back the layers of this building — painstakingly preserving and restoring the woodwork, stained glass windows, light fixtures, and structural components — we also peeled back layers of history and learned so much about the history of this church, and the community that has gathered here over the years.”
As a centerpiece for the community’s common area, several rows of pews from the original sanctuary, the original altar and baptismal, as well as the stained-glass window behind it are untouched.
