Hearing Set for Tenant Challenging Bank One Tower Termination Notice

An Aug. 21 hearing tentatively has been set for the faceoff of The Reata restaurant and the owners of the Bank One Tower, challenging a 30-day lease termination for tenants of the tornado-damaged landmark structure.

Loutex Fort Worth is being sued by the restaurateur who claims he spent nearly $1 million to restore his 35th floor operation after the March 28 tornado that shattered 3,200 of 3,400 windows in the building located in Fort Worth’s Central Business District. The Reata is seeking a temporary injunction to stave a decision by Loutex to halt rehabilitation work and put the structure up for sale.

The notices were tendered last week in concert with Loutex’s decision, based upon costly work for removing molds and repairing the air conditioning system for the 35-story structure. Loutex says it will take significantly more than the $35 million that the building appraises for to fully restore it.