Developers Eye Yearend Groundbreaking for Mixed-Use Village

The plan for "Midtown" calls for two single-story buildings for 58,030 sf of retail and 9,490 sf of general office space; a five-story, 96,700-sf medical office structure; 150-room, six-story hotel; three-story, 321-space parking garage; and two acres earmarked for residential use. The vacant acreage takes up the northeast corner of Forest Park Boulevard and West Rosedale Street on the western edge of Fort Worth's Medical District.

Trademark's partner is Fort Worth South Inc., which has spent five years putting together a redevelopment plan for the city-owned land and overriding municipal-backed suggestions like a fire station or credit union office building. Donald Scott, Fort Worth South's executive director, tells GlobeSt.com that "there are still some hurdles to jump, but we're generally optimistic" that the mixed-use plan is in the final stretch for an end-of-the-year groundbreaking.

The Fort Worth South team has focused on the land assembly, securing entitlements and rezoning the site, including getting an asbestos-laden structure torn down three years ago. The mixed-use development went on the drawing board about 18 months ago, with the play hedged as part of a South Side TIF package. If all stays on track, Scott says "it should be up and going in early 2006."

Nick Ibarra of NAI Stoneleigh Huff Brous McDowell in Fort Worth is steering the retail campaign. "It's just a matter of moving everything forward," he says of a push that hit the streets four days ago. Meanwhile, the firm's Larry Kingsberry is handling talks with hoteliers while the locally based William C. Jennings Co. chases office and medical office tenants. Trademark's Fremon Baker is overseeing the initiative and leading talks with residential developers.