What’s all that construction in downtown Fort Worth? Here’s how $1 billion is being spent
October 29,2024
See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article by Kate Marijolovic via AOL here.
Cranes and orange barrels seem to be everywhere on the south end of downtown, where multiple major construction projects are underway between the Convention Center and Fort Worth Central Station.
Over $1 billion of development is planned for the few blocks along Commerce, Calhoun and Jones streets, including the Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus and renovations of the Convention Center.
City leaders have heralded the new campus as a transformative catalyst for downtown, expected to attract new jobs, more residents and additional businesses to Fort Worth.
Where exactly are each of these projects being built? As construction begins to transform what’s mostly parking lots today, here’s a closer look at what you’re seeing as you drive by those orange barrels.
The first building of the new Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus is already beginning to take shape downtown. Construction, which began in June 2023, is expected to be done in December 2025.
The eight-story building will house academic facilities, including the School of Law. Funds for the almost $200 million project come from Texas’ Permanent University Fund.
The second building of the new A&M campus, the Research and Innovation building, has yet to break ground. Expected to cost up to $260 million, the design phase for the project began in August.
The Research and Innovation building will house lab space, offices for Texas A&M agencies, the 8th Division Texas Business Court and public-private research partnerships with local companies. Funds for the building come from donations, leases and parking revenue, according to Texas A&M.
Plans will likely leave room for a possible second Research and Innovation building.
The existing law school building will be torn down and the property redeveloped into the new Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus’ third structure, the Gateway Building. The building is planned as the gateway to the campus and expected to house multi-purpose community-oriented facilities.
Property in downtown Fort Worth owned by the Texas A&M University System is valued at over $19 million collectively, according to data from the Tarrant Appraisal District.
The Amon G. Carter Foundation owns four parcels across the street from Fort Worth Central Station. In May, the foundation pledged to donate the property, valued at over $2 million, plus an additional $5 million to Texas A&M for its new Fort Worth campus.
Currently a parking lot, this site is slated to be developed into a 12-story, 408-apartment complex by Miami-based developer Resia. First proposed in July 2022, the project, formerly named “The Jones,” has yet to break ground. A commercial grading permit for the land was filed on Oct. 18, a sign progress may soon be made on the development.
Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas in far north Fort Worth, bought this mostly empty block in October 2023. A roughly 10 minute walk north of the Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus, the company has not yet announced plans for the property.
“While specific development plans for the property are still under review, Hillwood will look at a variety of land use and development options that will complement existing trends in the downtown Fort Worth market,” said a press release announcing the sale.
It’s unclear exactly how much Hillwood paid for the almost one-acre property, but it is valued at over $2 million. The land is classified as “utility general,” a holdover from its previous owner, utility company Oncor.
An almost $700 million, eight-year renovation of the Fort Worth Convention Center is underway.
Work on the first phase of renovations, a roughly $95 million project, began in August 2023. During phase one, a new entrance on the southeast side of the building will be added, Commerce Street will be straightened, a new kitchen will be built, loading dock facilities will be expanded and a storage annex will be demolished.
The second phase of the project is expected to begin in about two years and will likely cost around $606 million. In phase two, the convention center’s dome arena will be demolished and replaced with new exhibition space, meeting rooms and a 50,000-square-foot ballroom. Formal planning for phase two is expected to begin in 2025, with a tentative construction start date in fall 2026.
The city hopes to complete all renovation work by 2030.
Part of the convention center renovation project, this site will be a pad for a future 1,000-key convention center hotel after Commerce Street is straightened. No formal plans for a hotel have been announced, though the Fort Worth Local Development Corporation is exploring options for development on and around the site.
Locations Mentioned: Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth Convention Center Expansion, Texas A&M Fort Worth