Downtown Fort Worth celebrates momentum, highlighted by $1B in development
April 30,2025
See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article by Kate Marijolovic here.
Downtown Fort Worth Inc. highlighted the area’s growth momentum during its 43rd annual meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
Hundreds of business leaders, officials and downtown stakeholders gathered at the Omni Hotel for the event, which centered on the concept “cities of the future.”
As thunderstorms rumbled outside, president of Downtown Fort Worth Inc. Andy Taft remarked on the transformative effect the F3 tornado that tore through the city 25 years ago had on the area’s development.
“While those of you who were here 25 years ago couldn’t see the future through the shock of that destruction of that evening, that tornado actually shook things up in downtown, and it changed the direction of our center city,” Taft said. “Cities are like that— they shift, they ride out shocks, no matter what those are, the builders redouble their efforts, and so the city emerges better for it, and look at where we are today.”
About 975 units of multifamy housing are planned for downtown and 250 units are under construction in the area, according to DFWI’s State of Downtown 2024 report. The organization says housing downtown has an average rent of $1,731 per unit and is 90% occupied.
Over $1 billion of development is planned for downtown. That includes the new Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus and $700 million renovation of the Fort Worth Convention Center.
More projects could be on the horizon. Dallas-based developer Dart Interests acquired 4.6 acres of land downtown in November, but has not yet announced plans for the property. Hillwood, the creator of 27,000-acre AllianceTexas development, purchased a block near the future Texas A&M campus in 2023, but also has yet to announce plans for it.
Downtown Fort Worth Inc. has raised about $43 million of its $55 million funding goal for two new parks outside of Tarrant County Courthouse. Mayor Mattie Parker said the project— part of her Good Natured initiative— will be “transformational” for the city.
Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth was awarded DFWI’s Trailblazer Award and greeted by a standing ovation at Wednesday’s event. Granger retired in 2024, after representing Texas’ 12th district in the House of Representatives for almost 30 years.
Locations Mentioned: Fort Worth Convention Center, Tarrant County Courthouse, Texas A&M Fort Worth