A proposal to rezone a portion of Fort Worth’s Panther Island could lead to the construction of buildings up to 15 stories tall, signaling a move toward denser development in the area. The rezoning would affect 15.4 acres between North Commerce Street and the planned Ring Road, near Northeast Fourth and Fifth streets and close to the Coyote Drive-In site at 223 NE Fourth Street. The Fort Worth Zoning Commission will review the proposal this week, with a City Council decision anticipated on October 21.
Currently, most projects in the district are capped at five stories. The proposed changes would allow for taller towers and mixed-use developments, aligning with Fort Worth’s form-based code and master plan centered around new canals.
Panther Island is a largely underdeveloped 500-acre district north of downtown that includes both public and private land. Plans for the area have been in progress for years, with investments projected to surpass $1.1 billion. A major component involves constructing canal systems designed to reduce flood risk.
A report by HR&A Advisors and Lake Flato architects detailed how these canals would connect branches of the Trinity River north of NW 8th Street. In 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers secured $403 million for flood control efforts in Panther Island, which helped advance development plans.
The consultant’s report also recommended dividing Panther Island into zones to prioritize redevelopment before all flood controls are complete. Early efforts may focus on a 12-acre stretch along North Main Street identified as having high potential for initial projects.
City officials have recently increased height limits on North Main Street properties to 20 stories and removed restrictions on building floor plate sizes to further encourage higher-density growth.
Susan Alanis, program director for Panther Island at the Tarrant Regional Water District, told council members last month that “the rezoning sets the stage for the first phase of canal construction,” which is scheduled to begin next year.
The city expects to seek quotes from developers this fall for designing and building these canals—a step seen as critical for attracting more private investment after slow activity since delivery of Encore apartments in 2018.
Access remains an issue; studies have noted limited pedestrian infrastructure connecting Panther Island with surrounding areas like the Trinity Trail system.
If approved by council later this month, officials believe that new zoning could accelerate redevelopment in northeast Panther Island as Fort Worth transitions from planning phases into active construction.
