Hundreds of new apartments, a large pickleball club, and several entertainment tenants are being developed in north Fort Worth as part of Steve McKeever’s North City project. The mixed-use development will cover about 148 acres within a larger landholding controlled by McKeever. It is located below North Tarrant Parkway, west of I-35W, and northeast of US 287.
According to the Dallas Business Journal, McKeever’s plan is to create an “urban village” that combines apartments, entertainment venues, and retail stores. He said the area has many homes and jobs but lacks destination experiences.
McKeever owns more than 300 acres split between areas north and south of U.S. 287. He estimates that when completed, the total value of the development will be over $1.1 billion. His main goal is to make the northern section a pedestrian-friendly entertainment center for north Fort Worth.
Nearby AllianceTexas, a master-planned community covering 27,000 acres, has brought more than 66,000 jobs and about $130 billion in economic impact since 1990.
Construction on housing is already underway. Resia, a Miami-based multifamily firm, is building a 465-unit apartment complex on eight acres. Cross Developer from Carrollton is working with McKeever on another 233-unit project nearby. The partners expect to start construction this summer on another development with 354 units and have plans for a third phase in about two years.
On January 31st, McKeever will open City Pickle USA, a facility with sixteen pickleball courts designed to be more than just a sports venue; it will also offer a gym, wellness services, and a sports bar.
Retail businesses are already present in the area. Major tenants include Andretti Indoor Karting and Games (100,000 square feet), Living Spaces furniture retailer, and Carvana used-car vending machine operator. McKeever said increasing density is important for attracting future tenants such as grocery stores or concert venues.
The project has changed over time; at one point Ikea considered building there but decided not to proceed. McKeever mentioned losing fourteen deals during the pandemic but emphasized that patience remains central to his approach: “Operating largely solo,” he said,“patience is part of the strategy.”
