Walkability? You hear that term a lot in development. A Fort Worth developer has teamed up with a Seattle firm to build a complex with a focus on just that with a project designed for residents who are less dependent on cars.
Bryan Flats, a 94-unit apartment complex in the city’s Near Southside at 455 Bryan Ave. opened in mid-December. There is no parking lot, but there are plenty of spaces for bicycles and other forms of transit smaller than cars.
The developers, a partnership between Seattle-based Eagle Rock Ventures LLC and Fort Worth’s Presidio Interests, believe there is a market for reasonably-priced residential options in a highly walkable, employment-connected location. The South Main area of the Near Southside fits the bill.
Don’t expect the expansive space of a high-end townhouse or luxury apartment. The urban efficiency units at Bryan Flats won’t crack four digits in the square-footage department. Most units are about 300 square feet and include a bed, a chair and a mini-fridge and microwave. But what residents trade in space they make up for with rents about $1,000 a month, including utilities, and leases that can range from three months to a year.
“We believe there’s a market for this type of product here,” said Scott Shapiro, founder and managing director of Eagle Rock Ventures. Shapiro said his firm has developed several similar highly efficient infill apartment buildings in Seattle, Nashville and Oregon.
Andrew Blake, managing partner at Presidio Interests, believes the Near Southside is the perfect spot for smaller places with shorter leases and cheaper rents that appeal to people just starting out in their careers.
While the apartments are small, amenities are plentiful. The building includes a shared common room on each floor with large refrigerators and a stove, two outdoor courtyard spaces and a bike storage room near the entrance. Architects for the project were Bennett Partners, and the general contractor was Fort Construction.
Blake and Shapiro see location as key to the development’s success. Located in the South Main Village section of Fort Worth’s Near Southside district, Bryan Flats is within walking or cycling distance of the city’s densest employment centers in the hospital district and downtown.
From the higher floors in the building, it is easy to see the multiple number of restaurants, bars and coffee shops that dot the area.
“For someone just graduating from college or who has their first job here, this could be ideal,” said Shapiro.
There are plenty of new neighbors coming nearby. The Nobleman Hotel, built around the historic No. 5 Fire Station, will open soon. The Fire Station dates to 1911 and was home to many noble Fort Worth firefighters, resulting in the name for the hotel. The hotel is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Grocer with an ‘H’ in the name underway
It seems as if everyone is interested in any construction project for grocers with an ‘H’ in their name. Along with that other one, there is the H Mart supermarket at the southeast corner of Loop 820 and North Beach Street in Haltom City.
Here’s the update: According to documents filed with the state, H Mart’s construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year and cost about $9 million. The project is about 43,000 square feet.
Besides its mix of neighborhood grocery and multicultural food products, the H Mart also will have a food court, bakery, home goods, beer and wine, kitchenware and beauty products.
The mixed-use development is a partnership of Mercantile Partners LP; KBC Advisors; Velocis and Haltom City Forest Properties LLC.
H Mart, the largest Asian-owned grocery retailer in the nation, opened in 1982 and operates 125 locations.
Klein Tools expansion plans
Mansfield’s Klein Tools is a made in the U.S.A. success story and it looks as if the hand tool manufacturer is expanding again.
According to a filing with the state, the company is planning to build a 200,000-square-foot, $32 million new office at 500 Klein Tools Blvd. in Mansfield. The project designer is listed as BOKA Powell’s Fort Worth office.
Fashion retailer coming to Hurst, Grapevine
Primark, an international fashion retailer, announced earlier it was coming to Texas. Two of the stores will be in the area: one at North East Mall in Hurst and the other in Grapevine Mills. Some details on the area locations have been revealed in some filings with the state.
According to a filing, the location at North East Mall will be 44,900 square feet and cost $12.2 million. The Grapevine Mills store will be 42,000 square feet and cost $12.5 million. Primark, which was founded in Ireland in 1969, is looking to open 29 U.S. stores in 12 states.
New dealership building for Jacksboro
Fort Worth’s Prim Construction has announced plans to update and relocate the Four Stars Ford Dealership in Jacksboro. Expected to be completed in June 2025, the project will give new life to a dealership that has deep roots in Jacksboro. The new building will be 22,870 square feet and will feature 17 service bays.
The store is based on Ford’s prototype design, featuring new and modern amenities for clients including an enlarged waiting area and a service area that is more than 300% larger than the existing facility. The store will allow for future electric vehicle charging and service at a later date. The design team for the project was led by David Campbell and his team at Huit-Zollars in Fort Worth.
Do you have something for the Bob on Business column? Email Bob Francis at [email protected].
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected]. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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