Construction begins on new option for affordable housing in Fort Worth
Columbia Renaissance Square III, the third and final phase of mixed-income housing in the Renaissance Heights community in Fort Worth, has started construction.
Columbia Residential, a development company, in partnership with Renaissance Heights Foundation, the steward between the community and local partners in the work, embarked on a $31 million project that will add the final 100 apartment homes to the affordable housing community, with a total of 360 units.
It will be located at 2757 Moresby St. in southeast Fort Worth. Households earning below 30% to 80% of the area median income will be eligible for the housing.
A partnership with the Salvation Army will allow for 16 units in the third phase designated as Permanent Supportive Housing for families transitioning out of homelessness. The development includes offices for staff of the Salvation Army of North Texas and a full-time case manager to support Permanent Supportive Housing families.
Robert Fink, chief development officer at Columbia Residential, says the growth of Fort Worth and the increase of rent burden causes pressure on families. The new development provides stability, proximity to amenities, and quality housing for families, Fink said.
“The idea is not just creating new housing, but being there for the long term future, to be able to have stability and options for people who are there, or new people coming into the area,” Fink said.
There will be 30 one-bedroom, 40 two-bedroom, and 30 three-bedroom apartments.
Construction started in July, and is planned to end by October 2026. Leasing will begin by the end of next year, with the units expected to be full by spring 2027.
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The funding for the total development involved a collaboration including the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the North Texas Community Foundation.
Support for economic mobility
The third phase is on a 27-acre space that is part of a 200-acre site. The first phase, a 140-unit apartment complex called Columbia Renaissance Square, was completed in 2017 at 3801 W.G. Daniels Drive, and the second phase, including 120 units of senior housing apartments named Columbia Renaissance Square Senior Residences, was completed in 2020 at 2801 Moresby St.
The Renaissance Heights community was established when developer Michael Mallick bought 200 acres from the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas in 2006. Mallick then sold the land in 2007 to FW Mason Heights L.P., which was headed by the late developer Happy Baggett, and other investors. The plan was to have homes, offices, shopping and restaurants.
In 2013, a Walmart opened to anchor the 67-acre Renaissance Square shopping center, which includes a Marshalls, McDonald’s, T-Mobile and other stores. More development, such as the Uplift Mighty Preparatory School, the ACH Child and Family Services headquarters, and a YMCA, has occurred.
The accessibility of programs, services, and community provides stability that many family and individuals need for economic mobility, says Kenny Mosley, executive director of Renaissance Heights Foundation.
“We are truly working towards building Fort Worth’s first inclusive neighborhood,” Mosley said. “And at the end of the day, people want to be in a place where they feel like they belong and they’re connected.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM.
