This $1.1 billion urban village is taking form in far north Fort Worth
A $1.1 billion north Fort Worth development between Interstate 35W and U.S. 287 promises to be the area’s urban destination.
The North City project sits on 300 acres of land and has unique exposure to drivers travelling on the busy roads that surround the property: North Tarrant Parkway, Interstate 35W and U.S. 287.
Developer Steve McKeever of Fort Worth said though the process has been elongated multiple times, he doesn’t mind because he wants the end result to last a lifetime. With this being his first big project as a developer, he’s been picky with which retailers he approves as tenants.
“The opportunity with this was to create something special and lasting,” McKeever said. “And so I didn’t want to be the transactional developer that is looking for a three-to-five-year exit, which is normally the case. I want to keep a lot of this stuff long term. I mean decades, not years. And so it’s been a real patient approach to the development.”
The timeline for all that is to come isn’t set in stone, but a number of North City restaurants and shops have already opened their doors.
Andretti Indoor Karting opened in 2024, Carvana opened a 12-story vending machine in 2023, and a number of restaurants have opened along North Tarrant Parkway in the past few years, including Paris Baguette, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, Urban Egg and Velvet Taco.
City Pickle USA, owned by the McKeever family, opened Monday.
City Pickle USA has 16 pickleball courts, including the only indoor championship-rated courts in Fort Worth, McKeever said. Murals by artist Dan Terry add a flair of embellishment throughout the sports complex.
On the horizon, McKeever has plans for a music venue, a high-end grocer, a park and three apartment complexes. The $45 million Resia North City apartment complex is under construction. The community will feature two mid-rise buildings totalling 464 units.
“I’m really trying to build something that’s got more value in 20 years than five years,” McKeever said. “My goal is to keep a lot of this real estate long term, like for decades in my family.”
