Fort Worth council member sues business partner over Woodhaven redevelopment
The redevelopment of an east Fort Worth golf course could be in jeopardy as two of the project’s developers duke it out in court.
Fort Worth city council member Michael Crain is suing his business partner Will Northern, alleging the Northern used private company information to buy the former Woodhaven Country Club and cut Crain out of the deal.
The pair have been friends for over a decade, and jointly own the real estate firm Northern Crain Realty.
Northern’s deception on the Woodhaven project caused Crain to file the lawsuit, he said in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
Crain alleged Northern used information from a Northern Crain client to buy the former golf course at a May 2024 foreclosure auction.
“My goal is to restore what was unjustly taken and to ensure that business in Fort Worth is conducted with honesty and respect for all parties involved,” Crain said in his statement.
Representatives for Northern called the lawsuit meritless and full of inaccuracies.
“This lawsuit is little more than an attempt by Crain to force himself into a project in which he has invested no effort and no money,” Northern’s attorney Randall Schmidt said in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
Crain is seeking an injunction to stop development of the property and monetary damages.
The Woodhaven Country Club and golf course, just northwest of the intersection of Interstate 30 and East Loop 820 opened its doors 1972 and served as an anchor for the surrounding businesses, apartments and housing developments.
However, the country club was forced to close in 2021 due to the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2025, the Fort Worth City Council approved rezoning the 150 acre property into a mix of apartments, mixed-use buildings, and large lot homes. Crain abstained from that vote citing his ownership in the property.
Even with the lawsuit, Crain said he feels optimistic about the country club’s future redevelopment.
“This community has tremendous potential, and I am committed to supporting efforts that
bring positive, inclusive, and sustainable development to the area,” Crain said in his statement.
Northern’s lawyer Schmidt said his client will vigorously fight the case while continuing the work to revitalize Woodhaven.
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM.
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