City seeks master developer for Evans & Rosedale urban village

City seeks master developer for Evans & Rosedale urban village

Published on March 05, 2024

The City of Fort Worth has launched a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to find a new master developer for the Evans & Rosedale urban village in Fort Worth's Historic Southside.

This is an opportunity for an experienced mixed-use developer to work on a multiblock, six-acre greenfield site, located five minutes from downtown Fort Worth - the urban core of one of the fastest-growing large cities in the U.S.

This infill site has already benefitted from more than $30 million in public investment over the past 20 years. It's located next to I-35 South, has already been zoned, and is ready for development.

The Evans & Rosedale properties are part of the Historic Southside - a former hub of Black commerce that has been home to many renowned Black entrepreneurs, as well as prominent Fort Worthians both past and present. Notable figures include William Madison McDonald, the first Black millionaire in Texas, and modern icon, Ms. Opal Lee - the "grandmother of Juneteenth." This neighborhood and the adjacent commercial district are an extremely important part of Fort Worth's history, and the City of Fort Worth is hoping to attract new development that supports and honors that legacy.

Interested developers can visit the Evans & Rosedale webpage to learn more about the project and how submit their proposals. Responses are due by 5 p.m. Monday, April 22.

Go deeper: The selection of an Evans & Rosedale master developer will be informed in part by 86 responses to a recent community survey, in which a little less than 70% of responses were from individuals who live or work in the Historic Southside area, or both.

The survey's top priorities for a developer included continued engagement and communication with the neighborhood, a focus on the neighborhood's history, strong experience in local retail concepts, and a focus on new jobs and commercial spaces. There was also a strong desire for local Fort Worth contractors to be included in the construction of the project.

Additionally, the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association has provided a letter expressing their vision for this project, as well as a designation letter highlighting many of the historic Black-owned businesses and organizations that have contributed so much to the community's vibrant culture.

Robert Sturns, director of Economic Development for the City of Fort Worth, stressed the need for a project that does credit to the Historic Southside's legacy at a recent public meeting, while also reflecting its goals for the future.

"Over the years, we could have done any number of things at this site, but it is important to get the fit right," Sturns said. "We understand the history of this area and its long legacy of Black-owned business development, and we want to make sure anything we bring out here is a complement to that history and a complement to the community."

What's next: Following an initial internal review and selection refinement, the City of Fort Worth anticipates interviews with finalists in May and announcing the new master developer soon afterwards.

Photo:The Evans & Rosedale properties are part of the Historic Southside, a former hub of Black commerce

Get articles like this in your inbox.Subscribe to City News.

Tagged as:

• Business & Economy
• District 8