North Fort Worth’s long-planned North City development is finally kicking into high gear, with new apartments and entertainment anchors lining up near the I‑35W and U.S. 287 interchange. The massive mixed-use project is designed to pack in dozens of restaurants and leisure spots along with thousands of residents, turning a once-sleepy junction into a full-blown destination.
According to The Real Deal, developer Steve McKeever’s team plans to break ground this summer on a 354-unit apartment phase on the northern side of the site. The outlet reports that McKeever controls land on both sides of U.S. 287 under a larger master plan that is expected to reach roughly $1.1 billion in total development value once it is fully built out.
New apartments already in motion
The next wave of residents is not just on paper. Miami-based multifamily builder Resia has already secured financing and started construction on a roughly 464-unit community inside the North City footprint. The company’s project page shows renderings of the two-building complex and notes that work began earlier this year, with planned amenities that include a pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and a resident clubhouse.
Entertainment and retail anchors
North City is also leaning hard into the weekend destination play. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is already on the roster of major attractions, and Community Impact has detailed the location’s multi-attraction format. Property records and site plans list furniture retailer Living Spaces and other experiential concepts as anchors that will help set the tone as more residential phases come online.
Pickleball, gyms and wellness
If North City has its way, residents will not have to leave the neighborhood to break a sweat. The development’s official materials list City Pickle USA as a future 16-court pickleball club, paired with a full gym, wellness services, and a sports bar at 8600 North City Drive. State project filings reviewed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation put the facility at roughly 34,000 square feet, with work registered late last year.
Developer says density will sell tenants
McKeever told The Real Deal that sheer density is his calling card for luring the next batch of marquee tenants, including a potential grocery store, concert venue, and hotel. He also emphasized that slow, phased construction is a central part of the strategy. With more than 300 acres still under his control on both sides of U.S. 287, the team has room to layer in additional housing and retail as demand grows.
Regional context
North City is hitching its future to a powerful neighbor. The site sits near AllianceTexas, the 27,000-acre rail, air, and logistics powerhouse that developers love to highlight when pitching national retailers and entertainment brands. The Dallas Business Journal reports that AllianceTexas has generated about $130 billion in economic impact since 1990 and has supported tens of thousands of jobs across the region.
What to watch next
All eyes now turn to shovels and leases. Construction on the 354-unit apartment phase is expected to start this summer, with a third multifamily phase tentatively slated for roughly two years afterward under current timelines. For nearby residents, the clearest signs that North City has shifted from construction zone to true urban village will be local permitting wins, roadway upgrades, and the long-awaited arrival of a grocery store or other large anchor tenant.
