Retail reno

Arlington's Lincoln Square to become Anthem in $135 million makeover

A greenspace with fountains in a rendering of Anthem in Arlington.

Rendering courtesy of Trademark

A longtime Arlington shopping center is about to get a long-awaited transformation: Lincoln Square, the 43-year-old retail center at 1500 N. Collins St., will become Anthem after a $135 million redevelopment that will bring new shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and public gathering spaces to the complex.

Construction will begin August 3, with completion expected in early 2028, according to a release from developer Trademark Property Company.

Located near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field in Arlington's Entertainment District, the 43-acre project will ultimately feature 404,000 square feet of retail, dining, entertainment, and public space. Plans call for demolishing about 70,000 square feet of the existing center while renovating the rest with updated storefronts, improved walkability, new signage, and additional parking.

The redevelopment will also add amenities designed to encourage visitors to linger, including a central green space, outdoor seating, public art, bike racks, and community events, they say.

Rendering of Studio Movie Grill at Anthem.Rendering courtesy of Trademark

"North Arlington has been on a meteoric rise over the last decade," Trademark CEO Terry Montesi says in the release, pointing to additions such as the National Medal of Honor Museum and continued growth around the stadium district. "After years of diligent planning, groundbreaking is our first major construction milestone in delivering a dynamic lifestyle destination for this community and the DFW metroplex.”

The project is a public-private partnership with the City of Arlington and the Arlington Economic Development Corporation. Trademark says in the release that community surveys, planning sessions, and public meetings helped shape the redevelopment after the company became involved in 2022.

While no new tenants have been announced, Trademark says it's in final lease negotiations for more than 35,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, with many expected to be new to Arlington.

“Lincoln Square has been an iconic north Arlington spot for nearly 40 years, but the aging retail center has not seen the innovations or private investment needed to keep it market relevant,” says Arlington mayor Jim Ross. “Trademark’s total $135 million+ planned investment will bring new shopping, dining and entertainment options, and serve as a catalyst for even more redevelopment.”

Anthem is one of several major North Texas developments by Fort Worth-based Trademark, whose local portfolio includes Waterside, Westbend, Alliance Town Center, Galleria Dallas, and the upcoming Shivers Farm mixed-use project in Southlake.

Welcome Home

Fort Worth lands among 25 best big cities for first-time homebuyers

5809 Fir Tree Lane, Fort Worth home for sale

Estately.com

This charming home in Fort Worth is on the market for $295,000.

A new list ranking the best cities in America for first-time homebuyers has placed Fort Worth among the top 25 big markets for buyers.

WalletHub's new study — which analyzes the affordability, quality of life, and real estate market in 300 U.S. cities — ranks Fort Worth No. 130 overall in the U.S. to buy your first home. And, when broken down by city size, WalletHub ranks Fort Worth No. 22 out of 69 of the largest cities in America.

Fort Worth's appeal for first-time buyers is mostly due to its stellar real estate market, but low affordability and quality-of-life rankings are its main detractors, according to the report's findings.

Cowtown ranks 15th out of all 300 U.S. cities studied for its housing market, but it appears farther down the list for its quality of life, landing at No. 178 nationally. The city's affordability ranking is among the worst, at No. 245.

Overall, the Lone Star State has taken a tumble among the best places for first-time buyers. In fact, only one Texas city — the Dallas suburb of McKinney — lands among the top 100 of the report. A total of 20 Texas cities rank outside the top 100, including Dallas, which plummeted as the second-worst housing market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, ranking No. 233 nationally.

Here's how WalletHub ranked first-time homebuyer appeal across other North Texas cities:

No. 106 – Plano
No. 110 – Grand Prairie
No. 111 – Denton
No. 134 – Frisco
No. 148 – Allen
No. 170 – Richardson
No. 177 – Garland
No. 184 – Arlington
No. 189 – Irving
No. 194 – Carrollton
No. 202 — Mesquite

First-time buyers across the country are entering the housing market at a difficult time, the report says. The National Association of Realtors reported the share of first-time homebuyers sank to an all-time low in 2025, to 21 percent, whereas the historic national average is 40 percent.

"Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise," the report's author wrote. "People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage."

wallethub real estate housing market first time homebuyers reports