Renovation News

Leasing begins on historic Fort Worth Public Market under renovation

Rendering of Fort Worth Public Market

Courtesy rendering

A steward has been selected to handle leasing for a landmark Fort Worth building: Texas-based real estate company Wilks Development has formed a partnership with The Woodmont Company, a Fort Worth-based commercial real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, to find tenants for the historic Fort Worth Public Market.

The Fort Worth Public Market, a cherished landmark since 1930, is undergoing a transformative redevelopment. When complete, Wilks Development plans to open the long-shuttered space to the public and provide a cultural hub for the city.

The Woodmont Company will oversee leasing to what a release calls a vibrant mix of retail and restaurant businesses.

Wilks Development senior VP Jess Green says in a statement that, "As a Fort Worth-based outfit, Woodmont understands what this building means to the city. Coupled with their vast in-market knowledge, we know they will help us craft the perfect combination of tenants to make this a dynamic destination that will bring the Fort Worth community together, just like the building once did."

Woodmont senior VP David Adams says they're excited to partner with Wilks Development and "breathe new life" into a historic landmark beloved in Fort Worth.

"Reviving the Fort Worth Public Market is not just about creating a vibrant destination for the community to gather but about honoring its unique and rich history," Adams says. "When completed, the Public Market will be a gathering place where past and present converge."

The Public Market boasts more than 15,000 square feet of leasable space and will also be home to The Harden, a 55+ active senior living apartment complex with 199 units. Its anticipated completion date is August 2025.

"With the Harden situated directly behind the Public Market building and our proximity to 7th Street, Magnolia, and Downtown, we are confident that our tenants will benefit from the high foot traffic and bustling activity, making it an ideal location for any business," Green says.

Golf News

Tiger Woods has plans for mega-golf community at Kelly Ranch in Aledo

Bluejack National

Tiger Woods' Bluejack National in Montgomery

Fort Worth is teed up to get a new golf-centric community from the sport's biggest name: Golf celebrity Tiger Woods is planning to bring a luxury golf course concept called Bluejack Ranch to Kelly Ranch, the gated community under development in Aledo.

Woods' ambitious plan includes an 18-hole golf course as part of a 914-acre community and entertainment park, featuring a working dude ranch with horses, longhorns, and miniature donkeys.

Kelly Ranch is the master-planned community currently being developed by Ryan Voorhees of Kelly Ranch Estates LLC. They previously forged a deal with Escalante Golf, a Fort Worth-based golf club operator to open a course, but that partnership was severed in January.

Woods divulged the plan for Bluejack Ranch in a letter posted on the facility's website, stating that he and his partners would create a development similar to Bluejack National, which they opened outside Houston in 2016. Located in Montgomery, it was brought to life by developers Andy and Kristin Mitchell of Lantern Asset Management, Woods, and former PGA Tour player and Fort Worth resident J.J. Henry.

In addition to an 18-hole course, plans for Aledo include a 10-hole lighted short course, wellness spa, fitness center, tennis, pickleball, swimming pools, gourmet dining, and a social hub called The Fort.

It would also include a gated community of homes, cabins, and villas ranging in size from 3,200 to 3,500 square feet; plus smaller spa retreats and clubhouse casitas ranging from 1,140 to 2,100 square feet. These will surely be pricey: In 2021, a home at Bluejack National in Houston started at $1 million. In 2020, resort memberships cost $105,000 to join with annual dues of $15,000.

They are also planning an entertainment studio, courtesy of Andy’s Lantern Entertainment company, with room for podcasting, film, and TV productions.

Bluejack Ranch will be its own separate gated community adjacent to Kelly Ranch, says Kelly Ranch director of sales Draze Lawliss. Kelly Ranch will consist of three communities — Rio Vista, Sierra Vista, and La Dorada — which cumulatively will add approximately 2,000 single family residences set across 1,500 acres, with anticipated prices ranging from $500,000 to $2 million+.

"Yesterday’s exciting announcement about Bluejack Ranch, featuring a golf course designed by Tiger Woods, has put Aledo and West Fort Worth on the map for incredible growth opportunities," Lawliss says. "This development is set to ignite substantial economic growth in the area, as Aledo’s future expands beyond just residential communities to include thriving commercial, entertainment, and retail sectors."

"West Fort Worth is primed to benefit as well, with new restaurants, grocery stores, and businesses expected to spring up, adding new life to South Aledo along Highway 377," he says.

Woods has been developing a variety of golf concepts, ranging from miniature golf facilities like PopStroke in The Colony, to a practice course in Jupiter, Florida.

“It’s extremely motivating for me to contribute to the golfing legacy of Fort Worth, and I’m excited to see what we’ll build together,” said Woods in the letter.