The future of the Evans and Rosedale redevelopment soon could be in new hands as the city searches for a master developer.
Fort Worth put out a Request for Expression of Interest on March 5, three months after severing ties with the previous developer, Hoque Global, which failed to come up with the capital to finance the project.
In a statement, the city said it took the time to look back at the previous requests as well as listen to the community’s feedback to eventually include more details in the update.
This latest request is similar to a blank slate, the city said, allowing developers to create their own ideas for the site based on updated information and input from the community. However, the developer still will have to come up with a plan that is mixed-use and delivers commercial and residential components.
“The current RFEI has a particular focus on finding a development team who can not only meet the desired needs of the neighborhood and align with the area’s planned urban design but who also has proven experience and the financial wherewithal to get this project to the finish line,” the city said.
In response to the previous developer’s inability to successfully finance the project, additional safeguards were put into place.
The city will require the developer to demonstrate its ability to finance and finish a project of similar size and capacity. Such evidence could include audited financials, references from financial institutions, proof of open lines of credit, letters from lenders and/or clients or completed project references.
Delays in getting things off the ground in the urban village has caused frustration among members of the community, some of whom have looked for changes at Evans and Rosedale for decades.
However, the city remains optimistic about a 2025 groundbreaking.
The revisit of the Evans and Rosedale project also has the city reevaluating the use of American Rescue Plan Act dollars previously allocated to the project. While no final decisions have been made, “the city is evaluating the need for ARPA funds on this project and whether other funding could replace ARPA dollars, allowing the ARPA funds to be expended on other eligible and more immediate needs.”
A master developer for the project will be selected based on how its proposal meets the needs of residents as laid out in the urban village’s 2024 community survey. In the survey, residents noted how important it is for the developer to engage with the community while pitching a design that reflects and respects the neighborhood’s rich and diverse history.
Evans and Rosedale is known for its prominent African American history and community. Over the years, the neighborhood has been home to key Fort Worth Black establishments such as Mount Zion Baptist Church, the Fort Worth Tarrant County NAACP, and the Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum, which houses the Tarrant County Black Historical Genealogical Society.
The Historic Southside Neighborhood Association also provided a letter outlining its vision.
“The selection committee for the project will also include two community members from the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association. Beyond that, any additional community outreach will be planned and scheduled after the RFEI application period closes,” the city said.
Since opening the search for a new master developer, various developers and firms have shown interest, the city said.
Responses are due by 5 p.m. April 22. Interested parties can apply here.
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