Fort Worth Drops Hoque Global as Developer for Southside Project

Fort Worth officials are on the prowl for a developer to transform a prime piece of land in a historically Black neighborhood.

The City of Fort Worth has reopened applications for the development of Evans and Rosedale Urban Village, in the Historic Southside, after parting ways with the initial developer, Hoque Global, in December, the Dallas Business Journal reported.

The decision to seek another developer follows a dispute between Hoque Global and the city, culminating in Fort Worth terminating the contract due to “unacceptable delays” and missed deadlines.

Hoque Global refuted the city’s claims, saying it was “deeply concerned” and “baffled” by the city’s actions, “including the city’s sudden termination of our contract without any explanation, and the city’s hasty pursuit of a new developer immediately thereafter.”

Hoque Global confirmed that it will not reapply for development.

The 7.5-acre city-owned lot at Evans Avenue and Rosedale Street is poised to become a vibrant mixed-use development, potentially featuring hundreds of apartments and 27,000 square feet of commercial space.

Interested developers must submit responses to the request for expression of interest by 5 p.m. on April 22, with finalists set to undergo interviews on May 14. The criteria for selection entails experience in financing and completing projects of a similar scale, as well as a strong commitment to community engagement and business equity goals.

Robert Sturns, Fort Worth’s economic development director, stressed the importance of selecting a developer with a proven track record in navigating complex projects.

“Other mixed-use projects across DFW have moved forward to construction and completion during that time frame, in spite of those economic pressures — and that’s where that experience comes in,” Sturns told the outlet.

—Quinn Donoghue