Steve McKeever’s $1B North City Project Advances

Hundreds of apartments, a sprawling pickleball club and a growing lineup of entertainment tenants are taking shape in north Fort Worth, where developer Steve McKeever says his long-gestating North City project is finally hitting its stride.

The mixed-use development will span roughly 148 acres within a larger assemblage McKeever controls and is positioned in a triangle below North Tarrant Parkway, west of I-35W and northeast of US 287. The Dallas Business Journal reported that McKeever’s plan is an “urban village” that blends apartments, entertainment and retail in an area McKeever argues is long on rooftops and jobs but short on destination experiences.

McKeever owns more than 300 acres, split between tracts north and south of U.S. 287. Once fully built out, he estimates total development value will exceed $1.1 billion. His focus, he said, is turning the northern portion into a pedestrian-friendly entertainment hub — something he believes north Fort Worth lacks, despite its proximity to AllianceTexas.

That nearby master-planned development, spanning 27,000 acres, has generated more than 66,000 jobs and an estimated $130 billion economic impact since 1990, according to the outlet.

Construction cranes are already in the air. Miami-based multifamily firm Resia is building a 465-unit apartment complex on 8 acres, while Carrollton-based Cross Developer, in a joint venture with McKeever, is underway on a 233-unit project nearby. The partners plan to break ground this summer on another 354-unit development, with a third apartment phase planned roughly two years later.

On the experiential side, McKeever is opening a 16-court pickleball facility dubbed City Pickle USA on Jan. 31. The club is designed as more than a sports stop, featuring a full gym, wellness offerings and a sports bar — a kind of stay-all-day idea North City is chasing, according to McKeever.

Retail is already anchoring the broader development. Major tenants include a 100,000-square-foot Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, furniture retailer Living Spaces and used-car vending machine operator Carvana. McKeever said density will be key to attracting the next wave of tenants, which could include a grocery store, a concert or music venue and potentially a hotel.

The project has gone through multiple iterations, including a period when Ikea explored the site before backing away. McKeever also said he lost 14 deals during the pandemic. Operating largely solo, McKeever said patience is part of the strategy.

— Eric Weilbacher