As part of our ongoing series about the future of downtown, we’re turning our attention to the northeast quadrant, which runs from Belknapreet to West 6th Street north to south and Jones reetto Houston Street east to west.
This section is home to decades-long tenants, including Sundance Square, Bass Hall, and The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, which has been in downtown since April 1981. Keep reading to find some new players on the scene.
Oncor conversion
Hillwood, a leading developer in north Fort Worth + Alliance, made its first-ever purchase in downtown in October 2023, buying a full city block between West 6th and West 7th Streets and between Calhoun and Jones Streets that had been owned by Oncor for decades. While Hillwood has not officially announced all plans for the development, representatives from Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. believes the site will soon hold apartments and retail spaces.
Bob Simpson building
The former home of XTO Energy at 110 W. 7th St. will become a Residence Inn by Marriot designed by local firm Bennett Partners. The building was originally constructed in 1910 and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
The Star-Telegram Building shares a lobby with the Oil & Gas building.
Photo courtesy of Loopnet
The Star-Telegram building
Dallas-based Bluelofts, Inc. bought both the Oil & Gas building (1954) and the Star-Telegram building (1929) and is planning 268 residential units between the historic downtown structures. A portion of the Star-Telegram building will remain office space — but no longer houses the newsroom.
Heritage and Paddock parks
Admittedly a smidge outside the northeast corridor coverage area, both parks — near the Tarrant County Courthouse — will be revitalized as part of a $50 million project. Those parks will play a significant role in linking the north end of downtown to the Panther Island project.
