In October of 2023, the City of Fort Worth, submitted a grant application to HUD with the requested amount of $10,000,000.00 in PRO-Housing funds, with the purpose of expanding the development of affordable housing within the City of Fort Worth. On June 26, 2024, HUD notified the City of Fort Worth that it had been selected for an award of $5,000,000.00.

Based on the final award amount and in consultation with several City Departments, as well as the City Manager's Office, City Staff determined that four activities would be proposed for City Council approval:

• Pattern Book of Housing,
• Multifamily Housing Development Capital,
• Station Area Plan & Code – Northside Stockyards, and
• Retrofitting Suburban Malls.

A housing pattern book of architectural and engineering stamped plans, pre-approved by the City's Development Services Department, for infill housing in Fort Worth neighborhoods, including single-family homes, duplexes, and missing middle housing (2-12-unit housing). The Pattern Book project includes the development of housing plans prepared by consulting architects, planners, and engineers, as well as building code analysts (consultants obtained through a competitive RFQ).

The City of Fort Worth would purchase the intellectual property developed through the pattern book so that Fort Worth residents can use the plans at zero to low cost and receive expedited approvals through Development Services if the plans are used.

Depending on zoning and lot size, plans would be used by single family homeowners to redevelop their homes, add density to existing houses, or full housing redevelopment on vacant lots. Plans would also be available to for profit and non-profit housing developers for affordable infill housing development. The pattern book plans significantly reduce the cost of architectural services and building permitting for developers wishing to provide affordable housing.

The housing pattern book would have a large neighborhood engagement's component as the plan would need to be suitable for existing Fort Worth neighborhoods and have support of the existing neighborhoods that may receive new infill development. The pattern book would be placed in the Development Services Department and would be marketed by the City to homeowners and small developers, similar to a Sears catalogue of plans that could be ordered to fit Fort Worth-sized lots.

Projected Budget: $960,000 

The City proposes developing a capital pool for affordable multifamily housing in High Opportunity Index areas by leveraging state and federal resources. The current proposed project is the Evans and Rosedale Urban Village Development in southeast Fort Worth. Funding would be used to support the project, which includes the purchase of thirty-six (36) lots by the developer for the purpose of constructing a mixed-use urban development. This development would include 181 total residential units (Affordable – 30-60% AMI: 35 units), commercial, retail, and public spaces.

Projected Budget: $2,500,000

The Northside/Stockyards Trinity Metro & TRE Station -- located close to the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Northside Neighborhoods - needs a station area plan and a guide for the redevelopment of the areas surrounding the station.

The plan is needed because of the substantial change in land use that would be anticipated (area is largely aging industrial/vehicle impoundment lots), as well as environmental cleanup necessary to see the area transition to a true transit-oriented residential hub.

The City proposes extending the existing form-based code for the Stockyards, with a few tweaks to ensure the density and affordability of development. Further, because of the Stockyards development as a tourist area - further popularized through the Yellowstone/1883 TV Series - there is a need to focus on the development of affordable housing for tourism and service area workers that are employed in the restaurants, retail shops, and hotels developing in the area while also connecting the station area to the Stockyards area -- and redeveloping the land between them.

Projected Budget: $572,000

The City of Fort Worth has three older, indoor malls and one shopping center near substantial employment centers. Given that indoor malls have not been built in the United States since the early 2000s and are not always able to repurpose themselves through the private market or the tremendous parking fields (that are largely vacant), the City can assist in the "retrofit” of these malls to rebuild neighborhoods with new land use patterns.

This effort would include a redevelopment plan to determine how they could redevelop (e.g., location of utilities, stormwater, etc.) and implementing a form-based code with an eye toward affordable housing and mixed-use development. This would be accomplished in the following two phases:

• Phase I: Plans would include reinstalling a street grid, redevelopment options,
  recommendations for the installation of bus/transit facilities, and proforma to understand
  the costs of redevelopment. The City would partner with the existing property owners to
  conduct the analysis and determine the level of owner interest.

• Phase II: The City would develop recommendations and a capital plan for one site.
  
  

Projected Budget: $768,000