Tag: The Harden

The developers of the newly built apartment complex that’s part of the restoration of the Fort Worth Public Market on Henderson Street have pivoted from a seniors-only housing community to the open market.

Wilks Development purchased the property adjacent to Interstate 30 more than a decade ago and has spent several years working on the complex and historically challenging rehabilitation the 96-year-old Public Market, as well as constructing the five-story, 199-unit apartment building. The residential component, called The Harden, opened in October.

The company cited market demand for its decision to shift from a senior community to a conventional complex. The Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the change earlier this month, according to Wilks Development.

“Opening the community to all ages makes sense, so more people can enjoy the residences while allowing us to better support both buildings in the long term,” said Wilks Development CEO Kyle Wilks in a statement. “People have been driving by the Public Market for years, hoping to see it revitalized. Now they can live right next to it and walk over.”

A spokesperson for the company said it initially underestimated how high the demand would be for people under 62 years old to live in the building. A restaurant, bar and café are slated to open in a few months in the restored Public Market space.

“The change reflects the wide community interest in The Harden and the Fort Worth Public Market and supports the continued revitalization of the Public Market, whose food and beverage concepts are expected to open this summer,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.

“We hear stories all the time and consistently receive comments from people wishing they were 62 so they could live here. Some have even toured, and we’ve had to turn them away because of age.”

The Harden — named after the original developer John J. Harden — is now leasing both one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 723 to 1,550 square feet. All units are available immediately.

Other amenities include pickleball courts, a fitness center, a resort-style deck with a pool and spa, a clubhouse with coworking spaces and pool table, and a dog park. The units have views of the Fort Worth Public Market tower and downtown Fort Worth’s skyline.

The Harden’s website on Tuesday showed 177 of 199 units available for rent at rates starting at $1,391 for one bedroom and $2,208 for two. The most expensive two-bedroom unit, with 1,550 square feet, is listed at $2,890.

Units facing I-30 were specially designed to eliminate noise from the highway. Wilks Development said it did acoustical studies and submitted their designs to third-party consultants. They also installed special noise-tampering windows.

Restaurant, cocktail bar and café coming this summer

The Fort Worth Public Market, with its iconic 85-foot tower, will be home to an upscale restaurant, cocktail bar and café.

Last spring, the company announced a restaurant called Madrone with a “refined Texas flair” and focus on locally sourced ingredients. It will offer chef’s tasting menus and private dining.

Willow, a cocktail bar and lounge, will have craft beverages. The third concept, Public Market Café & Goods, will serve baked goods and coffee and sell other locally made products.

The Fort Worth Public Market opened in 1930 and had space for more than 140 farmer or vendor stalls and 30 retail shops. Farmers would pull their trucks into sheds and sell their produce on tables throughout the building.

The market closed in 1941 and has been leased to a number of companies since, including a bus company and World War II aircraft manufacturers Cadillac Plastics and Photo Etch. The building had been vacant since 2004.

The Public Market was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and also listed as one of the most endangered places in Fort Worth in 2008 and 2011 by Historic Fort Worth. Construction crews worked to preserve as much of the original structure as possible.

Fire damaged the building in July 2022, but didn’t destroy its terra-cotta facade. All of the Public Market’s original windows, many of which had numerous broken panes, were removed and sent to a preservationist for repair. Any windows damaged beyond repair were replicated.

Wilks Development used the Public Market’s original blueprints to guide the restoration.