Table of Contents

Strengths, Weaknesses, and 10 Key Recommendations

Exhibit A: Developers Survey Summary

Exhibit B: City of Fort Worth Org Chart

Exhibit C: City of Fort Worth

Development Process - Special Analysis

Exhibit D: Expectations for Development Services and Partner Departments

The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth (REC) represents over 550 members, all of whom are commercial developers or professionals supporting commercial development in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. The REC governing board currently involves participation from the Arlington and Fort Worth city managers, the Tarrant County Administrator, and currently, one Fort Worth Assistant City Manager and a former Fort Worth Mayor.

Real Estate Council History

Since its inception 17 years ago, the REC has constructively worked with the City of Fort Worth, on items impacting the commercial development profession. The REC leadership has instilled a culture of respectful staff engagement, with advocacy driven by fact, data, and city staff input. Leaders and members of REC serve or have served on key local government committees and boards including Trinity Metro, Development Advisory Committee and the Blue-Ribbon Committee on Road and Street Maintenance to name just a few.

A Proven History of Working with Staff to Improve Development in Fort Worth

In pursuit of a better development process, REC hosts monthly Government Affairs meetings with both members and city staff. Important issues and relevant statistics regarding development are discussed and feedback shared from both sides throughout REC’s history, countless development improvements have been devised, implemented, and measured through this collaborative process and continuous feedback between the profession and city staff. One such recent example is significant improvements to successful Certificate of Occupancy completions. Issues arising during Covid, saw failure rates topping 20%. Thanks to collaboration on a few key areas, failure rates are now trending lower than ever including prior to Covid.

This is just one recent example of countless official and unofficial task forces, committees, working groups and other efforts REC has devoted resources to make developing in Fort Worth better for both customer and city staff. Without question there have been many improvements in many areas and broadly the data supports that development overall is improving in Fort Worth.

However, challenges both new and old merit focus and resources if Fort Worth desires to remain a competitive option on where developers chose to risk their capital through sustainable development. Throughout the fall of 2022, the REC endeavored to work with staff and customers to identify specific areas in need of most attention and the potential magnitude of economic impact if the current trajectory of improvement were reversed.

Real Estate Council Development Professional Survey

For the first time since 2019 (Pre-COVID Pandemic), REC surveyed development professionals regarding the entire Fort Worth development process. A wide range of respondents provided data point answers as well as written first-hand observations and experiences.

I. Org Chart of Nine City Departments Responsible for Fort Worth Development Process

II. Highland Tax Study

The results above were examined with an overlay of the organizational structure of the nine separate city departments that control the development functions a developer will potentially encounter. This chart was created by city staff at the urging of REC to map out what departments control what development functions.

III.

REC also commissioned a third-party firm to analyze city data to determine the possible dollar impact on city finances from delayed and deferred development in terms of fee revenue, tax revenue and lost economic activity due to inefficiencies in the city development process.