The Fort Worth Urban Design Commission granted several waivers from design requirements for a proposed parking garage in the Stockyards.
The M.L. Leddy’s retailer and Franklin family have entered a partnership with Parking Systems of America to replace a 55-space surface parking lot with a 4.5-story garage at 2458 Ellis Ave. and NW 25th Street that would add 246 spaces.
In a Sept. 2 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, construction on the garage will begin Oct. 1, 2026, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2027. The 24,000-square-foot project’s estimated cost is $14.2 million, according to the filing.
The commission, at its Aug. 20 meeting, unanimously granted these waivers:
- Building length along Ellis of up to 189 feet. The maximum permitted length is 150 feet per facade.
- Allow synthetic, scored stucco to be a primary building material; the requirements limit that material to less than 25% in the district.
- Ground floor transparency requirements of 10% on the Ellis Avenue side and 25% on the NW 25th Street frontage. The design requirements call for 40% ground floor transparency.
- Minimum parking setback of at least 7 feet along Ellis, and at least 12 feet along NW 25th. The minimum ground floor parking setback is 30 feet.
- Building entrance spacing to allow an entrance at up to 177 feet on the west facade, 86 feet on the north facade. The requirements call for entrances at least every 75 feet.
- Rooftop stair access to be zero feet from the edge. The requirements call for at least 10 feet from the roof’s edge.
The applicant said the waiver requests were necessary because of the steep grade of Ellis Street, need to preserve existing historic dedications, and the balancing of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Waivers from city’s Urban Forestry ordinance
The commission unanimously granted waivers from the Fort Worth Urban Forestry ordinance in two cases.
- The Fort Worth Housing Finance Corp. sought a waiver for a property at 2511 Mitchell Blvd. FWHFC asked for a waiver to reduce the tree preservation requirement to 15% from 25%. FWHFC will need to replace trees as work on an easement for drainage continues; it will preserve other trees.
- Boaz Holdings LP asked for a waiver for a property at 5600 Park Drive. The applicant asked to reduce the tree preservation requirement to 0% from 25%. The commission granted the waiver due to the small number of trees involved.
Commission continues Near Southside townhome case
Commissioners continued a Near Southside case on a proposed six-townhome development over concerns about tree preservation and whether the immediate area is too dense.
The owner, Quadri Akamo and May Street TH Inc., sought several waivers from design requirements for their property at 1326 May St.
- Minimum roadside width of 5’6”. The standards call for a 10’6” width.
- No street trees along West Morphy Street. The standards call for trees to be planted 15-35 feet apart on center.
- No pedestrian lighting along West Morphy.
- Residential garages fronting the public pedestrian space. The standards require garages to be accessible from alleys or rear driveways, or to be detached at the rear of the site.
- Transfer of trees on the site to a city-owned property across the street due to a lack of space.
Commissioners questioned who would be responsible for maintaining the trees given the lack of an agreement, and the feasibility of the project of this size given the population density, an already cramped area of existing and similar properties, and existing narrow streets.
Urban Design Commission
Documenter: Chip Woodall
Date: Aug. 20, 2026
Learn more about this meeting by clicking here. For the agenda, click here.
Chip Woodall is a member of the Fort Worth Report Documenters crew. Bob Francis, business editor at the Fort Worth Report, contributed reporting. If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at news@fortworthreport.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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