Teia Jones wants to help children develop a love of reading.
To do so, the educator is curating a learning center library at Palladium City Skyline, a new $65 million affordable housing complex that recently opened in east Fort Worth.
“We built our library so children will be able to pick up a book whenever they want,” said Jones, program director for the learning lab powered by her after-school program called Child At Heart School. “We want them to fall in love with a book.”
The learning lab is one of the amenities for the new 243-unit luxury multifamily development located at 4909 E. Lancaster Ave. The complex is about 37% occupied as leasing continues. A grand opening will be planned once the complex is 100% leased, officials said.
Palladium City Skyline features one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans with modern features such as granite countertops, 9-foot ceilings, dual sinks and balconies or terraces. Amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, business center, dog park, children’s playroom and a clubhouse with a mini-kitchen.
The complex was built through a public-private partnership led by Dallas-based Palladium USA International Inc. alongside the Fort Worth Housing Finance Corp. and Treymore Construction. The project, designed by Arrive Architecture Group, received a $6 million multifamily direct loan and $30 million in tax-exempt bonds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
The project was also financed through $27 million in equity and $30 million in long-term debt provided by Regions Bank, officials previously said. The complex accepts individuals earning 30% to 80% of the area’s median income.
Teia Jones is program director for the Palladium City Skyview’s free learning lab powered by her after-school program called Child At Heart School. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
The new complex — between Edgewood Terrace and Tierney Road — is a bright spot among the aging properties on East Lancaster, said Levi Leddy, marketing director for Palladium USA.
“We definitely hope to be the catalyst to revive this eastern corridor,” Leddy said. “This area is prime for a revival.”
Daniel Haase, vice president of the Central Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association, said he and other residents hope for further redevelopment on East Lancaster. The complex is the first private construction project on the corridor in 20 years.
“That’s one of the reasons we supported it,” he said.
At a groundbreaking ceremony in March 2025, Palladium officials said City Skyline is the company’s fifth project in Fort Worth, although it took 11 proposals to come up with a final site plan that was acceptable to the neighborhood association.
The complex got its name because of the skyline views of downtown Fort Worth. The idea was suggested by neighborhood association members, Haase said.
The learning lab at Palladium City Skyline on East Lancaster Avenue is filled with tables, chairs and educational materials. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
On a recent Friday, Jones and her two daughters offered popcorn and slushies to visitors at the free learning lab, which is open weekdays to aid students with homework, tutoring and reading skills.
Jones, a certified family life coach, lets students know she is the author of a children’s book called “Granny Gets New Wheels,” a story about a 5-year-old who aids her grandmother when she gets a wheelchair.
“When I showed the book to kids, they were like, ‘What?’” Jones said. “That lets children know it’s attainable — they can be an author if they work hard at it.”
Improving literacy among children is a big goal for Jones since the state took over Fort Worth ISD due to chronic academic underperformance. The takeover resulted in the replacement of elected school board members with an appointed board of managers to oversee operations. A state district judge in February denied the district’s appeal of the takeover.
Levi Leddy, marketing director for Palladium USA, stands in the business center at Palladium City Skyline, an affordable housing complex on East Lancaster Avenue. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
The City Skyline lab is set up to help students improve their reading. The learning lab has cozy spots for reading and Jones is in the process of soliciting more books to stock.
“When we start accessing students, we see the need,” she said.
Jones said she believes families need to set educational goals for their children.
“When you’re doing that, you’re teaching (children) about their roles in learning,” she said. “Together, we can make something happen. It starts at home. It starts with a love of learning.”
There’s no judgement of students, just support, Jones said. And the City Skyline learning lab can serve as their space outside of home.
“They feel the love,” she added.
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/11/65m-affordable-housing-complex-with-learning-lab-opens-on-east-lancaster/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
<img id=”republication-tracker-tool-source” src=”https://fortworthreport.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=603507&ga4=2820184429″ style=”width:1px;height:1px;”><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: “https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/11/65m-affordable-housing-complex-with-learning-lab-opens-on-east-lancaster/”, urlref: window.location.href }); } } </script> <script id=”parsely-cfg” src=”//cdn.parsely.com/keys/fortworthreport.org/p.js”></script>