The mixed-income community is the first phase of Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative to open.

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 13, 2023) – Stop Six residents, government leaders, developers and community partners celebrated the grand opening Cowan Place Senior Living. The mixed-income community launches an exciting new phase of residential housing as part of the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative.

Cowan Place is a landmark development signaling a comprehensive transformation of one of the city’s treasured, African-American communities. Cowan Place is named for Alonzo and Sarah Cowan, two of the first landowners in the Southeast Fort Worth community and for whom the neighborhood was once named.

Former Cavile Place residents who relocated as part of the redevelopment process have the right to return to the community as new FWHS properties come online, such as Cowan Place and Hughes House, which broke ground earlier this year.

Cowan Place Grand Opening. (Photo: Camille Rasor/FWHS)

“Cowan Place Senior Living would not have been possible without true community collaboration from Stop Six and our committed partners,” said Mary-Margaret Lemons, Fort Worth Housing Solutions president. “We’re excited to welcome new and former Cavile residents to a development they can call home.”

The multiyear Choice Neighborhood effort is seeded by a $35 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. The HUD grant will be spread across six phases of development and is expected to leverage approximately $500 million in investment for the neighborhood. In all, Fort Worth Housing Solutions will develop approximately 1,000 new units across the community.

The City of Fort Worth plans additional infrastructure improvements, including a new community hub and aquatics center. FWHS also received an additional $4 million from the federal government to assist with public infrastructure improvements.

“Cowan Place is the gateway welcoming all to Stop Six, Texas,” said Fort Worth City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens, whose district includes Stop Six. “It is a beacon of light for senior citizens who want to return to Stop Six and those who were yearning for residential amenities that would make the community more attractive for them. This community is blessed.

“When Cavile Place was demolished, Housing Solutions leaders knew they had to deliver replacement housing and they are delivering on that need in a very impressive manner as we look forward to residents who will soon call Hughes House Home.”

McCormack Baron Salazar of St. Louis, Mo., is the development partner for Cowan Place and Block Companies, of Houston and Baton Rouge, is the general contractor.

“We are a proud partner with FWHS in welcoming former Cavile Place residents to Cowan Place – the first of six phases of development that will transform the Stop Six community,” said Richard Baron, Chairman, McCormack Baron.

About the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative

The Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative is a multi-year effort developed by residents, community leaders and stakeholders to transform a historic community in Southeast Fort Worth into a vibrant, safe and sustainable community with access to quality education, healthcare, services and amenities – a “neighborhood of choice.” The effort is guided by a 2019 Transformation Plan that calls for six phases of new, mixed-income housing, commercial space, neighborhood improvements and multi-purpose community hub and aquatics center. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development seeded the transformation with a $35 grant Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant awarded to Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth in 2020. In all, the initial HUD grant is expected to trigger more than $345 million in investment and improvements for the Stop Six community.

About McCormack Baron Salazar

McCormack Baron Salazar is one of the nation’s leading developers, property managers, and asset managers of economically integrated urban neighborhoods. Since 1973, the firm has been an innovator of community development and urban revitalization in 48 cities, having built more than 25,000 high-quality homes with total development costs of over $5 billion.

HUD’s Signature Place-Based Program Continues to Invest in “Housing, People, and Neighborhoods” Nationwide

FORT WORTH – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge today announced “Supplemental Grant” awards for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grantees totaling more than $98 million. Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood was one of the grantees awarded $5 million. In addition, HUD is opening a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $10 million to support local planning efforts.

“We’re thankful for the additional funds to continue the Choice Neighborhood revitalization in Stop Six,” Fort Worth Housing Solutions President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “Rising interest rates and construction costs have made developments more challenging. We appreciate HUD recognizing those realities and providing further funding.”

The Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan was developed by residents, community leaders and stakeholders to capture a shared vision for a vibrant, safe and sustainable community with access to quality education, healthcare, services and amenities – a “neighborhood of choice.” The initiative was seeded by a $35 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant awarded in April 2020.

“These funds are instrumental in creating a living community that we’ve called a ‘gateway to the west,’” said Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens, who serves District 5 including Stop Six. “We’re so proud to welcome our Cavile senior citizens back home with access to services and amenities in a modern housing environment. We’re so grateful to HUD for believing in this project and Stop Six.”

Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) Grants assist in redeveloping severely distressed HUD-assisted properties into mixed-income communities. The program has a three-pronged “Housing, People, and Neighborhood” approach that includes not only redevelopment of distressed properties, but also provides support to housing residents related to health, education, and income, while simultaneously investing in neighborhood improvement projects which promote economic development and private investment. Since the program’s inception, the Choice Neighborhoods program has seen 11,000 new mixed-income units built across 44 cities. More than 32,000 units are planned.

“When it comes to Choice Neighborhoods, HUD is an invested partner at the table,” said Secretary Fudge. “Cities and public housing authorities are working tirelessly to address affordable housing shortages despite pandemic-era construction cost increases. The additional Choice Neighborhoods funding represents HUD’s commitment to creating new housing for the communities that need it most. The Choice Neighborhoods approach is a comprehensive model that can be transformative for communities, and we invite more communities to consider tapping into it.”

“CNI is an amazing engine for housing and economic development for neighborhoods in the Southwest. Congratulations to Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth on receiving $5 million in CNI funding from HUD,” Candace Valenzuela, HUD Southwest Regional Administrator, said. “Choice Neighborhoods cultivates properties that provide safe homes with a focus on tenant services as well as robust neighborhood economic development.”

The entire list of awardees can be viewed here.