Westside Village wins Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award

Westside Village, a 37-acre mixed-use development by Larkspur Capital and the Keystone Group, has received a 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

The project received top honors in its category of “Real Estate Development and Reuse” for cities with populations greater than 500,000 people.

Each year, the IEDC honors economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that consistently demonstrate excellence in the field. The honorees lead transformational projects that revitalize communities and advance the practice of economic development. This year's awards take on special meaning, as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary.

"Because we take a long-term approach to every community we build, recognition like this is especially meaningful,” said Schafer Smartt, Vice President of Development at Larkspur Capital. “Westside Village was envisioned as a neighborhood that will continue to evolve for decades, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and the city as a whole. We’re grateful to IEDC for recognizing that vision.”

The Westside Village is expected to bring retail, a full-service hotel, and multifamily housing to one of Fort Worth’s most strategically positioned sites. The project also represents the city’s largest single delivery of new office inventory in 43 years, a milestone that reflects Fort Worth’s surging demand for premium workspace.

Located between the Fort Worth Stockyards – a major tourist attraction which brings approximately 9 million visitors to the city annually – and two of the region’s fastest-growing submarkets for Class AA office, Downtown Fort Worth and the Cultural District, the Westside Village has catalyzed approximately $1.7 billion in new investment while creating significant employment opportunities across construction, retail, hospitality, and other sectors.

“Westside Village’s International Economic Development Council award is a testament to the world class developments coming to Fort Worth,” said District 9 Councilmember Elizabeth Beck. “Westside Village will be a premier destination to live, work and play because of the efforts of the team at Larkspur, and this scale of development will drive growth and revitalization in the area.”

"Receiving gold recognition from the International Economic Development Council is a tremendous honor and a testament to the ambitious vision we have for Fort Worth,” said District 7 Councilmember Macy Hill. “This award validates our approach to transforming the Westside Village site into a premier hub for commerce and community, which is resonating on a global scale. It confirms that Fort Worth is not only a great place to live but a top-tier destination for innovative, world-class economic development that will serve our citizens for decades to come."

The Larkspur Capital and Keystone Group teams collaborated with the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (EDP) and the City of Fort Worth Economic Development Department on the project. Westside Village also received the support of the board of the Near Westside Tax Increment Finance district (TIF 17), which approved the reimbursement of up to $45 million in flood control improvements and other eligible infrastructure costs – effectively leveraging this public-private partnership to speed up investments that will address long-standing flooding challenges in the area.

Westside Village is expected to generate nearly $121 million in net new taxes to the City of Fort Worth during the duration of the 15-year incentive agreement.

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