UPDATE APRIL 17, 2023: The first step toward bringing a new development to the City of Mansfield would include the submission of plans by the developer which, according to officials from the City of Mansfield, has not happened yet.

“While neither a development plan nor a partnership between the City and developer have been proposed” Smolinski said, “representatives of Wildcat Management have expressed their enthusiasm regarding the potential development of Castle Ranch.”

Smolinski indicated that any proposed development or partnership between the developer and city would have to be presented to – and approved by – the City Council in a public meeting.

DALLAS, Texas – April 13, 2023: There’s a new cat in town in Mansfield, Texas. Known for its thought-forward prowess, Wildcat Management, owned by Tanya Ragan, is expanding its pawprint into further reaches of North Texas. The project, called Castle Ranch, is expected to break ground in 2024. This $150 million mixed-use development will include multifamily, townhomes, retail, and live/work space, all activated by pocket parks, walkable streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths.

Castle Ranch will create an entirely new district, built from the ground up, that will connect to the extensive city trail system, an adjacent dog park, and a city park that has been in the works since the approval by city taxpayers in November 2022. The project constitutes one of the largest contiguous parcels within Mansfield and is within walking distance to downtown, entertainment, shopping, and restaurants. Geographically, Castle Ranch boasts beautiful, sweeping landscapes and green spaces, yet is only minutes away from major highways such as I-20 and Hwy 287.

Says Ragan: “I am excited about the opportunity to apply Wildcat’s years of community building and urban renewal experience in downtown Dallas toward Mansfield’s visionary efforts. Our public-private partnership will yield benefits to generations of Mansfield’s citizens.”

Working with local officials and area stakeholders, Wildcat Management aims to enhance the western side of town and bring value to Mansfield as a whole. Wildcat Management will maintain many interests in downtown Dallas, including housing its corporate headquarters. As Wildcat Management expands its development reach, more announcements will be made soon.

Wildcat Management is a woman-owned real estate investment, development, and management company. Wildcat takes on mission-driven projects and strategic public-private sector partnerships in the hopes of sparking economic turnaround and community growth. Wildcat Management continues to drive positive transformation for local communities across the country.

For questions or comments regarding Wildcat Management, please contact Monica Moreno, Executive Manager at Mmoreno@wildcatmanagement.net or office at 214-758-0348.

Upon completion, it will feature between 800-1,000 multifamily units, between 80,000-100,000 square feet of medical office space and restaurant and retail space.

MANSFIELD, Texas — Editor's note: The article originally appeared in the Dallas Business Journal here.

A new mixed-use project with a price tag of up to $500 million promises to bring development of a scope previously unseen in Mansfield.

Chisholm Flats has staked out a 54-acre site for the project, located at the northeast corner of Lone Star Road and Highway 287. The expansive development, called the Village at Southpointe, boasts offerings including medical office, upscale multifamily and restaurant and retail space.

The Village at Southpointe will create an anticipated 637 new jobs, according to information provided by Chisholm Flats.

The city has backed the project with incentives including a TIRZ reimbursement and Chapter 380 economic development agreement. The project will feature extensive civic plaza space, and city documents point to the upcoming site as a likely entertainment destination.

PHOTOS: $500 million development coming to Mansfield

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Chisholm Flats

The development is projected to generate $64.6 million in ad-valorem revenue over the next 30 years for the city. PlainsCapital Bank is providing debt for the project and Chisholm Flats isn’t using outside equity.

Upon completion, the Village at Southpointe will feature between 800 and 1,000 multifamily units, between 80,000 to 100,000 square feet of medical office space and restaurant and retail space designed to recruit destination dining. Boutique hotel and corporate office development are also on the table. The final amount that developers are projecting to spend on the project will be between $350 and $500 million.

“There will be nothing like it in Mansfield,” said Dave Berzina, partner at Chisholm Flats.

Berzina heads the company along with Robert Jonas, also a partner at Chisholm Flats. Berzina previously worked with the Fort Worth Chamber, and Jonas has worked as a developer and lawyer.

When the duo got together to start developing, the first thing they did was drive around for hours on end looking for sites. They found the property in Mansfield during one of those car rides.

A Chicago-based firm previously owned the site. That firm’s forte was residential, and the company knew the site was better suited for commercial development.

Once the Chisholm Flats started working with the city for the eventual development, it became clear that the original zoning for the site didn’t work and ran counter to what the city wanted to see on the property. Together, Chisholm Flats and the City of Mansfield worked to create an updated plan for the land.

“Thankfully, the city was willing to work with us in getting some higher value zoning on the site for some multifamily to bring some density,” said South Cole, principal at Apogee Partners and project manager for the development. “They had an appetite for some nicer commercial on site, which we knew would require the density. It was a pretty big ask from the city, but also a pretty big offer from the city.”

The zoning process was extensive, but the final zoning for the site allows for more density than what's typical. Chisholm Flats had to shoulder the carrying costs, but the city was an active partner.

“It’s definitely a very engaged city council and city management staff,” Cole said.

Chisholm Flats had to give up millions of dollars worth of potential development to include the core civic space within the project. The project will feature an extensive walkway system and architectural features such as a water mill.

“We’re trying to do a really nice job and put in some destination restaurants,” Jonas said. “In order to (get) destination restaurants, you have to have a really nice destination place for them to come to. … That’s why we’re giving up millions of dollars and spending millions of dollars (on) that civic space.”

Mansfield has seen a wave of development activity recently. Admiral Legacy Investments is planning to develop 240,000 square feet of office space in Mansfield, called The Mansfield Innovation Community, or The MIC, which will serve as the epicenter of the Mansfield Innovation Corridor. The city is investing heavily in the deal, intent on fostering significant industry growth in the community.

The city recently passed incentives for a project that could eventually host film production and create over 2,000 full time jobs.

More Texas headlines:

Mansfield is known for their amazing parks and outdoor spaces and they’re about to get even better with two new parks and improvements to McClendon Park West. Make plans to bring the family this Saturday and join the circus themed fun as the city celebrates the openings.

From Mansfield Parks and Recreation: It’s a three-ring celebration in Mansfield this Saturday and you’re invited! The festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, with the grand opening of Watson Branch Park, 1420 Watson Branch Road. This new neighborhood park is nearly 11 acres, most of which includes a paved linear trail that runs throughout Watson Branch, a neighborhood off 157 and Mouser Way. The park area includes two playgrounds, a pavilion and picnic tables.

Once that ribbon is cut, the circus heads to Gertie Barrett Park, another brand-new neighborhood park. At 11 a.m. city officials will officially dedicate this eight-acre park, located at 2121 Gertie Barrett Road. It includes two playgrounds, two pavilions, a looped walking trail, natural areas, a restroom and a splash pad. This park was the highest priority for northwest Mansfield in the 2020 Master Plan.

At noon, staff and city leaders will move the fun to McClendon Park West, 799 W. Broad Street, for the final ring in the circus celebration. While originally opened in 1985, the park has been closed since June 2022 for major renovations that replaced the unused softball field with two lighted basketball courts while also adding a new restroom and splash pad. The park also had parking expanded in both areas to accommodate the new visitors expected with the enhanced amenities.

Once officially open, all three parks will operate on standard neighborhood park hours, open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The splash pads at Gertie Barrett Park and McClendon Park West will be operating from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, starting with the park opening and through the end of the summer. There is no cost to attend the parks or the splash pads.

Residents are encouraged to attend the grand openings on Saturday, April 22, and celebrate this exciting day with city leaders and park officials. Let the circus fun begin!

PLEASE NOTE: These parks are NOT open until Saturday and are still considered construction sites. Some barriers have been removed to allow crews to make the final adjustments, but the parks are still closed. PLEASE do not visit the parks until they have been cleared to open for your own safety. We know you are excited and we are too…not much longer!

The much anticipated groundbreaking of Tarrant County’s second H-E-B location took place Friday.

H-E-B Mansfield will hire more than 700 employees for its new grocery store at the corner of U.S. 287 and Broad Street. H-E-B owns about 28 acres at the site.

The Texas-based grocery chain announced plans for a Mansfield location in August after committing to grow its North Texas footprint.

In November, the company broke ground on a Fort Worth grocery store in the Alliance development, at Heritage Trace Parkway and North Riverside Drive. It is expected to open in spring 2024 and employ 750 people.

Mansfield leaders and H-E-B executives gathered at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the flagship-format store inside a heated tent. The 118,000-square-foot-store will likely open in May 2024, given the grocery chain’s typical 15-month construction timeline.

Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony revealed new details about the store’s department and product offerings.

The new Mansfield store will feature a Texas Backyard department with outdoor essentials, H-E-B’s home decor department and a True Texas BBQ restaurant with a drive-thru. The store will also come with a pharmacy and curbside and home delivery services.

“We’re extremely excited to strengthen our commitment to the DFW Metroplex with our move into Mansfield,” H-E-B Executive Vice President North West Food/Drug Juan-Carlos Rück said in a release. “Our H-E-B locations across North Texas continue to stir up great excitement with customers, and this H-E-B store will allow us to answer the long-standing call for an H-E-B in this thriving community.”

Similar to other flagship H-E-B locations, the store will feature a bakery, seafood and meat departments, fresh produce, cheese and deli departments, beer and wine department, handmade sushi section, prepared meals in store, live cooking demonstrations and samplings and a floral department with online ordering and delivery options. Mansfield’s H-E-B will also include a healthy living department, frozen food section, beauty and cosmetics department, pet department and wellness nutrition services.

“The Mansfield community welcomes H-E-B as a partner and advocate for quality service and world class standards of operation,” Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans said in a release. “Our residents will be the recipients of top-quality grocery and produce, and we are excited about their presence in our city.”

The Mansfield store will feature H-E-B’s Taste of DFW coffee flavor, a new variety of the chain’s private-label coffee brand, Cafe Ole.

H-E-B is the largest privately held employer in Texas. The San Antonio-headquartered chain has more than 430 stores and 154,000 employees in Texas and Mexico.

H-E-B also operates high-end grocery chain Central Market with several stores across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The popular chain also owns state-wide delivery service Favor Delivery.

To learn more about why Texans are so obsessed with H-E-B, here’s a look at some of the secrets behind the grocery chain’s success.

This story was originally published February 2, 2023, 3:11 PM.

Mansfield is experiencing a surge in development as the city continues to see rapid population growth. The projects range from a proposed film production studio to new apartments and retail stores.

Dallas-based Wildcat Management’s $150 million Castle Ranch mixed-use development is the latest addition to the projects underway or announced in the fast-growing North Texas city.

According to the woman-owned commercial real estate firm, the development will feature multifamily units, townhomes, retail, and live/work spaces connected by walkable streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths.

Wildcat Management says the company has teamed up with local officials and area stakeholders to improve the western side of Mansfield and enhance the value of the city.

Castle Ranch will create a new district that connects to the city’s trail system, an adjacent dog park, and a city park that received taxpayer approval in November 2022, the firm said in a news release. The project— located near major highways I-20 and Hwy 287 — is built on one of the largest contiguous parcels in Mansfield and will be within walking distance to downtown, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

The upcoming Castle Ranch project is expected to break ground in 2024.

Wildcat Management owner Tanya Ragan says she’s expanding her company’s “pawprint” in the region.

“I am excited about the opportunity to apply Wildcat’s years of community building and urban renewal experience in downtown Dallas toward Mansfield’s visionary efforts,” Ragan said in a statement. “Our public-private partnership will yield benefits to generations of Mansfield’s citizens.”

Rendering of The Mansfield Innovation Community [Image: Gensler]

Adding to the growing list of projects in Mansfield, the city announced plans in January to create The Mansfield Innovation Community, also known as “The MIC.” The project, in partnership with Admiral Legacy Investments, will be part of the planned Mansfield Innovation Corridor and will occupy 18 acres of land at Heritage and Regency Parkways, with one million square feet of master-planned community slated to be developed in phases.

The MIC will feature collaborative spaces, retail, corporate residence, parks, trails, education, an innovation hub, and corporate headquarters. The project is slated to break ground in spring 2024, with Phase 1 scheduled to open by Summer 2025.

The new developments are evidence of Mansfield’s growing appeal as a desirable location for investment and development.

Beyond Wildcat Management’s project and the plans for the MIC innovation district, Dallas-based real estate firm Leon Capital has submitted plans for The Revel, a $46.5 million multi-building apartment complex that’s set to break ground later this year and deliver in 2025.

The Revel will occupy 396,000 square feet and include two four-story apartment buildings, three buildings with three stories, and a two-story clubhouse. Meanwhile, the mixed-use Chisholm Flats development, which features 800-1,000 multifamily units, medical office space, hotels, and restaurant and retail space, is already in the works.

Mansfield is south of Arlington and has a population that’s risen from 28,000 in 2000 to 74,000 today, and major companies like H-E-B are taking notice. The grocer recently unveiled plans for a new store in Mansfield, adding to the town’s growing list of commercial and residential projects.

Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans [Video still: City of Mansfield]

In addition to the flurry of real estate development activity, Mansfield has set its sights on becoming a hub for film production, with plans to break ground this year on Mansfield Super Studios, a film production studio to be built on 72 acres of undeveloped land. In addition to a cluster of five studios, the $70-million project envisions restaurants, a hotel, and retail space. The mini-Hollywood aims to attract streaming services and major productions to the area, such as Taylor Sheridan’s hit series “Yellowstone” and “1883,” filmed in the Fort Worth area.

Mayor Michael Evans has touted the studio project as “movie magic” that will benefit not only Mansfield but also the entire state of Texas.

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

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