Fort Worth’s Historic Public Market Building Opens The Harden

After decades of decay, The Public Market has gotten a new lease on life. Wilks Development showcased The Harden ― an amenity-laden apartment community for active senior living, which now wraps around the historic Fort Worth structure. A Grand Opening event was held on Thursday, September 18, introducing The Harden. It gave guests a first glimpse into the historic preservation of the newly restored Public Market building as well.

The opening of The Harden is just the beginning for this $54-million project.

The Public Market is a beloved local landmark. The building has two historic designations. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and it is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Originally developed by John J. Harden in 1930 ― it was intended for use by local farmers, vendors, and businesses.

But the Great Depression changed its trajectory. The market didn’t last long, closing a decade later in 1941. The tan brick building with its stately red tile roof housed various businesses over the years. But it had fallen into disrepair by the time Bob Simpson purchased it in 2012 with plans for restoration. The project’s challenges didn’t outweigh the costs to restore it. And, so it sat, windows boarded up, the victim of fire and years of neglect.

The Long-Awaited Big Reveal

The property’s new owners, Benbrook-based Wilks Development LLC, finally found a way to preserve the beloved structure while utilizing the existing acreage surrounding The Public Market to its fullest potential.

At the Grand Opening, CEO Kyle Wilks thanked the City of Fort Worth and Mayor Mattie Parker for their support.

“I’ve been impressed by the city’s dedication to historic preservation,” Wilks said. “This was not an easy site. You’ve got to get a lot of people moving in the same direction.”

He also thanked the team that brought it back to life, including the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and San Antonio-based Mason Joseph Company. BOKAPowell Architects served as the project’s architect and designer. Wilks thanked the local engineering firms of Summit, JQ, and Kimley Horn, as well as general contractor NE Construction. Wilks also thanked local developers Randy Gideon and Tom Purvis for their help in the early stages of envisioning the development.

The party was catered by Juan Rodriguez of Magdalena’s and Westland Hospitality. The Bubble Bar provided champagne and signature cocktails, and Southern Creamery was on site with craft push pops.

A Peek Inside The Harden Lifestyle

Originally designed by B. Gaylord Noftsger, the unusual and eye-catching Public Market structure sits at 1400 Henderson Street, facing downtown. It is now backed by Interstate 30. On our tour of the apartments, we were impressed that they were whisper-quiet ― with no hint of road noise.

The one and two-bedroom apartments are available in 25 different floor plans, making The Harden anything but cookie-cutter. There are 180 new units to choose from, and leasing is currently underway.

Open floor-plan kitchens include quartz countertops and islands, with your choice of cool or warm-toned cabinetry, and stainless steel appliance packages. Other amenities include a clubhouse and game room, a fitness center, as well as outdoor grills and lounge areas. The pool deck and spa are situated to take in the remarkable view of The Public Market tower and Fort Worth’s downtown skyline.

The entire property is now connected by a fully landscaped outdoor greenspace and courtyard amenity. The covered structure where farmers once backed their cars up to sell their produce was lost in a previous fire, though its original brick façade remained. Now, a recreated metal structure pays homage to that history, becoming a shaded open-air lounge area for residents to enjoy.

Of course, there will be an on-site fine dining restaurant, café, grab-and-go market, and cocktail bar soon as well.

Food & Beverage Will Soon Inhabit The Public Market

The interior of the newly restored Public Market is currently a vast blank slate, with cement floors, white structural pillars, and a fresh black ceiling. The stained glass of the tower has been meticulously restored, as well as the front-facing Palladian arched windows ― flanking the historic front door.

Original wooden, insulated ice house doors have now been restored along the right-hand wall of the space. They have also become a historic feature in the leasing office on the other side of the wall ― protected by plexiglass and lit for dramatic effect.

Chef Jenna Kinard will take the lead on the dining components, along with her husband Micah, and Kansas City restaurateur Christian Moscoso. Wilks Development announced their addition to the project in April. They are still in the planning and design phase. There were video renderings on view of what the space will become. More of those details coming soon.

A Restoration 95 Years In The Making

These new food and beverage concepts will make the most of Public Market’s 15,000-square-foot space.

Kinard tells Fort Worth Digital Diary that the design will flow from a front-facing café to the second-floor rooms visible behind wrought iron railings. They will become a private club component, complete with a card room at the back. She plans to tip her hat to the original function of The Public Market with a hydroponic indoor garden wall.

The design of the space, Kinard says, will include a light-filled promenade to the left, where guests can take in the history of the space and the dramatic Palladian windows. She wants it to serve as a “museum space,” telling the story of The Public Market for visitors and residents alike.

Now that The Harden has been delivered, there is still more excitement to come for this historic building and its unique architecture. Stay tuned for more.