Burleson Economic Development Corp. manager Alex Philips knows Burleson has Fort Worth to thank for part of its success. And with 70% of the city’s population (Burleson has just less than 44,000 residents) driving to another city for work, it would make sense for Burleson to be as sleepy as some of the other southern Fort Worth suburbs.

But commercial development is thriving.

Though the city’s economy has historically revolved around manufacturing jobs and industrial space facilitated by developments such as HighPoint Business Park, it has become more diverse in recent years.

That has caused developers to eye properties for different uses. Robert Dow’s Old Town Station, a three-story office and restaurant project, began moving tenants in earlier this month. Construction partner Fort Construction broke ground on the project in December 2015. Keller Williams Realty and Rio Mambo restaurant lease some of the 36k SF space. 

Philips said the city is also looking into installing a one-acre public plaza reminiscent of Fort Worth’s Sundance Square. The public space could be used for meetings, yoga classes, concerts or any number of neighborhood events.

Irving-based Realty Capital has closed on the land for 200-plus units of multifamily called Depot on Main. The development of the live/work units will receive some economic incentives from the city.

In October, the city approved a plat and economic development agreement for Arabella at Burleson, a 95-acre mixed-use development. The $80M to $90M project on Southwest Hulen Street and Southwest Wilshire Boulevard will have independent, assisted and memory care senior living, and multifamily units.

Even with an surge of mixed-use projects, industrial is still thriving.

F-Wave roofing materials is in the process of expanding its U.S. headquarters on Burleson Boulevard. 

In October, the city approved a site plan for the relocation of Hayes & Stolz from Fort Worth to a 144k SF facility in HighPoint. 

“We’re seeing the best economy we’ve seen in our history with more jobs being creative, more successful business,” Philips said.