New Dallas Initiative Brings Minority Developers to the Forefront
A new Dallas initiative aims to bring community-focused real estate developers to the forefront. On Wednesday, Innovan Neighborhoods launched the Community Developers Roundtable to address gaps in affordable housing and community development.
Session 2 was the first session of the CDR's applicable content. While the first session focused on introductions and expectations, Session 2 delivered meaningful guidance and information from subject-matter experts. Knowing that a solid financial structure is the starting point for any credible development project, the CDR team intentionally kicked off the first curriculum-focused session with these fundamentals that every emerging developer must understand. The CDR's purpose is to give participants access to information, clarity, and expertise that are often difficult to obtain, and this session delivered precisely that. Insights from a Fellow Developer and Bank Leaders The day began with a conversation led by Will Northern of Crescendo Development. He shared his path into the industry and discussed the early decisions and relationships that helped him gain footing. Participants connected with the honesty of his story and appreciated hearing the practical steps that helped someone once in their position begin building real projects. The energy shifted as the group moved into lender conversations with bank leaders speaking plainly about how they evaluate new developers, what they look for in early meetings, and how they measure risk. The insight was direct, grounded, and immediately practical. One participant captured the sentiment well, saying, "Listening to the lenders and the tax and accounting information was very helpful. It made the financial side of development feel much more approachable."
The first session of the Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) Fort Worth launched with great energy and excitement. Hosted at Bennett Partners, one of Fort Worth’s leading architecture firms, the event brought together an incredible group of emerging developers, local partners, and community advocates who are passionate about shaping stronger and more inclusive neighborhoods. Participants began the morning with breakfast and networking before diving into a full agenda that blended learning, discussion, and inspiration. Setting the Vision The morning opened with introductions and a conversation about the purpose and vision of the CDR program. CDR Fort Worth is a nine-month professional development program designed to equip emerging community developers with practical knowledge, mentorship, and resources to move their real estate projects forward. Led by Innovan Neighborhoods, the program focuses on building long-term capacity within Fort Worth’s development ecosystem. Participants also learned what to expect from upcoming monthly sessions, each designed to combine expert insights with peer exchange and hands-on learning.
A new networking program aims to connect Fort Worth’s nonprofit and for-profit real estate developers with financial capital to build more affordable housing units. The Community Developers Roundtable, launched in Dallas in 2022, provides developers with access to capital, peer learning and strategic support. Organizers of Fort Worth’s roundtable hope to replicate the success it had in Dallas, which resulted in nearly $125 million in development activities. That included 39 housing units built and more than $1.7 million in predevelopment and construction loans provided by financial partner BCL of Texas. Organizers said they want to increase affordable housing and community-based amenities to revitalize neighborhoods through real estate projects. The nine-month program launched with a public presentation at Texas Wesleyan University on Aug. 28, Maggie Parker, founder of Innovan Neighborhoods and the Community Developers Roundtable program, said the two-year Dallas pilot program equipped about two dozen local developers with resources, networks and capital to drive lasting impact. “The Fort Worth expansion is about championing and empowering developers who understand the context of their neighborhoods, making them best positioned to build, revitalize and reinvigorate the places they call home, which contributes to the economic vitality of Fort Worth,” Parker said.