2,000 Acres: Bird's Fort to Viridian

Bird's Fort

When first announced: The site of the first Anglo settlement in the region, Bird's Fort has long captured the imagination of developers, who touted grand plans for the 2,000 acres in north Arlington in 1996 (Metrovest), 2003 (Lazarus Property) and 2006 (Huffines Communities).

Obstacles: Much of the land is in the Trinity River's 100-year flood plain, making land preparation expensive.

Where it's at now: Last week, the Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission heard the zoning plans for the 3,900-home Viridian project. The master plan calls for office, retail and residential space in a town center setting. Still to be settled are detailed land-use plans showing where the buildings would go.

A meeting on setting up a tax increment financing zone, where all taxes paid on the added value of the land would go toward streets, utilities and other improvements, is set for Tuesday, said Robert Sturns, Arlington's economic development manager.

Huffines Communities bought the land last year. The development would emphasize pedestrian friendliness, said Barbara Koerble, a senior planner for the city who is in charge of working with the developer.

"I've been really impressed with them," Sturns said. "It sounds like a really solid plan."

Chances of it becoming a reality: "I think of all of the developers that have attempted this, this is the strongest one we've had in terms of getting things done," Sturns said.