Urban Union Set for Major Expansion Along Front Street in Downtown Arlington

Dodson Commercial Real Estate broke ground today on an ambitious expansion of Downtown Arlington's popular Urban Union. This expansion extends the Urban Union footprint west along Front Street and includes five mixed-use buildings which will become home to restaurants, retails, office space, and apartments. Once complete, Urban Union will stretch five city blocks from 4 Kahunas Tiki Bar and Union Worx to Vandergriff Town Center. 

A new office building will be a key feature of this phase of Urban Union’s development. It will be the first of its kind and scale in Downtown Arlington in decades. The 21,000+ sq. ft., two-story office building will be located at the southeast corner of Front and Mesquite streets. Accounting firm Sutton Frost Cary LLP announced that it will be among the first tenants and occupy the 11,000 sq ft, second story.

Dodson Commercial Real Estate Managing Partner Ryan Dodson said, "The redevelopment of Front Street in Downtown Arlington has been such a fun and rewarding experience for our company. The 50,000 square foot addition is the next step in our vision for the Urban Union district. It will continue the theme of a walkable Downtown Arlington full of vibrant, locally owned businesses." 

In addition to Sutton Frost Cary LLP, the new phase of Urban Union will welcome North Texas favorites including Spiral Diner, Doughboy Donuts, Cow Tipping Creamery, and Coop’s Fowl Ball (a new sports bar concept featuring a family-friendly menu). In addition to street-level retail, shops, restaurants, and offices, the expansion also features 24 loft apartment units on the second and third floors. 

To see this kind of significant investment in a downtown business district during the COVID-19 pandemic is uncommon. Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, points to several factors which are unique to Downtown Arlington.

“The entrepreneurs and business owners here in Downtown Arlington are deeply vested, creative, and really pulled together during the pandemic,” said Campbell. “Our community values local businesses and continues to turn out and support them. Our Board and staff have worked hard to create opportunities to keep Downtown front of mind. Consequently, even as downtowns across the country have struggled, we’ve seen a net gain in new businesses since the start of the pandemic. These kinds of results give developers the confidence to invest, which yields even more economic prosperity for the district.”

Ryan Dodson agrees.

“Downtown Arlington is truly becoming a live, work, play district,” said Dodson. “We're happy to play a role in its renaissance."

Envisioning the Next Phase of Urban Union  

For more of the story, enjoy this video by the City of Arlington:

... and check out this "fly through" rendering of Sutton Frost Cary's new office:

About Downtown Arlington    

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington is where creativity, authenticity, and hometown pride thrive and drive what's next. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, a Tier One public research university, plus prolific visual and performing arts, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, a thriving start-up community, and a supportive business climate. downtownarlington.org