Forney, located roughly 19 miles east of downtown Dallas, continues its expansion with the planned construction of two new warehouses in the city.
The City of Forney has evolved considerably since the state legislature officially proclaimed it the “Antique Capital of Texas” 35 years ago. While the antique shops still exist, more and more warehouses have been built in the city, like the Amazon fulfillment center.
Over 10 million square feet of warehouse space is set to be built in Forney, placing the city among the fastest-growing industrial markets in North Texas.
Soon, the city will welcome two additional warehouses on South Gateway Boulevard close to U.S. Highway 80.
The $18 million project is being designed by architecture firm Ware Malcomb and developed by Leon Capital Group of Dallas. The nearly 300,000-square-foot business park will break ground in early 2023, with plans to open in 2024.
The family-owned Leon Capital specializes in multifamily buildings and industrial developments, like the Forney warehouses.
The firm made headlines a few years back when it converted the former Dallas Independent School District headquarters east of downtown into residential living. The entry building from the old two-story school district complex was even preserved as a centerpiece for the new apartment community.
Leon Capital has also been active outside Forney, acquiring over 18 acres of land for development along the Dallas North Tollway extension in Celina.
The development firm, founded in 2006 by Fernando De Leon, also plans to build its Long Creek Industrial Park on Long Creek Road in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, close to U.S. Highway 80. This project will be more than double the size of the Forney initiative, with three buildings encompassing over 636,000 square feet of space.
Since 2009, the Dallas-based Leon Capital Group has “overseen more than 400 investments, representing a total capitalization of more than $7 billion,” according to their website.
