Panther Den 2026 Kick-Off Recap: Setting the Vision for Transit-Oriented Development
- The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
On February 5, the 2026 Panther Den Urban Design Competition officially kicked off with an evening of conversation, connection and big ideas at WineHaus, sponsored by Ofi Chito. Hosted by the Young Leaders of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, the Kick-Off event marked the starting line for this year’s competition and brought together young commercial real estate professionals eager to dive into the challenge ahead.
What Is the Panther Den?
The Panther Den is REC of GFW’s annual urban design competition, giving young professionals a hands-on opportunity to work in teams on a real-world development site. Over the course of the program, participants collaborate across disciplines to create thoughtful, creative development concepts—building skills, expanding networks and gaining experience that mirrors real development charettes.
It’s fast-paced, highly collaborative and designed to push participants to think critically about how projects come together in the real world.
What We Covered at the Kick-Off
The Kick-Off event introduced participants to the 2026 Panther Den site and the broader framework that will guide their work this year. The focus of the evening was Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and how transit investments can shape neighborhoods, connectivity and long-term growth in Fort Worth.
Participants heard context around the proposed TEXRail extension and the future Near Southside / Medical District Station, located behind Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center near the Mistletoe Heights neighborhood. The discussion explored how transit, land use, healthcare and surrounding neighborhoods intersect—and how teams can begin thinking about development opportunities through that lens.
The Kick-Off also walked through the overall competition structure, expectations and upcoming milestones, ensuring everyone starts the Panther Den aligned and ready to collaborate.
See Photos from the Kick-Off
📷 Photography courtesy of Sotos Fotos
Thank You to Our 2026 Panther Den Sponsors
A huge thank you to Trinity Metro, our Panther Den Title Sponsor, and Ofi Chito, our Kick-Off Sponsor, along with all of our 2026 Panther Den sponsors for making this program possible. Your support helps develop the next generation of commercial real estate leaders in Fort Worth.
What’s Coming Up Next
The Panther Den momentum continues with two key upcoming events:
Meet the Experts Night
📅 February 19 | 5:30 PM
📍 University of Texas at Arlington – Fort Worth Campus
This session gives participants direct access to industry experts who can provide insight, feedback, and real-world perspective as teams refine their ideas.
Panther Den Presentations
📅 March 5 | 5:00 PM
📍 Southside Preservation Hall
The evening presentations are open to the public and showcase each team’s final development concept. If you want to see how young professionals are thinking about Fort Worth’s future—and hear bold ideas for transit-oriented development—this is an event you won’t want to miss.
👉 Registration is open now, and we encourage members, sponsors, and the broader CRE community to attend the March 5 presentations.
