Hoque Global Misses Deadline for Mansfield Development

A missed deadline from a familiar developer has halted a $50 million project about 20 miles southeast of Fort Worth.

Hoque Global is seeking an extension from the City of Mansfield after failing to meet its Dec. 31 deadline to begin pouring the foundation for a mixed-use development along Smith Street, the Dallas Business Journal reported.

The project, first announced in 2022, aimed to revitalize downtown Mansfield with nearly 250 residential units, over 11,700 square feet of office space and a 7,800-square-foot civic plaza with retail and restaurants.

In October 2023, the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation approved an amendment to the Hoque Global agreement, extending the timeline for vertical construction until Dec. 31, 2024. However, the amended deal also required Hoque to pour the foundation by the end of last year — a milestone the firm failed to achieve.

The October amendment also required Hoque Global to purchase 4 additional acres from the city for $2 million, with the deal needing to close by the Dec. 30 deadline. Mansfield City Council discussed the project during a Jan. 13 executive session, but no decision was made.

Hoque Global, led by CEO Mike Hoque, encountered environmental challenges at the site, the firm’s vice president, Arthur Santa-Maria, told the Dallas Business Journal. It is working with the city on “retooling” the contract, he told the outlet.

Under the terms of the agreement, the land the developer purchased for the development could revert to city ownership if the contract is not amended.

While construction delays are common with many larger projects, this holdup is the third time the Dallas-based developer was criticized for missing deadlines.

The City of Fort Worth terminated its contract with Hoque Global for the Evans and Rosedale Urban Village project in December 2023, claiming Hoque missed deadlines related to the project. However, the company disputes the reasons for its removal.

The city selected Royal Capital to spearhead that project after reopening applications in April 2024.

Hoque Global has also received scrutiny for delays relating to University Hills, a proposed 270-acre mixed-use community in Southern Dallas.

Nevertheless, the Dallas City Council recently approved amendments to the University Hills project. These changes increased public subsidies to $35.9 million but set strict deadlines for construction, financing and land acquisition to avoid a repeat of the Fort Worth situation.

— Andrew Terrell