Fort Worth Project Will Turn Shipping Containers Into Apartments

More than 30,000 apartments are being built in Dallas-Fort Worth.But a small Fort Worth project may be the most unique rental community on the way in North Texas.The 34-unit apartment project being built south of downtown Fort Worth will be constructed out of 76 steel shipping containers."It is truly a unique multifamily residential property," said Steve Keys with Keywinn Development, which is the general contractor. "The shipping container home residences will provide the Near South Side community a Class A, new construction living experience at an attainable price point, while satisfying a growing demand among the community for innovative, modern, and novelty living."Additionally, the use of new containers will allow for reduced construction costs and accelerated building timelines resulting in reduced, achievable rents."Called CoHo - short for container home - the development will have seven, 3-story buildings that will house studio, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom rental units.Keys said most of the new containers used for the construction will be 40-footers.The parking will be underground.It's Keys' second shipping container project."It's been an interesting niche market opportunity," he said. "I'm working on plans for another multi-family project using containers."Chicago-based Watermark Properties is the developer of the one-of-a-kind rental community on West Terrell Avenue near Fort Worth's medical district.It's the second recent shipping container construction project in south Fort Worth.Fort Worth architect Matthijs Melchiors built a 3-story office complex on Evans Avenue near Interstate 35W. The Connex Office Park was constructed out of 40 shipping containers."It's open, operating, has tenants," Melchiors said.  Continue reading...