Fort Worth Inc.’s 2022 Entrepreneurs of Excellence is a portrait of innovative, visionary risk-takers who identified a niche or filled a void in the marketplace.
All of them scratched that itch to go it alone.
These 40 entrepreneurs are in commercial and residential construction, consumer and durable goods, health care and life sciences, hospitality, private equity, professional services, real estate, tech and e-commerce, and four who lead up-and-coming companies.
Three stunning homes and one month of tours, following months of hard work by professionals demonstrating their expertise. All of it wrapped up into a super-competitive competition to be named the Best of Dream Street.
Everyone who came out to tour the Dream Street homes had the opportunity to cast a vote in several categories for each home: Best in Show, Best Interior Design/Furnishings, Best Floor Plan, Best Outdoor Entertaining Area, Best Master Bath, and Best Kitchen. One of the homes swept up four awards total.
The 2021 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street, the sequel to last year’s wildly successful inaugural Dream Street, will feature three stunning, luxury homes built, designed, and decorated by some of the region’s best builders, architects, and designers.
Tim Windmiller of Windmiller Custom Homes; Rick Wegman, Karl Hahnfeld, John Giordano, and Rob Cocanower of HGC Residential Development; and John Webb of Heritage Homes will each construct homes that will showcase the latest trends in design and technology in the new Montrachet development in West Fort Worth. The homes will be open for touring this winter, and all proceeds will go to a Wish with Wings, the magazine’s flagship charity that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.
A home typically has three stages: design, build (which includes interior decoration), and sell. Ultimately, everything hinges on the sale, a pressure-packed job that lies in the hands of the Realtor. But how does one sell a home with such a niche clientele? And how has the past year affected the business? We posed these questions to local real estate broker, John Zimmerman of Compass, who is also the real estate agent for one of the three homes that comprises the Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street.
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The 2021 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street, a follow-up to the inaugural 2020 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street, is set to feature three diverse and jaw-dropping homes from a triumvirate of local builders (HGC Residential Development, Heritage Homes, Windmiller Custom Homes).
Construction on the homes in the new Montrachet development is underway and slated for completion in October, with the homes opening for touring in November. Proceeds from this tour will go toward a Wish with Wings, the magazine’s flagship charity, which grants wishes to local children with life-threatening conditions.
The architects and home designers of each home recently shared their floor plans and renderings, which portray three distinct and magnificent homes. Here, we’re going to introduce you to the architects and home designers and take you on a brief tour of the upcoming houses..
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The 2021 Dream Street — three high-end, luxury homes built in the new Montrachet development in West Fort Worth — is well underway. A larger, more ambitious iteration of the Dream Home, which served as Fort Worth Magazine’s flagship event for 20 years, this marks the second time that the magazine will be tripling its output and erecting three homes instead of one.
Each home, which will have different builders, architects, interior designers, and various other subcontractors, will offer a distinct take on today’s home building trends. The homes will be completed and touring will begin in November. Proceeds from touring help benefit A Wish With Wings, a Fort Worth charity that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. The same month that touring is slated to begin, Fort Worth Magazine will release a special Dream Street issue that covers the ins and outs of each home — from the technology to the interior design.
Of course, the most important aspect of building a home is, in fact, the builder. Overseeing every aspect of the home from conception to completion, the builder is akin to the director a film. They delegate tasks but are keenly aware of even the most minute of details. Ultimately, while they might have received plans from an architect and furnishings from an interior designer, the home is their vision.
This year’s trio of builders includes John Webb of Heritage Homes; Tim Windmiller of Windmiller Custom Homes; and Rick Wegman, Karl Hahnfeld, John Giordano, and Rob Cocanower of HGC Residential Development.
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The sequel to last year’s successful inaugural Dream Street is set to feature three luxury homes in the new Montrachet development in west Fort Worth. The houses, built by some of the city’s most sought after homebuilders, will also feature various high-end subcontractors who will ultimately deliver three homes that will showcase everything new and cutting edge in home design and technology.
The three homes will be open for touring in November when the finished products will also be featured in our magazine. Proceeds from these tours benefit a Wish with Wings, the magazine’s flagship charity partner, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.
Montrachet, the new development that lies just west of its sister development, Montserrat, is primed to become the city’s trendiest spot for new home builds. The developers, brothers Colby and Donnie Siratt of Siratt Partners, got into the development business in 1999 with Covered Bridge Canyon in Parker County. Their second project became Montserrat after their father initially purchased the property as a family ranch.
We caught up with the brothers for a brief chat about their new development.
FORT WORTH, TX, OCTOBER 1, 2020 – Fort Worth’s newest premier neighborhood, Montrachet, has just announced the sale of an additional 29 lots. “The demand for lots in the initial offering far exceeded expectations,” says John Zimmerman of Compass, the exclusive agent for the development. “So, we moved up our timing on the second phase by more than a year.”
Phase II of Montrachet will feature lots with extraordinary views and some of the highest elevations in Fort Worth. The new lots will be priced from $475,000 to $875,000 and range in size from one half to two acres.
About Montrachet
Bordered by Mary’s Creek to the north, Montserrat to the east, Team Ranch Road to the south, and FM 2871 to the west, Montrachet is ideally situated for convenience, security, and maintaining legacy property values for future generations. The neighborhood is highlighted by spectacular views, groves of mature trees – including a 75-year old pecan orchard, fifty acres of parks and green-space, miles of hiking and biking trails, resort-style amenities, and 24-hour manned security.
Colby and Donnie Siratt were surrounded by family and many friends Wednesday when they dedicated the land of the future Montrachet community in prayer…
AS REPORTED BY FORT WORTH MAGAZINE
Author: Matt Payne
Colby and Donnie Siratt were surrounded by family and many friends Wednesday when they dedicated the land of the future Montrachet community in prayer.
Several who have been involved in the west Fort Worth project, including those affiliated with the John Zimmerman Group, Compass Real Estate and the City of Fort Worth, attended the “ground-blessing,” which followed the official groundbreaking last week. Wine from the development’s namesake of Montrachet in France was toasted and poured over the land.
“It’s a pleasure to hear your ideas and be creative together,” Donnie said to those gathered for the event. “We just want to do what’s needed to be done so we can have more people experience it.”
The expansive countryside nestled within thousands of trees features over 45 acres of green-space, including miles of hiking and biking trails, riverside verandas and a private grove gazebo. Many have already taken interest in the development just purchased by the Siratts over the summer, with 53 of the 139 initial lots already spoken for, according to the family.
Montrachet, just off Ranch-to-Market Road 2871 and a stone’s throw away from Mary’s Creek, expands off of the exquisite Montserrat community. Lot prices on the new development range from $200,000 to $2 million.
Inspiration for the name “Montrachet” alludes to whenever acquisition of the property closed. The Siratts were abroad visiting Montrachet in France when the news hit, a trip in which they felt the presence of the late Donald Siratt.
“We were in Montrachet the day that the property had closed,” Colby said. “While we were on that trip, we all felt like Dad was with us, and six months later, that’s a neat reminder that he had been.”
District 3 Councilman Brian Byrd also helped dedicate the land, and described the reaction of city staff as collectively “ecstatic.”
“Let me tell you: I was impressed,” Byrd said whenever the Siratts showcased a map of the land. “I see this as a celebration of what Montserrat is and has been, and we’re getting to see more of it with this expansion.”
Construction on roads and various infrastructure within the Montrachet development is set to ramp up next year.
To tell you the story of Montrachet, we begin with the story of Montserrat, its neighbor: 215 acres of God’s green earth on Fort Worth’s west side along historic Mary’s Creek. Montserrat is one of the most successful real estate stories in Tarrant County…
AS REPORTED BY CANDY’S DIRT
Author: Candy Evans
To tell you the story of Montrachet, we begin with the story of Montserrat, its neighbor: 215 acres of God’s green earth on Fort Worth’s west side along historic Mary’s Creek. Montserrat is one of the most successful real estate stories in Tarrant County.
Don Siratt was a well-known Fort Worth businessman, a self-made man, who founded Western Transfer and Delivery, a truck delivery service in 1966. The firm’s slogan: “We don’t just deliver goods, we deliver your good name.”
Now the Siratt family delivers beautiful pastoral living environments with the most unique topography in North Texas. In fact, it may be the ONLY topography.
Anyone who really knows real estate, from the West Coast to Florida, knows of Montserrat. This is where singer Selena Gomez had a home. It’s where professional baseball players, top 10 PGA golfers, professionals and executives land, eschewing the buy-tear-down-rebuild mentality of Rivercrest, Westover, or Colonial. In Montserrat, homes are built big and luxurious– and right — from the ground up. There is protection, privacy, and the best Fort Worth private schools — All Saints, Fort Worth Country Day, Trinity Valley and Southwest Christian Schools are just down the road.
Now Don Siratt’s business was not just any delivery truck service. Though he started with a single truck delivering everything and anything, he expanded to deliveries in eight states once he became the exclusive delivery service for Xerox Corp. The company still has an exclusive contract with Xerox, as well as other Fortune 500 companies.
In 2002, the Siratt’s wanted to build a home. Don’s wife, Gloria, fell in love with the famous white bluffs west of Fort Worth, near Mary’s Creek, that have become the signature landmark for Montserrat and Montrachet. Initially, they began building a family home on the acreage, but then realized the vast potential of opening the area to others.
“Once friends and family started seeing the property, they began asking if they could buy a small piece and build up there with us,” says Colby Siratt. “Plus the costs to bring the infrastructure in for just a few homes was becoming a challenge. So we started thinking about expanding our plans and making at least part of it available to others, which eventually evolved into a full-blown development. But all along we knew we were going to live there, so we built the kind of place we could be proud of and didn’t skimp on any details.”
Turns out, a lot of other people wanted to live in the same kind of place the Siratts did.
Before they knew it, the Siratt family was in the development business. Montserrat was a twinkle in the family’s new business eye: real estate development.
Development of the land, named Montserrat, which literally means “jagged cliff” in French, started in 2003. It was a good time. Fort Worth was starting up one of its many growth spurts. There were 210 lots for sale, and sales were whipping along just fine until 2008, when the Greatest Recession since the Great Depression hit.
“Luckily by the time the 2nd phase started selling and the recession hit, we had sold enough of the 1st phase to be able to ride it out without any issues,” says Colby Siratt. “By 2010, lots started selling at a rapid pace again and we were completely sold out a few years later.”
Despite the country’s deep economic dip — Texas real estate values were barely brushed — the Siratt family teamed up with Fort Worth real estate icon John Zimmerman, who quickly helped make Montserrat one of the more successful home developments in Fort Worth.
Every homesite sold.
Montserrat is located off Team Ranch Road and I- 820W. A little over a year ago, the family was approached by a neighbor with 205 acres to the south of Mary’s Creek abutting Montserrat. As is common when developments are successful, developers gear up for phase two, doubling success.
The family was in. They closed on the spread last July.
As they were conducting the feasibility study on the 205 acres, the family learned of another 40 adjacent acres under serious consideration by another developer: bingo. They negotiated, bought and closed on the 40, wrapping the acreage to create 245 acres of pure development gold.
“The new property was very complimentary of Montserrat – a dramatic, 150-foot bluff continues right through the middle, with a box canyon, large trees, great open pasture land, a huge century-old pecan orchard with full access to Mary’s Creek,” says Donnie Siratt.
The elevation, he says, is unlike anything in North Texas: 150 foot drop from the highest point on the cliffs to Mary’s Creek.
“The topography of this land provides so many opportunities,” says Donnie Siratt. “We are looking to do some large pasture lots or ranchettes, 70 foot wide city-style lots, and one-half acre to two acre lots.”
In all, they are planning 170 homesteads.
ANA Consultants of Fort Worth, the same engineering firm that created Montserrat, will engineer Montrachet. Conatser Construction, the same contractor that built the roads and utilities in Montserrat will build the infrastructure. Stabilis Real Estate Fund is contributing the capital.
“This property is going to be beautifully engineered,” says Donnie Siratt. “There will be a planned, dramatic boulevard, riverside verandas, a private grove gazebo, amenity center, and full use made of the abundant nature available: walking and hiking trails, biking trails. Like Montserrat, the Montrachet restrictions will be similar and will require the same high standards. We expect the range in home values to be very similar – starting in the $850,000 range and going into the multi-millions. Many of the home sites will have incredible views.”
Security, he says, will again be a focus, with a state of the art guard house and 24/7 access control.
“Overall Montrachet will be even less dense, with some larger acreage, or “ranchette” lots and more green space in the neighborhood for the residents to enjoy. In addition to a community center (similar to Montserrat with a pool and play areas), we have plans for an open-air pavilion reserved for the residents to use for events and family gatherings. A resident only gate on FM 2871 will provide great access to I-20 and All Saints.”
The natural beauty of the area will give homeowners a daily escape to a country home, very similar to the Texas Hill Country 200 miles south, and all the activities available in a countrified, remote area.
Yet Clearfork, Fort Worth, and city hustle and bustle is less than 10 miles to the east.
“Imagine springtime here,” says Donnie, who with his brother, Colby, run the family business. “Those pecan orchards are almost 100 years old. The magnificent wild flower filled prairie will be blossoming into color the pasture. The views of downtown Fort Worth are due east — just unbelievable.”
This will not be just a premiere North Texas neighborhood, says John Zimmerman; it will be THE neighborhood.
And though no dirt has yet been turned, individual buyers and builders are committing to the project even faster than they were at Montserrat.
“With Montserrat, we had to show the community what we were doing, then they ate it up,” says John Zimmerman, the exclusive listing agent. “Now they have seen the beauty and success of Montserrat, they know that Montrachet will be every bit as exclusive, and could very well be even better.”
There is nothing like having a home-run development because it almost always guarantees you are going to have two.
“The builders and architects are loving the topographical possibilities,” says Donnie Siratt. “That’s one reason why the lots are going so fast.”
Lots are for sale now. For more information, call John Zimmerman at 817.247.6464 for a private tour.
Montrachet expects to break ground this month, November, with roads, utilities installed by mid-2020. The very first houses should be completed and, dare we say occupied, by 2021.
One of the more successful home developments in the past 20 years in Fort Worth has to be Montserrat on the west side of the city…
AS REPORTED BY THE FORT WORTH BUSINESS PRESS
Author: Robert Francis
One of the more successful home developments in the past 20 years in Fort Worth has to be Montserrat on the west side of the city.
Developed by the Siratt family’s Montserrat Properties LLC and located off Team Ranch Road and Interstate 820, Montserrat has 210 lots on about 215 acres.
Development started in 2003 just as Fort Worth was starting its most recent growth spurt. The 210 homesites quickly sold out. Now, the same group is looking at adding 245 acres to the development to the west which has yet to be named.
“We plan to have the design finalized and begin the platting and annexation process with the City of Fort Worth soon,” said Colby Siratt. At that point, they will begin pre-selling lots.
The goal is to have the final plat approved by late summer, with roads and utilities installed by year end, with the first houses completed and occupied in late 2020, according to Siratt.
“Our intention is to develop the 245 acres into a neighborhood similar in size and quality to Montserrat,” the Siratt family said in a letter sent to current residents.
“Construction may occur in phases, but we expect the finished product to have approximately 170 lots,” according to the letter.
Colby and Donnie Siratt’s father, Donald Siratt, was a well-known Fort Worth area businessman who made his mark with Western Transfer and Delivery, a company that started in 1966 working with Xerox. Around 2002, his wife, Gloria, noticed the bluff area where Montserrat is now, and they began initially building a family home.
That then mushroomed into the larger Montserrat development.
Siratt said the family was approached about a year ago about a 205-acre property for sale south of Mary’s Creek. He said one visit quickly sold them on continuing the ideas first developed at Montserrat.
Montserrat, by the way, is translated literally as “jagged cliff,” which runs through the property.
The new property was very complimentary of Montserrat – a 150-foot bluff continues through the middle of the property, for instance – and there is also a box canyon, large trees, open pasture land, a 75-year-old pecan orchard and access to Mary’s Creek.
