Northlake, Texas, has become one of the most watched communities in Denton County. With a low municipal tax rate, major retail and recreation developments, and a school district growing alongside its population, this rapidly growing Denton County town continues to attract attention from homebuyers and families across the DFW metroplex. I updated this article in late August 2026 with the latest facts on development milestones, school openings, and infrastructure changes.
As the Real Estate Broker of Covenant Heritage Realty with offices in Northlake, I closely track development, builder activity, infrastructure, and school changes affecting Northlake and surrounding Denton County communities. Here is a current look at what homebuyers and sellers should know about Northlake as we move through late summer 2026.
Quick Answers: What You'll Find Below
Last reviewed: September 1, 2026
What's new in Northlake Texas in 2026? The Children's Health StarCenter Multisport opened in March, Floyd Barksdale Middle School opened in August, new retail options are filling in, and road improvements are underway.
Is the Northlake StarCenter open? Yes. It opened March 31, 2026 with two NHL-regulation ice sheets, basketball and volleyball courts, pickleball, and food and beverage options including Shark Shack and Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill.
Is Barksdale Middle School open? Yes. Floyd Barksdale Middle School opened for the 2026-27 school year in August 2026 near the Pecan Square community in Northlake.
Is Barksdale Middle School inside Pecan Square? No. It is located near the Pecan Square community in Northlake, not within the community's footprint. Verify specific address attendance with Northwest ISD's School Finder.
What new retail is coming to Northlake? Northlake Crossing near Robson Ranch Road continues to lease up: Grapevine Golf Cars is open, and additional tenants including Timekeepers Haus and Star Physical Therapy are at various stages of construction and buildout. CVS Pharmacy is planned at FM 407 and Gibbs Road, and current commercial marketing identifies an early-to-mid-2027 opening target; that date is not guaranteed. Chadwick Commons at SH 114 is completed and 100% leased.
What road projects are underway in Northlake? The FM 407 micro-breakout at I-35W is nearly complete. The larger FM 407 widening project is in planning stages. Intersection work at Mulkey Lane and Gibbs Road is underway. Additional projects including Kay Lane and Thompson Road reconstruction are in planning.
What is Northlake's municipal tax rate? The Town of Northlake's municipal rate is $0.295 per $100 of assessed valuation. This is the town's rate only; total property taxes also include school district, Denton County, and special-district charges. The town has stated this is the lowest rate among home-rule municipalities in North Texas.
What should buyers know about new construction in Northlake? Buyers should compare builder base pricing, quick move-in options, financing incentives, and current incentives across communities such as Pecan Square and surrounding master-planned developments. Verify school attendance boundaries, tax rates for the specific property, HOA fees, and current builder terms before committing.
How can Theresa help sell a home that competes with builder inventory? Theresa evaluates builder competition alongside current resale comparables when developing a pricing and marketing strategy. As a Broker with new-construction knowledge, she understands the builder landscape and can help position a listing to attract qualified buyers.
Did Theresa De La Rosa build a home in Pecan Square? Yes. Before building her own home, Theresa compared Pecan Square, Harvest, and Canyon Falls and ultimately chose Pecan Square. Her firsthand building experience complements her professional work helping buyers evaluate Northlake-area builders, homesites, incentives, taxes, amenities, and resale considerations.
Children's Health StarCenter Multisport: Open and Active
The most significant recent development in Northlake is the Children's Health StarCenter Multisport, which celebrated its grand opening on March 31, 2026. Developed through a partnership between the Dallas Stars and the Town of Northlake, the approximately 225,000-square-foot complex features two NHL-regulation ice sheets and eight basketball courts convertible to 16 volleyball courts, plus eight dedicated pickleball courts.
This is the 11th StarCenter location in the DFW metroplex and the first in Denton County. The facility serves as the anchor of a larger sports and entertainment district at the I-35W and SH 114 interchange. For details on hours, programming, and booking, see the dedicated article: Northlake's Children's Health StarCenter Multisport.
What this means for residents: Families in Northlake and surrounding communities have a major indoor sports facility with programming that includes youth hockey, figure skating, public skating, basketball leagues, volleyball, and pickleball. The StarCenter adds a year-round recreation option that complements community parks and trails.
The StarCenter includes the Shark Shack, a quick-service grab-and-go concept that opened April 14, 2026. The full-service Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill held its grand opening on August 7, 2026, adding a two-story dining and sports-watching venue attached to the complex. The Town of Northlake also held its inaugural Community Health Day at the StarCenter on August 2, 2026, featuring free skating, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, and hockey activities.
Northlake Crossing: Retail Filling In
At the corner of Robson Ranch Road and Cleveland-Gibbs Road, the Northlake Crossing retail development has seen leasing activity through 2025 and into 2026. The center is split into east and west sections, with confirmed tenants at various stages as of August 2026:
- Grapevine Golf Cars, an open showroom offering rentals, custom carts, and service.
- Timekeepers Haus, a coffee and boba tea shop planned for Northlake Crossing and serving Northlake and Pecan Square residents. The space was under construction in spring 2025, and as of late August 2026 the shop still lists itself as coming soon to Northlake; its opening is not yet confirmed, so check with the shop directly for current status.
- Star Physical Therapy, a healthcare tenant in the center supporting the active community. Its buildout was underway in spring 2025, and the provider's Northlake location has shown signs of being open through 2026; confirm current hours and status directly with the provider.
Separately, CVS Pharmacy is planned for Pecan Plaza at the intersection of FM 407 and Gibbs Road. As of late August 2026, the store remains under development, and current commercial marketing for the area identifies an early-to-mid-2027 opening target. Planned opening dates are estimates, not guarantees; confirm current status directly with the developer before planning around a specific date. By late 2025, portions of Northlake Crossing were reported as fully leased. As retail tenants continue to open across Northlake Crossing, residents gain more everyday goods and services closer to home.
The broader retail story also includes Chadwick Commons, a retail center on SH 114 developed by Western Securities that is completed and 100% leased. Its approximately 34,000 square feet of retail space serves the sports and entertainment district, and adjacent apartments are actively leasing. Note that Chadwick Commons and Chadwick Farms are separate projects by the same developer with separate figures: the completed 34,000-square-foot Chadwick Commons retail center is distinct from the larger 60-acre Chadwick Farms mixed-use development, whose roughly 60,000 square feet of proposed retail, restaurant, and entertainment space reflects that planned project's full buildout, not the center that is already open. The I-35W/SH 114 corridor remains an important commercial artery for Northlake's growth.
Road and Infrastructure: Current Status
Traffic along the FM 407 corridor is one of the most common concerns I hear from Northlake residents. Here is the current status of major road projects as of late August 2026:
FM 407 Micro-Breakout at I-35W: Denton County awarded a $2 million contract to Ed Bell Construction in early 2026 for this intersection improvement project. By late July 2026, the Town of Northlake mayor reported that striping was nearly complete, allowing traffic to flow under I-35W even when left-turn lanes are backed up. This project is designed as a near-term congestion fix while the larger widening plan moves forward.
FM 407 Widening: TxDOT is pursuing a project to widen FM 407 from a two-lane rural road into a six-lane urban divided corridor with pedestrian and bike accommodations, from Bill Cook Road in Justin to FM 1830 in Argyle. The project carries an estimated cost of approximately $235 million. Public hearings scheduled for January 2026 were postponed due to weather. The project remains in planning and environmental review stages, and the full buildout will take years.
Mulkey Lane and Gibbs Road: Phase-based improvements and lane expansions are underway at this intersection near Pecan Square, addressing increased traffic from residential buildout. The Northlake mayor addressed traffic concerns related to this work in a February 2026 town meeting.
Additional projects on the Town of Northlake's capital improvement plan include Kay Lane reconstruction, Thompson Road reconstruction (with safety improvements connected to the Hilltop development), and the Harvest/Northlake Commons trail connector. These remain in planning stages. FM 1171 (Cross Timbers Road) has had Town funding allocated for pavement and sidewalk repairs.
What homebuyers should know: These projects mean Northlake's road network is evolving from a rural character to suburban infrastructure. Construction will create temporary delays, but the long-term result is a safer and more efficient road system supporting continued growth. Buyers and sellers should evaluate commute patterns, construction timelines, and how specific road projects affect access to their property of interest.
Barksdale Middle School: Open for the 2026-27 School Year
Education is one of the top priorities for families relocating to Northlake, and Northwest ISD has delivered a significant new facility.
Floyd Barksdale Middle School, located near the Pecan Square community in Northlake, opened in August 2026 for the 2026-27 school year. The school serves grades 6 to 8 with a planned capacity of 1,200 students. The inaugural principal is Michelle Jennings (named to the role in April 2026), and the mascot is the Broncos.
Northwest ISD established Barksdale's attendance boundaries to provide relief for Medlin Middle School. These boundaries were approved by the Board of Trustees for the 2026-27 school year. Not all students in Pecan Square, Harvest, or Canyon Falls automatically attend Barksdale. School attendance boundaries, feeder patterns and ratings can change. Buyers should verify current assignments for the specific property directly with the applicable school district before making a purchase decision. The Northwest ISD School Finder is the reference tool.
My connection to these communities is personal as well as professional. Before building my own home, I compared Harvest, Canyon Falls, and Pecan Square firsthand. I ultimately chose to build in Pecan Square. Going through that process gave me practical insight into how buyers weigh builders, homesites, incentives, taxes, amenities, and the everyday feel of each community, not simply what appears in a brochure. I now use that experience, along with my work as a Northlake real estate broker with practical experience in new-construction transactions, to help clients make a choice based on their own priorities.
Pecan Square: Continued Growth
Pecan Square, the 1,200-acre Hillwood master-planned community, continues its active buildout. With a planned total of approximately 3,100 homes at full build-out, the community remains an active new-construction market in Denton County.
Hillwood released a limited run of 30 half-acre homesites in 2025, with builders including Highland Homes, Coventry Homes, and David Weekley Homes. Buyers interested in larger lots should verify current availability through the community's homefinder tool or by contacting the Greeting House directly.
Active builders as of August 2026 include:
- David Weekley Homes, offering Classics, Gardens, and Estates collections
- Coventry Homes
- D.R. Horton
- Highland Homes
- Pulte Homes
Community amenities including Jackson Hall, The Greeting House, resort-style pools, trails, and parks continue to support the Pecan Square lifestyle. Barksdale Middle School is located near the community in Northlake, not within the community's footprint. For a comprehensive overview, see the Pecan Square community guide.
Town Tax Rate and the "Northlake Next" Plan
Northlake's municipal property tax rate is $0.295 per $100 of assessed valuation, a rate that has been consistent for over 20 years. The town states this is the lowest tax rate among home-rule municipalities in North Texas.
Important context for homebuyers: This is the Town of Northlake's municipal rate only. A property's total tax rate also includes Northwest ISD, Denton County, and any applicable special-district charges. When comparing tax burdens between communities, buyers should evaluate the total combined rate for a specific property rather than the municipal rate alone. Northlake offers a 20% homestead exemption.
The Town's long-term vision is guided by the "Northlake Next" 2045 Comprehensive Plan, adopted in February 2024. This framework addresses land use, infrastructure, parks, economic development, and transportation over the next two decades. The plan guides long-term land-use and infrastructure policy but does not guarantee every contemplated project is constructed as shown. It is accompanied by a five-year Capital Improvement Program that prioritizes projects most critical to supporting Northlake's growth.
Sports and Entertainment District: What's Open and What's Planned
The area around I-35W and SH 114 is being positioned as a sports and entertainment hub. Beyond the StarCenter, these components are at various stages:
- Cambria Hotel & Conference Center (4450 Dale Earnhardt Way) is open. It features 111 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, and approximately 8,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.
- Chadwick Farms Mixed-Use Development, a 60-acre project by Western Securities, is under phased development. Plans include up to 900 multi-family units, approximately 60,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space, and additional hotel rooms. This project is separate from the completed Chadwick Commons retail center on SH 114 described above, and its proposed square footage is not counted within that center. The first phase of approximately 300 multi-family units was projected to take about 1.5 years from early 2025.
- Additional Hotels: The Town of Northlake has approved hotels along the SH 114 corridor, including an Everhome Suites (120 rooms).
- Green Space and Trails: The surrounding district plans include community green space and trail connectivity to nearby residential communities. These remain in planning and design stages.
The sports and entertainment district adds recreation and commercial infrastructure to Northlake. For buyers evaluating the area, the district may influence how they weigh Northlake's lifestyle and accessibility. For current buyers and sellers, the most relevant factors remain actual comparable sales, builder inventory, school boundaries, tax rates, and ownership costs.
Northlake Business Park
The DFW Northlake Business Park is an approximately 68-acre light industrial and commercial development west of State Highway 407. The Town of Northlake approved a reinvestment zone for the park in March 2025, enabling a six-year sliding-scale tax abatement to incentivize development. Phase 1 delivery was updated to summer 2026 per the developer. The park offers industrial flex units for lease (1,600 to 24,000 square feet) with optional yard space, and commercial lots for sale with build-to-suit options. Employment growth in the area is one factor that can influence regional housing demand, and buyers and sellers should consider the full picture of employment centers, commute patterns, and competing inventory.
What This Means for Homebuyers and Sellers
Northlake's trajectory in 2026 reflects a community transitioning from a quiet Denton County town into a suburban hub with new infrastructure, amenities, and economic development.
For buyers, Northlake offers a relatively low municipal tax rate, master-planned communities like Pecan Square and Harvest, a brand-new middle school, a major sports complex, and improving retail and road infrastructure. One note on location: Harvest lies near Northlake and spans portions of Argyle and Northlake's extraterritorial jurisdiction rather than sitting entirely within the Town of Northlake, so taxes, school boundaries, and town services can vary by homesite. Buyers should evaluate actual comparable sales, builder inventory (including quick move-ins and incentives), taxes specific to the property, school attendance boundaries, HOA fees, and community amenities when comparing options across Denton County. Our North Texas Relocation Guide can help orient out-of-state buyers to the area.
For sellers, Northlake resale listings may compete not only with other resale properties but also with new-construction base pricing, builder quick move-in homes, financing incentives, upgrades, and new phases in communities such as Pecan Square and surrounding master-planned developments. My new-construction knowledge supports my listing work because I can evaluate builder competition alongside current resale comparables when developing a pricing and marketing strategy. For eligible listings, Zillow Showcase may be incorporated into an enhanced marketing strategy, without guaranteeing eligibility, results, or implying Zillow endorsement. My Selling Guide goes into more detail on positioning homes in competitive markets like Northlake.
When buying or selling in Northlake, the relevant data points are current: comparable sales, builder inventory levels, incentives, tax rates for the specific property, school boundaries, infrastructure timelines, and ownership costs. I work with clients to evaluate these factors and develop a strategy tailored to their goals and timeline.
Work With a Northlake Expert
I'm Theresa De La Rosa, Texas Real Estate Broker and REALTOR® with Covenant Heritage Realty, serving North Texas buyers and sellers with expertise in listing representation, new construction, relocation, and strategic real estate marketing. Northlake is one of my core markets, and my office is located here. I closely track development, builder activity, infrastructure, and school changes affecting Northlake and surrounding Denton County communities.
Whether you're buying a new-construction home in Pecan Square, evaluating resale opportunities, preparing to sell, or simply trying to understand how current developments affect your situation, I can help. Let's talk about what's happening in Northlake and how it impacts your real estate goals.
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Theresa De La Rosa is the founder and Broker of Covenant Heritage Realty, LLC and a Texas Real Estate Broker and REALTOR®, serving North Texas buyers and sellers with expertise in listing representation, new construction, relocation, and strategic real estate marketing. With 18+ years of experience, she provides strategic, data-driven guidance to clients throughout Denton County and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. She holds the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) designation, is a Certified Luxury Marketing Specialist, an AI Certified Agent, and an AI Listing Advantage holder, and has been recognized as a RateMyAgent Price Expert and a Million Dollar Club producer.