ARLINGTON — City and community leaders gathered Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, to break ground on Anthem, a major redevelopment of the former Lincoln Square shopping center in North Arlington, according to the City of Arlington.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said Lincoln Square had been an iconic North Arlington spot for nearly 40 years, but the aging retail center hadn’t seen the innovation or private investment needed to stay relevant in today’s market. Ross said Trademark’s planned investment of more than $135 million will bring new shopping, dining, and entertainment options to the site and act as a catalyst for further redevelopment in the area.
Trademark Property Company and Harrison Street Asset Management are joint venture partners on the project, with InterBank providing refinancing and construction financing. The 43-acre development is expected to be completed in early 2028.
According to the city, Anthem is designed to serve as a modern gateway into North Arlington and a destination-worthy meeting spot in the middle of the DFW-Arlington area. After demolishing 70,000 square feet of the existing center, the finished project is expected to include 404,000 square feet of retail, food and beverage, public space, and entertainment space.
Planned property improvements include better walkability and connectivity, expanded surface parking, new facades, and new branding and signage. The design also calls for a public green space, a curated public art program that will include the original Lincoln Square horse statue, outdoor seating, bike racks, and regular event programming.
Terry Montesi, CEO and founder of Trademark, said North Arlington has been on a meteoric rise over the last decade, pointing to projects like the National Medal of Honor Museum and the expanding entertainment district near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. Montesi called Lincoln Square a community staple for more than 40 years and said the company is honored the City of Arlington trusted Trademark to take the site to its next stage. He described the groundbreaking as the first major construction milestone toward delivering what he called a dynamic lifestyle destination for the community and the broader DFW metroplex.
The project has moved forward through a public-private partnership with the Arlington Economic Development Corporation and the City of Arlington. According to the release, the team has prioritized local market research since becoming involved in 2022, gathering input through surveys, planning sessions, and community meetings that shaped the overall redevelopment strategy.
Marty Wieder, executive director of the Arlington EDC, said the partnership with Trademark has centered on a combined team approach to community feedback, with all the key players sharing the same goal of a transformational redevelopment that fits seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood. Wieder said the shared vision for Anthem will further Arlington’s reputation as an entertainment hub while addressing what residents and visitors actually want.
Trademark has committed to investing at least $100 million in the project, not including tenant build-outs. As part of the agreement, the Arlington EDC will provide up to approximately $24.5 million to reimburse eligible public infrastructure improvements, including utilities, lighting, landscaping, pavement, demolition, and public amenities.
Final lease negotiations are underway for more than 35,000 square feet of retail and food and beverage space, with many tenants expected to be new to the Arlington market.
While primarily built around a retail and entertainment focus, Anthem was designed with room to grow, allowing for potential mixed-use components as market opportunities develop over time. In June 2026, the Arlington City Council approved the purchase of a 2.31-acre parcel within the development for a future office building, which will move forward through a public bidding process.
