What's it like to live in Westcliff?
Just south of TCU, Westcliff grew up around its own small shopping center, and most of its homes are ranches from the late 1940s to the 1960s. It has older trees and quick access to the Trinity Trails, plus a grocery store you can almost walk to.
It also has TCU next door, and that cuts both ways. I'll get into it below.
Where is Westcliff?
The Westcliff Neighborhood Association, which is registered with the city, covers the area from Bellaire Drive on the north to Granbury Road on the south, and from Stadium Drive and University Drive on the east to Trail Lake Drive and Alton Road on the west. (City of Fort Worth)
There's also a separate Westcliff West Neighborhood Association covering streets west of Trail Lake, so you'll see both names in listings. Most of the area is in the 76109 ZIP code. Foster Park is just to the southwest, and Colonial Hills is a short drive north.
How old is Westcliff?
The shopping center came first. J.E. Foster and Son developed Westcliff Shopping Center in phases, and its first stores opened in July 1949: a Mott's variety store, a Worth Food Market, and a Moreland drugstore. Later sections, including a movie theater that opened in 1951, followed in the 1950s. (Cinema Treasures)
The homes around it went up mostly from the late 1940s through the 1960s. The center itself was renovated by its current owner, Partners Capital, in a project that started in December 2024. The work restored the cast stone and added a new canopy and lighting. (Shopping Center Business)
What kind of homes are in Westcliff?
Classic ranch houses, mostly one story, on good-sized lots with mature oaks. Some still have their original oak floors. (CandysDirt) A few are older than the shopping center. At least one house in the Westcliff Addition dates to 1939. (PaperCity)
Condition varies a lot. Some houses have been fully redone, others are close to original, and some have been rental properties for years. That makes a walk-through more important than usual. A rental that's been through a decade of tenants can look fine in photos and still need serious money.
Inspection-wise, the usual mid-century list applies: foundation movement from our clay soil, older plumbing, original electrical panels, and HVAC age. If you're planning updates, my post on renovations that add value might help you decide what's worth it.
What about TCU students?
This is the question I'd ask if I were buying here. One longtime resident wrote in 2025 that TCU's enrollment has doubled since she moved in about 30 years ago, without a matching increase in on-campus housing, and that a lot of students rent houses in Westcliff as a result. She also wrote about the friction that brings. (Fort Worth Report)
It's not every street, and it changes block by block. Before you buy, drive the street on a Friday night and a Saturday afternoon during football season. You'll learn more in an hour than any listing will tell you.
The flip side is that student demand is also why some investors buy here. If you're looking at a Westcliff house as a rental, that's a different conversation, and I'm happy to have it.
What schools serve Westcliff?
Fort Worth ISD. Assigned campuses depend on the address, so look up the specific house on the district's School Finder.
What's near Westcliff?
Start with the shopping center. Current tenants include Albertsons, Ace Hardware, and Café Bella (3548 S Hills Ave), a family-owned Italian place with a patio. (Shopping Center Business)
A few more nearby spots I confirmed were open in fall 2026:
- Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 2917 W Berry St
- Dutch's Hamburgers, 3009 S University Dr
- Buffalo Bros, 3015 S University Dr
- Mexican Inn Cafe, 5017 S Hulen St
- Foster Park, 3725 South Dr, with a duck pond and a trail (City of Fort Worth)
The Trinity Trails are easy to reach too, with trailheads at Foster Park and Overton Park.
Is Westcliff right for you?
Probably, if:
- You want a one-story ranch close to TCU and the west side.
- You like the idea of a grocery store and hardware store within a few blocks.
- You're willing to update an older house over time.
- You work at TCU or want to be close to campus events.
Think twice if:
- Late-night noise from a rental next door would ruin your week.
- You want new construction with no projects.
- Game-day traffic bothers you.
Westcliff FAQs
What are the boundaries of Westcliff in Fort Worth?
The Westcliff Neighborhood Association covers Bellaire Drive to Granbury Road, and Stadium Drive and University Drive west to Trail Lake Drive and Alton Road. Westcliff West is a separate association to the west.
When was Westcliff built?
Mostly from the late 1940s through the 1960s. The Westcliff Shopping Center opened its first stores in July 1949.
Are there a lot of student rentals in Westcliff?
Yes. TCU's growth has pushed many students into rental houses here. It varies by block, so check the street before you buy.
What's in the Westcliff Shopping Center?
Albertsons, Ace Hardware, and Café Bella, among others. The center was renovated starting in late 2024.
What school district is Westcliff in?
Fort Worth ISD. Assigned schools depend on the address.
Westcliff prices can swing a lot from one block to the next. If you want help figuring out which streets fit what you're after, call or text me at 432.215.9177.