Newland Communities' 3,600-acre Elyson development set to open near Houston

Dive Brief:

San Diego–based Newland Communities will open Elyson, a master-planned community on 3,600 acres west of Houston, on Oct. 22. Lot sizes range from 50 feet to 70 feet and prices start in the mid-$200,000s
The development, located in Katy, TX, includes 10 model homes built by Chesmar Homes, Darling Homes, David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, Perry Homes, Pulte Homes, Trendmaker Homes and Westin Homes.
When complete, the development will include 6,200 homes in a range of styles and typologies, including multifamily, as well as a light commercial core, community and fitness centers, a café and a trail system.

Dive Insight:

Newland hopes to see as much success with Elyson as it has with its nearby Cinco Ranch, the nation’s top-selling master-planned community for new-home sales in 2009, according to a survey by RCLCO. Like Cinco Ranch, Elyson mirrors the nationwide housing trend that’s seeing developers target consumer desire for community, walkability and access to local amenities. That includes small-scale approaches like the inclusion of sidewalks and porches on individual properties as well as larger investments in creating park spaces, bike paths, cafes and retail throughout the development to encourage community.

Some developers are taking it a step further, creating planned communities that target specific lifestyle decisions. Davidson Communities' The Oaks Farms in San Juan Capistrano, CA, is focused around the equestrian lifestyle; Ashton Woods’ Freeman’s Point in Charleston, SC, emphasizes waterfront living; and Serenbe, a progressive community near Atlanta, features hamlets with distinct focuses on health and wellness, the arts, education and agriculture.

That Newland chose the greater Houston area for both Elyson and Cinco Ranch is unsurprising. Houston's housing market is particularly active, topping the list for construction employment, according to ABODO, which analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And the single-family market is strong across Texas, RCLCO reported. Newland has three projects in Austin, TX, two in Dallas, a community in Sugar Land, TX, and a commercial project in Tellfair, TX, according to the Houston Business Journal. Meanwhile, Cinco Ranch is nearing build-out, and the company is looking for new opportunities in Houston.