In greater Houston’s ongoing construction boom, major master-planned developments pop up regularly, but none tend to be as large as the 10,000-home Austin Point slated for the southwest corner of the market.
Developer The Signorelli Co. is nearing the first step toward building out 4,700 acres for a projected 50,000 residents. Signorelli purchased the land in 2019 and said Austin Point is the largest project in Fort Bend County in more than 40 years.
Houston is home to some of the top-selling master-planned developments in the country: Sunterra, Bridgeland, Sienna and Meridiana. The four developments broke into the country’s top 25 last year in terms of number of sales, according to John Burns Research and Consulting.
Fort Bend County, located on the edge of Houston’s city limits, is an attractive region for developers, drawn in by the abundance of land, lax zoning regulations, fast-growing population, high income and high education. The population grew by more than 100,000 in the past four years and will break 1 million by 2030, according to the Fort Bend Economic Development Council.
Starwood Land has developed five projects in the market since 2022, including Sunterra, and is working on the 933-acre Emberly and the 4,000-home Sunterra Lakes. Another firm, Meristem Communities, is creating a car-free so-called agrihood, with 800 homes and a farm, called Indigo, which will encompass 235 acres. Houston-based development giant Hines is planning 3,000 acres for 7,000 homes.
“Fort Bend is one of the most diverse employment bases that Texas has to offer, much less the southern United States,” Signorelli’s Todd Hamilton, director of land development at Austin Point, said in an interview. “It’s a very highly educated workforce. It’s also shown to be a place that’s very friendly to business and innovation, friendly to creative types of living.”
The project is expected to benefit from the planned extensions of two major highways, Fort Bend Parkway and Grand Parkway, that will intersect Austin Point. The connections will make downtown Houston accessible in a 30-minute drive, according to Signorelli.
About 3,000 acres are set for residences while the remaining will be used for commercial development. Signorelli anticipates 17 million square feet of commercial space for healthcare, advanced manufacturing, data centers, retail or corporate campuses.
Focus on green space
Austin Point's vision centers on connection and well-being, according to Signorelli. Home designs feature front porches, smaller backyards and more shared green space.
“With the challenges of home attainability, we’re noticing that the trends across the nation are that the current generation of home seekers are willing to trade,” said Hamilton. “Maybe have a little bit less backyard or private space for a more community feel, for maybe a shared reserve or park space that’s nearby.”
Streets will be narrower than usual and with more trees, added Hamilton.
Austin Point’s first phase includes building 421 single-family homes from nine homebuilders across 125 acres and the project's social center on 2 acres. Green spaces in the initial construction will account for 25 acres.
“Our amenities are going to be more geared about gathering as an option for lifestyle than just tailoring to the idea people want a pool and two tennis courts,” Hamilton said.
The first homes will range from 1,500 to 4,200 square feet and be priced between the upper $200,000s and $800,000s, according to Hamilton, though exact pricing is dependent on final designs, currently in the works.
First-phase work will begin in April and conclude by the end of summer. Homes will feature a mix of designs, including farmhouse, Tudor revival, contemporary and Texas ranch, Signorelli said.
Whie Austin Point will focus on single-family development at first, additional varieties of housing could follow, including townhouses and multifamily buildings, added Hamilton.