Bridgeland is continuing its growth and expansion this year after a record number of home sales in 2017.
The 11,401-acre master-planned community, developed by the Howard Hughes Corp., sold 423 houses in 2017, up from 333 in 2016, and hopes to build on that growth with a new model home park, recreation center, and lake amenities.
“One of the things we really focus on in Bridgeland and in all of our communities is sustainability and keeping balance with nature,” Heath Melton said, vice president of Master Planned Communities. “Some of our mantras for Howard Hughes is to think big and deliver extraordinary. Part of being extraordinary is making a place for opportunities to mix and mingle with fellow residents and really build a community.”
The Bridgeland community has 3,000 acres of open space and is bisected by the Grand Parkway. Construction of the master-planned community started in 2006 and the build-out for Bridgeland, including residential and commercial, is expected to be in 2035 to 2040. Homes in Bridgeland range between $220,000 and approximately $1 million.
In spring, a new model home park, which will feature more than 20 homes, will open in Parkland Village. In its completion, the village will feature more than 3,100 homesites.
“We are looking to open (the model home park) in early spring – late February or early March,” Melton said.
Amongst many other builders, homes for Parkland Village include Beazer, David Weekley, Highland, Lennar, Perry, Taylor Morrison, and Trendmaker.
There are also plans to open a recreation and exercise center in Parkland Village.
“It’s a great way to recognize the wonderful people who will be calling Bridgeland home,” Melton said. “They are the ones who make up the social fabric of our neighborhoods and are our best ambassadors for what living in Bridgeland is all about.”
Bridgeland officials expect Parkland Village to cover 1,200 acres of land that will included 350 acres of parks, lakes and trails.
The Parkland Village activity center, which is a 50-acre center that has already broken ground, will feature tennis courts, a swimming pool, an events hall as well as a dog park in close proximity. Community officials are aiming to have the center completely open by the summer of 2019.
Late last year, The Howard Hughes Corp. announced that the first 100 homebuyers to purchase a home in Parkland Village at Bridgeland will be celebrated with special recognition in the community’s new 25-acre village park, that has been named Settlers Park.
Parkland 100 at Settlers Park will be dedicated to the first 100 families who choose to make Parkland Village their home. In commemoration of these first families, a total of 100 trees will be planted with special plaques honoring each family. Parkland Village is the second of four planned villages at Bridgeland.
This summer is expected to bring the completion of Josey Lake. The 140-acre lake will have amenities such as a boat house, a tower that overlooks the lake, fishing pier, a zip line, and playground.
Bridegland is a big deal. So much so, that Cy-Fair Independent School District named its newest high school after the community. The $140.8 million campus is the 12th high school in the district. Cy-Fair ISD is keeping up with the area’s growth by the opening of the new school.
“The location of Bridgeland is really becoming the hub for the Cy-Fair area. Having the connectivity of the Grand Parkway really lends itself to the growth of Bridgeland.” Melton said. “The Houston market continues to grow every year and there is going to be a demand for housing. We are delivering high-quality neighborhoods for that intended growth.”
Bridgeland will have four distinct villages. The first to open has been Lakeland, which focuses on the community’s lakes. The next village will be Parkland, which will emphasize Bridgeland parks.
“Parkland is all about living within the parks,” Melton said.
Each village will have its own characteristic, including a unique architectural style on signage and landscaping.
The first commercial center in Bridgeland is under construction now – Lakeland Village Center. Lease activity has been strong for the new retail center, Melton said.
“We’ve added several new tenants opening late spring and early summer,” he said. And more commercial development is planned as the community is more populated.
Since 2000, the Cy-Fair area has seen 273,000 new residents. The number of new residents reflects more residential growth than 21 states around the nation. CFISD projects the largest population growth in the Bridgeland and Towne Lake housing developments.
