Walkability, density, connectivity – any conversation about the built environment today will almost certainly involve these buzzwords. Sometimes we hear and use these words so frequently that they can start to lose their impact. So when we learned about a recent study by Texas A&M associate professor of architecture Xuemei Zhu that measured the results... Read Full Post ›
Despite recent extreme weather changes in Central Texas, water conservation remains a long-term concern for homeowners and utility companies alike. To address this issue, I recently joined forces with a team led by Hank Smith of Texas Engineering Solutions and including Mike Fishbaugh of Coleman & Associates to create a set of landscape guidelines for... Read Full Post ›
Posted by Peter Dufrene 05-28-15
Earlier this month, RViers enjoyed getting their hands dirty at Festival Beach for the Austin Parks Foundation’s annual It’s My Park Day. More than 3,000 volunteers provided 10,000 hours of volunteer labor at over 100 park improvement projects across the City of Austin. This is equivalent to 5 park maintenance employees working full-time for an... Read Full Post ›
Located along FM 1488 in Montgomery County, Cimarron Creek is a 117-acre community that is poised to capitalize on the impressive growth taking place near The Woodlands, Texas. The community will include 310 homes on the site of two old homesteads, and will feature mature trees, an open meadow, designated wetlands, and a natural creek.... Read Full Post ›
After more than three decades in business, we’ve helped guide hundreds of clients through the process of planning and designing their outdoor spaces. While each project is unique, there are certainly some common questions that arise throughout the process. Here, we answer some of your most frequently asked questions. 1. Can we be green without... Read Full Post ›
The 550-acre Rancho Sienna community celebrated its grand opening last month, ushering in a new standard in master planned community development for the Austin area. Though developer Newland Communities has embraced sustainable design as a matter of practice in its communities throughout the United States, Rancho Sienna will be among the first master planned communities... Read Full Post ›
Posted by Peter Dufrene 11-24-14
As the leader of Hillwood Communities’ Acquisitions Group, Brian Carlock knows a good deal when he sees one. Since the beginning of the recession, his group has been pursuing an aggressive land acquisition effort that has resulted in a vast portfolio of real estate assets. But Brian’s experience goes far beyond the initial real estate... Read Full Post ›
Posted by Chris Crawford 08-27-14
When we originally purchased our house in the Allandale neighborhood of Austin, it seemed really far from just about everything. The neighborhood demographic was well above the median age for Austin – in fact, many of the original owners still lived in these homes. But as growth in Austin exploded, the face of Allandale changed. ... Read Full Post ›
Last week marked the groundbreaking of the Parmer Lane Sustainable Roadway project, a 1.5 mile extension of Parmer Lane from US Highway 290 to State Highway 130. The result of a partnership between the City of Austin, Travis County, and Titan Capital Investments with local developer Dwyer Realty, the Parmer Lane Sustainable Roadway embraces a... Read Full Post ›
Posted by Mark Smith 06-26-14