Austin Business Journal reports, "A Houston-based developer aims to build more than 1,900 homes in a master-planned community on land northwest of Austin that it recently bought in partnership with the state's General Land Office.
Johnson Development Corp. announced Nov. 10 that it and the General Land Office purchased 764 acres at 680 E. County Road 202 in Liberty Hill, a city of roughly 12,000 people located about 35 miles from Austin.
The purchase of the property was done under an entity tied to Johnson Development Corp., according to Williamson County property records. Officials said that the General Land Office is an investment partner in the project.
Plans for the community — the name of which has not yet been determined — call for homesites ranging from 45 to 70 feet wide. The project also includes five acres of commercial space, 15 acres for an on-site school, 70 acres of open space, a five-acre amenity center, and trails, pocket parks and greenways incorporated into the community, according to an announcement.
Builders and pricing will be announced at a later date. Home sales are expected to begin in fall 2027.
It's at least the second project for Johnson Development in the Austin area. The developer, which has been around for half a century, recently completed the Bryson development in nearby Leander.
Tommy Tucker, Johnson Development’s vice president of business development for Central and North Texas, said in a statement that the company is "bullish on Liberty Hill and Williamson County" because it's "close enough to enjoy Austin but far enough away to have an authentic Hill Country vibe."
The sellers of the land were Bill Chapman and his partners — represented by Reid Barry with Texas Land — as well as Heath Chapman.
“The Chapman Ranch presents an amazing opportunity for our newest Central Texas community," Tucker said in a statement. “It’s a beautiful ranch with 1.5 miles of frontage along the north fork of the San Gabriel River. It’s less than 30 minutes from some of the Austin area’s largest employers, including Apple, Indeed, VRBO and Visa. And parents will be pleased to hear their children will attend (the) highly acclaimed Liberty Hill ISD.”
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham heralded the plans in a statement.
"Our agency is pleased to play a significant role in the Johnson Development project, which promotes diligent land use and provides families with convenient, connected living environments," Buckingham said.
In October, the Austin metro's pending housing sales were up 5.8% year over year, while the median sales price rose 1.4% to $439,000, and inventory was around 5.3 months, according to data from Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS. Sales in Williamson County were down 12.5% during that timeframe, with the median sales price down 3.6% year over year to around $414,000 and inventory around 5 months."
Source: Austin Business Journal
Written by: Justin Sayers
Published: November 14, 2025
Posted by Grossman & Jones Group on
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