Austin Business Journal shares, "About 18 months ago, representatives of Arizona-based DMB Development LLC unveiled initial plans for its long-anticipated Solana Ranch project near Jarrell. The effort called for billions of dollars of investment and construction of 14,000 homes and mixed-use buildings on more than 7,000 acres.
Elements of the project aren't yet visible on the sprawling site at the northern end of the Austin metro, but DMB President and CEO Brent Herrington said the company "is making tremendous progress and our current status is full speed ahead."
Split between Williamson and Bell counties, the planned development is among the most anticipated in the region. In early 2023, the Austin Business Journal first revealed plans for the project — located on the site of a 9,000-acre cattle and wildlife ranch owned by the Michaux family along the I-35 corridor between Georgetown and Temple.
While there hasn't been much public discussion about it since then, work behind the scenes apparently has continued full throttle. Herrington said in mid-November that the company has been working through technical studies, such as design and engineering of infrastructure for things like wastewater treatment, electric power, potable water and high-speed internet. DMB plans to begin outreach to homebuilders and other land users in early 2026, he said.
"Our outlook continues to be highly positive," Herrington said in an email. "With its spectacular setting and mixed-use ‘new town’ development concept, Solana Ranch will be one of the most significant new communities in Texas."
The scale of the project would mean a massive influx of homes for a region that remains starved for housing. Williamson County has seen its population rise from 422,679 in 2020 to 697,191 in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. And the boom shows no sign of slowing as the county north of Austin continues to attract employers and gain economic heft.
Herrington said previously that both Williamson and Bell counties "are poised for major economic development given the explosive employment growth on the north side of the Austin metro."
While the plans for Solana Ranch remain preliminary, he said the vision for it includes elements of a traditional Texas town, with a wide range of housing types, sizes and price points, along with shopping, dining, offices, entertainment, recreational facilities, schools and churches. The community will be built out in a series of villages, he said, and a robust network of paths and trails for walkers or bikers also will be included.
In addition to its other efforts, the developer has been laying groundwork for the project with local governments, including obtaining a development agreement from both Bell and Williamson counties and approval for a municipal utility district.
Herrington said previously that it would take several years to prepare the site, with a goal at the time of opening the first pieces of the community in late 2026. Full buildout would take several years more — at which point the community could reach a population of 40,000 to 50,000. For context, the population of Hutto in Williamson County is about 39,000.
Meanwhile, the Solana Ranch project has generated buzz in other ways. It was long the source of rumors and social media chatter that it potentially involves the Walt Disney Co., including speculation that DMB might duplicate the Disney-themed active adult community it's building near Palm Springs, California.
"We're aware of some pretty wild rumors that have circulated about Disney, some of which seem to go back 20 years or more, and I’m sure DMB’s work with Disney in a project in California only added fuel to the fire," Herrington said in 2023.
"At this point we are years away from starting development and we simply aren’t ready to make deals with builders, developers, or others who may someday play a role in the project," he said at the time. "I can assure you there’s been no commitment from DMB, Disney, or the Michaux family for Disney to be involved in the Solana Ranch project.""
Source: Austin Business Journal
Written by: Justin Sayers
Published: December 11. 2024
Posted by Grossman & Jones Group on
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