Full Plan Revealed for Former Camp Strake Property (video)

The Johnson Development Corp. has revealed its master plan for Grand Central Park, a new master-planned community on the former Camp Strake property north of Houston.

The Houston developer released a map and a video showcasing its plans for the 2,046-acre wooded property, located on the southwest corner of Interstate 45 North and Loop 336 in Conroe. The site is five miles north of The Woodlands and less than 10 miles north of the new EXXON Mobil Corp. campus, which recently finished moving 10,000 employees into the region.

The master plan calls for traditional single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, offices, retail shops, hotels and conference centers, as well as Montgomery County’s first medical school. Boston-based Sasaki Associates, which designed most of The Woodlands and Bridgeland, is the architect behind the master plan for Grand Central Park.

Residential: The first phase of home construction will include luxury patio homes, townhomes and single-family homes on 350 wooded sites, which represent the first six sections of the more than 500 home sites planned for Grand Central Park. Construction on the first homes, located along Loop 336, is expected to start in early 2016.

Neighborhoods will feature homes with alley parking, pocket parks and miles of connected trails. Residents will be zoned to Conroe Independent School District’s Rice Elementary, Cryar Intermediate, Peet Junior High and Conroe High schools.

Retail: Houston-based Fidelis Realty Partners purchased 112 acres along Loop 336 near Interstate 45, to develop 336 Marketplace, a regional shopping center that will feature 750,000 square feet of retail.

Houston-based Boucher Design Group is the architect. The Shopping center, which will feature big box stores, is expected to open in late 2016.



Commercial: Johnson Development plans to build a “business center” along Interstate 45, featuring corporate campus and Class A office space.

Mixed-Use: Johnson Development plans to build Town Center along Deer Lake. The mixed-use development will feature an urban main street with retail, bars and restaurants surrounded by townhomes overlooking Grand Lake.

A waterfront plaza will feature a hotel and conference facility along with a park, promenade and boat launch onto Deer Lake. A public space – perfect for farmers markets, is also planned.
Medical Campus: Sam Houston State University plans to build an osteopathic medical school on 10 acres, between the Business Center and Town Center. The school, which would start with 150 students per class, could open as early as fall 2018.

Johnson Development purchased the former Camp Strake property from the Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America for an undisclosed price in November 2013. Montgomery County assessed the value of the property at $27.9 million.

Last year, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a tax incentive that would repay Johnson $20 million over 10 years as it builds out its plans for Grand Central Park.

Johnson Development is developing 11 other master-planned communities in the Houston area: Cross Creek Range, Edgewater, Fall Greek, Harmony, Harvest Green, Imperial, Riverstone, Sienna Plantation, Tuscan Lakes, Willow Creek Farms and Woodforest.
Source: Houston Biz Journal - Paul Takahashi

Buying an Existing Home or New Construction?

Which Is Best for Your Situation, Buying an
Existing Home or Opting for
New Construction?

 
When it comes to buying a new home, one size certainly doesn’t fit all. You may be looking for a home that resembles the one you grew up in, or you might be after something brand new with the latest amenities and low maintenance requirements. If you’re contemplating buying an existing home vs. new construction, consider the general pros and cons of each option.
 
About New Construction
 
The most significant advantage of a newly built home is just that; it’s brand new! Building you own home also gives you the chance to customize it with the unique features and styles you prefer. New homes can be cheaper to maintain at first, plus they operate with the latest appliances and energy-efficient construction. You can also expect extended warranties for peace of mind. But one of the biggest reasons more people don’t pursue new construction is because of the higher cost of building from scratch compared to buying an existing home. Depending on where you build, you might also be stuck with a cookie-cutter design that lacks character.
 
Buying an Existing Home

Because homes are typically standing for decades, resale properties tend to be more available and less expensive per square foot than new homes. Plus, you have the power to negotiate the asking price. You can browse listings for desirable features and a location in an established neighborhood. Since resale homes have been lived in before, home sellers know about existing issues and disclose them to potential buyers. Older home s also tend to have more character and char. But, like everything else, there can be downfalls. Appliances and fixtures may have been in use for years already, so they may be prone to break or wear out sooner. Older homes also tend to lack energy-efficient features, meaning you can expect to pay higher utility bills every month. The design could also be outdated and lacking modern amenities. You may be inclined to renovate the home, which increases costs and makes daily life inconvenient for a while. For professional help contemplating buying an existing home vs. new construction, please contact the experienced Texan Realtor Team. We proudly help fulfill dreams for The Woodlands home buyers and sellers. Image via Shutterstock.com